10 Hollywood Stars Who Got Their Big Break On Embarrassing TV Shows

3. Laurence Fishburne - PeeWee's Playhouse

Curtisnpeewee1 Let me clarify something before we go any further. PeeWee's Playhouse is far from an embarrassing show. It's a delightfully zany romp perfect for kids and those exploring the more recreational hallucinogenics. And there's nothing wrong with dressing up in a flamboyant cowboy Halloween costume and fooling around with Paul Reubens €“ far from it. Actually sounds like a good way to spend a Thursday afternoon. But this is Laurence Fishburne we're talking about. Morpheus himself. He has a Tony and an Emmy, and he once made a living as Cowboy Curtis. Wrap your head around that one for a minute. What makes it particularly odd is that it wasn't like it was the first acting job he ever had, and he was just excited to have the work. Fishburne had been appearing in minor television and film roles since 1972 (he was on PeeWee's Playhouse from 1987-90). But for some reason, he took that job and within a couple years, his career really picked up. He was in Boyz in the Hood a year after doing Cowboy Curtis, and two years later he received an Oscar nomination for his work as Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It. Say what you will about PeeWee, but he's got an eye for talent.
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Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.