Ray Fisher (actor)

Ray Fisher
Fisher at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1987-09-08) September 8, 1987 (age 37)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

Ray Fisher (born September 8, 1987) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of the superhero Victor Stone / Cyborg in the DC Extended Universe media franchise, including in Justice League (2017). In television, he played roles in the third season of the crime drama series True Detective in 2019 and the limited series Women of the Movement in 2022. He made his Broadway debut in the 2022 revival of the play The Piano Lesson and has also starred in its 2024 film adaptation.

Early life and education

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Fisher was born on September 8, 1987, in Baltimore, Maryland.[1][2] He grew up in Lawnside, New Jersey, where he was raised by his mother and grandmother.[3] Fisher attended Haddon Heights High School.[4] He worked at the concession stand of the Cinemark theater in Somerdale during this time.[5] Fisher became involved in musical theatre through his high school English and history teachers.[6] His first stage performances were in productions of the musicals Into the Woods, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Guys and Dolls.[5] Fisher attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[7]

Career

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In 2008, Fisher portrayed Dr. Marcus Blake in the musical Attorney for the Damned, which held performances at the off-off-Broadway Kraine Theater.[8] The following year, he acted in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, New Jersey at Drew University.[9] Fisher played a minor role in the 2010 McCarter Theatre Center production of Will Power's play Fetch Clay, Make Man.[10] He performed as part of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, where he starred in a production of the play To Kill a Mockingbird.[11][12] He also performed in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's productions of the plays King Lear and Cymbeline.[11] Fisher portrayed boxer Muhammad Ali in the 2013 off-Broadway production of the play Fetch Clay, Make Man at the New York Theatre Workshop in New York City, gaining 20 pounds of muscle and going from 193 to 212 pounds.[13] To prepare for the role, he stated that he "had to lift—bench presses, curls, squats, calf raises" and "get used to a new body".[14]

Fisher had a cameo appearance as the superhero Victor Stone / Cyborg in the 2016 superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[15] The character was the first black superhero in the DC Extended Universe media franchise.[3] He reprised the role as part of an ensemble cast in Justice League (2017),[3] which generated lukewarm reviews and had an unsuccessful theatrical run.[16] In 2020, Fisher accused director Joss Whedon of "abusive" and "unprofessional" behavior while filming Justice League.[17] He also called DC Films executive Walter Hamada "the most dangerous kind of enabler" and stated that he "will not participate in any production associated with [Hamada]" in December 2020.[18] While he was slated to appear in the film The Flash, Fisher stated in January 2021 that he had been removed from the film due to Hamada's involvement.[19] He reprised the role of Cyborg in Zack Snyder's Justice League, the 2021 director's cut of Justice League.[20] Fisher participated in the filming of new footage for the cut in October 2020.[21] Reviewing the cut, Tom Jorgensen of IGN highlighted Fisher's nuanced and colorful portrayal and Alex Abad-Santos of Vox praised the "mix of rage and vulnerability" in his performance.[22][23]

Fisher starred in the third season of the anthology crime drama series True Detective, which aired in 2019 on HBO.[24] He portrayed Gene Mobley, the husband of activist Mamie Till-Mobley, in the 2022 ABC limited series Women of the Movement.[25] That same year, he made his Broadway debut as Lymon in a revival of the play The Piano Lesson by August Wilson,[26] for which he received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.[27] He reprised the role in a film adaptation of the play.[28] Fisher played a warrior named Darrian Bloodaxe in the 2023 fantasy film Rebel Moon, reuniting with Zack Snyder, who directed the film, following working together on Justice League.[29][30]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 The Good, The Bad and The Confused Patient Short film [31]
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Victor Stone / Cyborg Cameo [15]
2017 Justice League [3]
2021 Zack Snyder's Justice League Director's cut of Justice League [20]
2023 Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire Darrian Bloodaxe [29][30]
2024 Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver
The Piano Lesson Lymon [28]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 The Astronaut Wives Club Edward Dwight Episode: "In the Blind" [32]
2019 True Detective Henry Hays Main role; Season 3 [24]
2022 Women of the Movement Gene Mobley Main role; 4 episodes [25]

Theater

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Year Title Role Locations Ref.
2008 Attorney for the Damned Marcus Blake Kraine Theatre [8]
2009 Macbeth Macbeth Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey [9]
2010 Fetch Clay, Make Man Brother Jacob X McCarter Theatre [10]
2011 To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Robinson Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey [12]
2012 As You Like It Jacques de Boys Allen Elizabethan Theatre [33][34]
2013 King Lear Duke of Burgundy Thomas Theatre [35]
2013 Cymbeline Arvirargus Allen Elizabethan Theatre [36]
2013 Fetch Clay, Make Man Muhammad Ali New York Theatre Workshop [13]
2022 The Piano Lesson Lymon Ethel Barrymore Theatre [26]
2024 Macbeth Macbeth Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey [26]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play The Piano Lesson Nominated [27]

References

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  1. ^ Trethan, Phaedra (November 20, 2017). "'Justice League' has super connection to New Jersey". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Williams, Kam (December 8, 2017). "Superhero Cyborg: Body by Fisher". Bay State Banner. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Masters, Kim (April 6, 2021). "Ray Fisher Opens Up About 'Justice League,' Joss Whedon and Warners: "I Don't Believe Some of These People Are Fit for Leadership"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "My Interview With Justice League's New Hero 'Cyborg'". Media Bee. June 10, 2015. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Gary Thompson (November 16, 2017). "From Haddon Heights to Hollywood: Ray Fisher talks about his road to Cyborg and 'Justice League.'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Maida, Jerome (November 20, 2017). "Camden's Ray Fisher talks about 'Justice League' – and Cyborg's cinematic future". PhillyVoice. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Daniels, Karu F. (November 18, 2017). "'It's beyond time': Ray Fisher talks 'Justice League', superhero diversity". NBC News. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Andy Webster (March 25, 2008). "Justice as a Game Played Rough, if Tunefully". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Acting Company: Ray Fisher – Oregon Shakespeare Festival". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. ^ a b David Rooney (January 18, 2010). "Fetch Clay, Make Man". Variety. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Daniels, Karu F. (September 9, 2020). "Jason Momoa supports co-star in 'Justice League' investigation". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Anita Gates (November 11, 2011). "Atticus Teaches a Lesson in Racism". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "DC's 'Cyborg,' Ray Fisher, didn't know he was getting his own movie". Entertainment Weekly. October 21, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  14. ^ Soloski, Alexis (September 25, 2013). "Growing Into Larger-Than-Life Ali". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (April 24, 2014). "Batman-Superman: Cyborg to Be Played by Ray Fisher (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  16. ^ Grebey, James (March 12, 2021). "How to Prepare for Zack Snyder's Justice League". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  17. ^ Vary, Adam B. (July 1, 2020). "'Justice League' Actor Ray Fisher: Joss Whedon Was 'Abusive' On Set". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Kiefer, Halle (December 30, 2020). "Ray Fisher Calls DC Films President 'Most Dangerous Kind of Enabler,' Vows to Never Work Under Him". Vulture. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ^ Hibberd, James (January 14, 2021). "Ray Fisher reacts to being dismissed from The Flash with a lengthy statement slamming studio". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Brenzican, Anthony (March 12, 2021). "'Justice League': The Untold Story of Cyborg and Deathstroke". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Kit, Borys (October 21, 2020). "Jared Leto to Play Joker in Zack Snyder's 'Justice League' Reshoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  22. ^ Jorgensen, Tom (March 15, 2021). "Zack Snyder's Justice League Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  23. ^ Abad-Santos, Alex (March 15, 2021). "The Snyder Cut review: Zack Snyder's Justice League rights a lot of wrongs". Vox. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  24. ^ a b Tach, Dave (January 16, 2019). "True Detective season 3 recap: a deep dive into episodes 1 & 2". Polygon. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (December 17, 2020). "Ray Fisher Joins ABC Limited Series 'Women Of The Movement'". Deadline. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  26. ^ a b c White, Abbey (April 27, 2022). "Ray Fisher Joins Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington in Cast of Broadway's 'The Piano Lesson'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  27. ^ a b Culwell-Block, Logan (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (April 13, 2023). "Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler & More Set For Netflix's The Piano Lesson; Denzel Washington, Todd Black Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Kit, Borys (February 9, 2022). "Rebel Moon: Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher Join Zack Snyder Netflix Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  30. ^ a b Travis, Ben (July 3, 2023). "Ray Fisher Has A 'Massive' Four-Foot Gun In Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon: 'It's Almost As Big As Me' – Exclusive Image". Empire. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  31. ^ Scott Mendelson (October 17, 2014). "Meet Ezra Miller And (Almost) The Rest Of Your Justice League!". Forbes.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  32. ^ Dana Rose Falcone (July 19, 2015). "The Astronaut Wives Club recap: In the Blind". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  33. ^ Bob Keefer (June 21, 2012). "You will like 'It'". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  34. ^ "As You Like It". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  35. ^ Michael W. Shurgot (December 5, 2014). "2013 Oregon Shakespeare Festival". Shakespeare Bulletin. 32 (4). Project MUSE: 705–720. doi:10.1353/shb.2014.0056. S2CID 191564093. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  36. ^ "Cymbeline". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
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