Christine Haveford
Boyz n the Hood is one of those films that whenever it’s on I stop and watch.
John Singleton’s movie about life in South Central, Los Angeles was truly a brave and important movie.
So much so in 2002, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Boyz n the Hood revolutionized black film and launched the big-screen careers of its stars including Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut and Regina King.
It’s hard to believe the critically acclaimed film is now 25-years-old.
Take a look at how time has treated the cast of this much loved movie.
John Singleton – Writer/Director
Singleton is one of the most respected directors in Hollywood. He was only was only 23 when Boyz n the Hood hit the theaters and was his directorial debut.
He was the first African American and the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Best Director at the Academy Awards.
He was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay.
Unsurprisingly, since Boyz n the Hood Singleton’s career has gone from strength to strength.
Most recently he directed an episode of the widely popular FX’s series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story as well as an episode of Fox’s Empire.
He is also a successful producer having produced an episode for ESPN’s 30 for 30 and the Academy-Award winning Hustle and Flow.
He of course directed Tupac Shakur in Poetic Justice, Tyrese Gibson in Baby Boy and Ice Cube in Higher Learning.
Angela Bassett – Reva Styles
I always remember how beautiful Angela Bassett looked as Tre’s mom in Boyz In The Hood.
But Bassett had already got her feet wet acting in several TV series and movies. She also starred in a few episodes of The Cosby Show and in an episode of 227.
But it was in 1992 when her career took off.
She starred as Michael Jackson’s mother in The Jacksons: An American Dream and in Malcolm X.
She was nominated for an Oscar for her 1993 turn as Anna Mae Bullock—Tina Turner—in What’s Love Got to Do With It.
Most recently she’s been a co-star on FX’s American Horror Story. In the past few years, she’s played Coretta Scott King (Betty & Coretta) and Biggie’s mom (Notorious).
She is rumored to be starring in a new FOX drama 911 – the brainchild of American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy.
Regina King – Shalika
Regina King played slick talking Shalika with the iconic ‘dookie braids’ in Boyz n the Hood.
Since then she hasn’t looked back and has been steadily working in Hollywood for the past 25 years.
Most recently she was a co-star on ABC’s American Crime for two seasons – a role in which she won a Golden Globe for.
King has also shown her flair for directing, having taken charge of an episode of Scandal and several episodes of Being Mary Jane.
Nia Long – Brandi
In the movie Long played Brandi, the supportive girlfriend of Cuba Gooding Jr’s character Tre.
Nia Long and Regina King went on to appear on an episode of 227 together.
Nia also played Will Smith’s fiancée in The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.
She has often worked with her Boyz cast mates. She worked with Morris Chestnut in 1999’s The Best Man and with Ice Cube in Friday and Are We There Yet?
She is currently starring in Fox’s Empire.
Tyra Ferrell – Brenda Baker
Brenda to Ricky: “My baby is going to a university. I always knew you would amount to something. When you were a little boy, you used to run around here all the time with that football. Remember that? I’m proud of you.”
After a 10-year hiatus from acting, Ferrell reappeared on the small screen in 2015 as Roxanne Ford on Fox’s hit series Empire.
Before that you might have caught her in the acclaimed HBO miniseries The Corner in 2000.
And in 2005 she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her role in the television movie NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323.
John Cothran Jr – Lewis Crump
Cothran Jr. played Ricky’s teacher Mr Crump. He has the golden ticket for Ricky to get out of South Central Los Angeles.
But first Ricky needs to score a 700 on his SATs. But can Ricky escape the violence of the hood?
Cothran has been in more than 100 films since his career began.
He has worked consistently in the last several years and appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles, Private Practice, Cold Case and Grey’s Anatomy.
Cuba Gooding Jr. – Tre Styles
Cuba played Tre Styles. Tre is a smart, hard worker who is employed part-time at Fox Hills Mall.
He is being guided in the world by his tough but loving father.
He is determined to get out of Los Angeles, by any means necessary and is desperate to go to college.
Cuba’s career has gone from strength to strength since Boyz. He won an Oscar for this role in the dramatic sports comedy Jerry Maguire in 1996.
He recently won rave reviews for his portrayal of O. J. Simpson in the FX drama series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
Gooding received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role.
Desi Arnez Hines II – Tre Aged 10
Desi played the adorable Little Tre at the start of the film.
He had roles in Harlem Nights (1989) and House Party (1990) before he landed the role of Tre.
Hines had a few minor roles after playing Tre, in The Intern and in City of Angels.
According to IMDb, he’s a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
John Singleton shared a recent pic of him on his Instagram page.
Donovan McCrary – Ricky Aged 10
McCrary, who’s the younger brother of Darius McCrary (Eddie Winslow from Family Matters), played young Ricky.
This was his first and last feature-film appearance.
He appeared in episodes of Sister, Sister and also episodes Family Matters, with his brother.
He’s now making music. You can follow him on Twitter here.
Baha Jackson – Doughboy – Age 10
Jackson played the rotund but cute young Doughboy.
After Boyz, Jackson stayed in Hollywood for small roles in 3 Ninjas (1992), Poetic Justice (1993) and Mr. Jones (1993).
Currently, he is a chef based in Atlanta.
Regi Green – Lil Chris
Green played Lil Chris and it was the case of art imitating life. He had been the victim of street violence in his hometown of Richmond, Calif.
At age 6 he was shot and paralyzed from the waist down.
Green hasn’t acted since his role as Lil Chris, but he’s been busy inspiring kids to succeed despite their circumstances.
He became a motivational speaker and has his own nonprofit organization, Empowering Youth. He is also a minister with BrotheRedge Ministries.
You can read his inspiring story here.
Alysia Rogers – Shanice
Just one year after her film debut, Rogers appeared opposite Kid ’n Play in Class Act.
She has since left acting and is now a proud mother. You can follow her on Instagram here.
Dedrick D. Gobert – Dooky
Gobert played Dooky, the Jheri-curled, pacifier-sucking friend of Doughboy.
His credits include Poetic Justice and Higher Learning.
Just before Higher Learning was released in 1994, Gobert was fatally shot at a drag race in Southern California.
He was 22.
Lloyd Avery II
Avery was the man who murdered Ricky in Boyz n the Hood.
His character didn’t even get a real name in the film; according to IMDb, he played “knucklehead #2.”
Laurence Fishburne – Furious Styles
Furious Styles had plenty of words of wisdom for his son, Tre, and his friends.
He spoke to the young boys about gentrification, birth control and the gang violence that affected them.
A new generation of TV watchers are getting to know Fishburne as Pops Johnson on ABC’s hit TV show Black-ish.
In October, Deadline reported that Fishburne would portray Nelson Mandela in the upcoming TV series about the South African activist’s life.
Morris Chestnut – Ricky
Ricky Baker is destined for football stardom.
But his dreams are cut short because of ’90s violence in South Central L.A.
Boyz n the Hood was Chestnut’s feature-film debut.
In the 2000s, he came to be known for his romantic comedy roles, in movies such as The Brothers (2001), Two Can Play That Game (2001) and The Perfect Holiday (2007).
Chestnut is slated to star in the upcoming thriller When the Bough Breaks, opposite Regina Hall. This fall he will enter the second season of Rosewood on Fox, where he plays Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr.
Lexie Bigham – Mad Dog
Lexie played the kind-hearted gang banger who gave Little Ricky and Tre their football back after his friend steals it.
Tragically he died in a car accident in 1995.
Ice Cube – Doughboy
Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson) has come a long way since his days as the Jheri-curled gangsta in Boyz N The Hood.
He’s starred, written and directed films. He’s been married for over 20 years and has four kids.
Most recently, he starred in the third installment of Barbershop and the sequel to Ride Along.
In 2015 he was an executive producer on Straight Outta Compton, the highly acclaimed biopic on N.W.A, with his son O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing Ice Cube as a young OG.
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