Samuel L Jackson had to angrily tell a reporter yesterday that he is “not Lawrence Fishburne!” The actor was right to be angry after all the two have very little in common. Still it doesn't mean we can't try and work out who’s better.

Samuel L JacksonSamuel L Jackson not Lawrence Fishburne

Career Beginnings

Samuel L Jackson first came to prominence after starring in Spike Lee’s ‘Jungle Fever’ as Gator, a crack addict, his performance won him the Best Supporting Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991. Laurence Fishburne started his career by debuting on screen in ‘Apocalypse Now’, after lying about his age. The actor said he was 17 when really he was only 14. However filming took so long he’d reach the right age by completion.

Awards and nominations

1993 was a good year for Fishburne as he received an Oscar nomination, for his portrayal of Ike Turner in the Tina Turner biopic ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’. He even sang on the film, re-recording ‘Proud Mary’ with Tina Turner herself. A year later he would star in ‘Boyz in the Hood’ playing the father of Cuba Gooding Jr's character. However 1994 was even better for Samuel L. Jackson who starred in ‘Pulp Fiction’ in giving him his first and only Academy Award nomination. Despite losing out on the award his performance as Jules is one of his most memorable roles in movie history, especially the cheeseburger debate. He would go on to star in many more films by director Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Django Unchained.

Sci-fi and Superheroes

Fisburne is perhaps best known for his role in the Matrix films as Morpheus the mentor of Neo. He would reprise the role for both sequels. Jackson is no stranger to sci-fi either, having played Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequels. Most recently both actors have starred in comic book adaptations. Samuel L Jackson is now better known to comic book fans as ‘The Avenger’s’ Nick Fury. The Ultimate Marvel characterization of Fury was originally modeled on Jackson, so far he has appeared in five Marvel movies with two more coming in the next year. Not to be outdone Lawrence Fishburne starred in the ‘Superman’ reboot ‘Man of Steel’ playing Daily Planet editor in chief Perry White. He has also been confirmed to reprise his role in the next instalment ‘Batman vs Superman’.

Lawrence FisburneLawrence Fishburne not Samuel L Jackson

Whilst Fishburne has an impressive record Jackson manages to just trump him. How can you not love the actor who’s starred in 'Pulp Fiction', Star Wars' and is now Nick Fury. Plus we just had to give him bonus points for shouting at that news anchor.