In 1986, John Singleton crafted the idea for the coming-of-age drama Boyz n the Hood as part of his application for film school. Four years later upon graduation, he sold the script to Columbia Pictures, and on July 2, 1991, the movie, which would later be chosen by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, was released in theaters in Los Angeles. Ten days later the picture was distributed throughout theaters nationwide.
Inspired by his own life and the experiences of those he knew while growing up in L.A., Singleton’s story earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director, making him the first African-American and the youngest person to ever be nominated for the award.
Cuba Gooding Jr hangs out with his buddies in a scene from the film ‘Boyz N The Hood’, 1991. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
Beyond marking the start of Singleton’s acting, directing and producing career, the movie also jumpstarted the careers of many of its cast members, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, and Nia Long. Sadly, in 2019, Singleton, who went on to direct a number of other classic films such as Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Baby Boy, Shaft, Four Brothers, and Rosewood, died at the age of 51 after suffering a stroke. His last project, Snowfall, was renewed by FX for a fifth season earlier this year.
As we celebrate 30 years since the debut of Boys n the Hood, we look back on the stars of the film then and now.
01
Jason ‘Tre’ Styles III
Cuba Gooding Jr.’s turn as Jason ‘Tre’ Styles III was considered his breakout role as an actor. He was 23 at the time.
02
Cuba Gooding Jr.
After Boyz n the Hood, Cuba Gooding Jr. went on to appear in A Few Good Men, The Tuskegee Airmen, Outbreak, and a career-defining role in Jerry Maguire for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
03
Reva Devereaux
Angela Bassett portrayed Reva Devereaux, Styles’ mother, in the 1991 film. In real life, she’s only 10 years older than Cuba Gooding Jr.
04
Angela Bassett
Two years after what was considered a minor role, Bassett had her breakthrough performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It and the rest has been history for the Academy Award-nominated actress.
05
Furious Styles
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles, Tre’s dad who later raises him.
06
Laurence Fishburne
Today, Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne is known for playing another famous father: Earl “Pops” Johnson on the ABC sitcom Black-ish.
07
Doughboy
Tre’s childhood friend Doughboy ends up in an endless cycle of violence as a young adult after joining the crips and serving time in jail.
08
Ice Cube
N.W.A’s song Boyz n the Hood, written by Ice Cube, inspired the name of the movie in which the South Central rapper starred. The role served as Ice Cube’s introduction into film and since then he’s gone on to act in more than 40 pictures, many of which he wrote, directed or produced.
09
Ricky Baker
Doughboy’s half-brother Ricky is a star athlete whose dreams of winning a scholarship to the University of Southern California are cut short when he gets caught in the crossfire of gang drama.
10
Morris Chestnut
Boyz n the Hood was Morris Chestnut’s first feature film. Since then the actor has been a staple leading man in TV and film.
11
Brandi
Nia Long portrays Brandi, Tre’s catholic school girlfriend who is 16 when they start dating and is drawn to his desire to go to college like her.
12
Nia Long
Nia Long almost turned down the role of Brandi because she thought the project was helmed by a white man. The part ended up being the first of several movie roles and a long career in lead television parts as well.
13
Shalika
Regina King portrayed Shalika in the ’90s classic, a neighbor which, decades later, sparked the creation of numerous memes and GIFs.
14
Regina King
Though Regina King had been acting on 227 for years when she took the part of Shalika, Boyz n the Hood was her first movie role. Since then, she has become an Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning film and television actress and director.
15
Brenda Baker
Tyra Ferrell portrayed Brenda Baker, Ricky and Doughboy’s mother.
16
Tyra Ferrell
After Boyz n the Hood, Tyra Ferrell went on to star in other Black classics like Jungle Fever and White Men Can’t Jump. Most recently, she appeared in a recurring role on Empire and as a guest star on Chicago PD.
