Laurence Fishburne’s portrayal of Doc Rivers in Clipped had NBA fans buzzing, but one unexpected challenge stood out—his hairline.
Actor Sheldon Bailey shared behind-the-scenes details with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on Scoop B Radio, revealing how Fishburne perfectly embodied Rivers. From the signature raspy voice to the coach’s mannerisms, Fishburne nailed every aspect of the role.
Bailey knew Fishburne would excel from the start. “Yeah, I knew he was gonna kill it from the table read,” he recalled, noting that the legendary actor immediately captured Rivers’ distinct voice.
However, one of the most amusing challenges was perfecting Rivers’ hairline. Bailey pointed out how the combination of Fishburne’s performance and his hair made the transformation complete. “Between that and the hairline… that WAS Doc right there,” he laughed.
Fishburne’s look required artificial hair dye, commonly referred to as “beijing,” to match Rivers’ signature style. Bailey joked that maintaining the hairline wasn’t always smooth, saying, “But the beijing was causing problems though… a little bit.”
A skilled barber was on set daily to keep Fishburne’s appearance consistent. Despite their best efforts, there was a moment when the dye started to run, creating an unexpected challenge for the production team.
