Here's a cast and character guide to crime thriller New Jack City. While Mario Van Peebles was best known as an actor prior to directing New Jack City, appearing in movies like Clint Eastwood's Heartbreak Ridge or Jaws The Revenge, he had also helmed episodes of TV shows like 21 Jump Street. New Jack City proved what he could do though, with the tough thriller balancing social commentary, great action scenes, and intense drama.
New Jack City arrived in 1991 and follows the rise of drug kingpin Nino Brown, and the determined cops trying to bring him down. The film was a solid hit during release but has since become a cult favorite, thanks in large part to its performances and an awesome soundtrack, which featured acts like Guy and 2 Live Crew. While the ending certainly suggests making a sequel would be tough, it was revealed a follow-up where Nino - who survives his gunshot to the chest - and Detective Appleton would have to team up to take down a new group of gangsters. This was nixed as Wesley Snipes' career was taking off in a big way and his salary was too high.
New Jack City remains a great action/crime thriller and here's a guide to its cast and characters.
Wesley Snipes - Nino Brown
Wesley Snipes (Blade) plays Nino Brown, the main villain of New Jack City. Nino is smart, charismatic and ambituous, but he's also an egotistical, ruthless sociopath, with the former leading to his eventual downfall. The movie made Snipes a movie star, leading to projects like Passenger 57 and Demolition Man.
Ice-T - Scotty Appleton
Ice-T plays Detective Appleton, a tough and not very polite cop who is nevertheless very good at his job. He's tasked with going undercover to take down Nino and his crew, and he later reveals a very personal reason for wanting Nino taken down. Ice-T was best known as a rapper before New Jack City, and the role led to a career in movies and TV, including a long-running role on Law & Order: SVU.
Allan Payne - Gee Money
Allan Payne (House Of Payne) plays Gee Money in New Jack City, Nino's right-hand man and best friend. Nino's growing ego, including stealing Gee Money's girlfriend, splinters their friendship, which cumulates in one of the movie's most heartbreaking scenes.
Chris Rock - Pookie
Chris Rock (Spiral: From The Book Of Saw) was best known as a stand-up before New Jack City where he plays Pookie, a crack addict who reforms and is used as an informant by Appleton. Pookie is one of the movie's most tragic characters and Rock showed he had real acting chops early in his career.
Judd Nelson - Nick Peretti
The Breakfast Club's Judd Nelson plays Peretti in the movie, Appleton's stoic partner. He and Appleton are initially at odds, but following Pookie's death and revealing his own past with drug addiction, the two reaffirm their efforts to bring Nino down.
Mario Van Peebles - Stone
New Jack City director Mario Van Peebles plays the supporting role of Stone, who recruits Appleton and Peretti for the operation, though his fate in his team wanes from time to time.