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IMDbPro

Denzel Washington(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5001
Denzel Washington
'A Journal for Jordan' star Michael B. Jordan and director Denzel Washington reveal their favorite performances from each other's careers, and Michael surprises Denzel with the story of the first time they met.
Play clip3:31
Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington Answer Fan Questions
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. He is the middle of three children of a beautician mother, Lennis, from Georgia, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia. After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at Fordham University, intent on a career in journalism. However, he caught the acting bug while appearing in student drama productions and, upon graduation, he moved to San Francisco and enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater. He left A.C.T. after only one year to seek work as an actor. His first paid acting role was in a summer stock theater stage production in St. Mary's City, Maryland. The play was "Wings of the Morning", which is about the founding of the colony of Maryland (now the state of Maryland) and the early days of the Maryland colonial assembly (a legislative body). He played the part of a real historical character, Mathias Da Sousa, although much of the dialogue was created. Afterwards he began to pursue screen roles in earnest. With his acting versatility and powerful presence, he had no difficulty finding work in numerous television productions.

He made his first big screen appearance in Carbon Copy (1981) with George Segal. Through the 1980s, he worked in both movies and television and was chosen for the plum role of Dr. Philip Chandler in NBC's hit medical series St. Elsewhere (1982), a role that he would play for six years. In 1989, his film career began to take precedence when he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Tripp, the runaway slave in Edward Zwick's powerful historical masterpiece Glory (1989).

Washington has received much critical acclaim for his film work since the 1990s, including his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987), Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in Malcolm X (1992), boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in The Hurricane (1999), football coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans (2000), poet and educator Melvin B. Tolson in The Great Debaters (2007), and drug kingpin Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007). Malcolm X and The Hurricane garnered him Oscar nominations for Best Actor, before he finally won that statuette in 2002 for his lead role in Training Day (2001).

Through the 1990s, Denzel also co-starred in such big budget productions as The Pelican Brief (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), The Preacher's Wife (1996), and Courage Under Fire (1996), a role for which he was paid $10 million. He continued to define his onscreen persona as the tough, no-nonsense hero through the 2000s in films like Out of Time (2003), Man on Fire (2004), Inside Man (2006), and The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009). Cerebral and meticulous in his film work, he made his debut as a director with Antwone Fisher (2002); he also directed The Great Debaters (2007) and Fences (2016).

In 2010, Washington headlined The Book of Eli (2010), a post-Apocalyptic drama. Later that year, he starred as a veteran railroad engineer in the action film Unstoppable (2010), about an unmanned, half-mile-long runaway freight train carrying dangerous cargo. The film was his fifth and final collaboration with director Tony Scott, following Crimson Tide (1995), Man on Fire (2004), Déjà Vu (2006) and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. He has also been a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and has been a frequent collaborator of director Spike Lee.

In 2012, Washington starred in Flight (2012), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He co-starred with Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012), and prepared for his role by subjecting himself to a torture session that included waterboarding. In 2013, Washington starred in 2 Guns (2013), alongside Mark Wahlberg. In 2014, he starred in The Equalizer (2014), an action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series of same name starring Edward Woodward. During this time period, he also took on the role of producer for some of his films, including The Book of Eli and Safe House.

In 2016, he was selected as the recipient for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards.

He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Pauletta Washington, and their four children.
BornDecember 28, 1954
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 28, 1954
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5001
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Won 2 Oscars
    • 87 wins & 209 nominations total

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Photos

Photos1317

Denzel Washington in Man on Fire (2004)
Denzel Washington, The Kid Mero, and Desus Nice in Plain Slice (2022)
Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Denzel Washington in The Hurricane (1999)
Denzel Washington in The Little Things (2021)
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek in The Little Things (2021)
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek in The Little Things (2021)
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek in The Little Things (2021)
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek in The Little Things (2021)
Denzel Washington in Glory (1989)
Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Andre Braugher in Glory (1989)

Known for

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences (2016)
Fences
7.2
  • Troy Maxson
  • 2016
Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
Training Day
7.7
  • Alonzo
  • 2001
Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli (2010)
The Book of Eli
6.8
  • Eli
  • 2010
Denzel Washington and Derek Luke in Antwone Fisher (2002)
Antwone Fisher
7.3
  • Dr. Jerome Davenport
  • 2002

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • The Equalizer 3
    • Robert McCall
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • Gladiator 2
    • Pre-production
    • 2024
  • The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
    The Tragedy of Macbeth
    • Macbeth
    • 2021
  • Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Rami Malek in The Little Things (2021)
    The Little Things
    • Joe 'Deke' Deacon
    • 2021
  • Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Ashton Sanders in The Equalizer 2 (2018)
    The Equalizer 2
    • Robert McCall
    • 2018
  • Denzel Washington in Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017)
    Roman J. Israel, Esq.
    • Roman J. Israel, Esq.
    • 2017
  • Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences (2016)
    Fences
    • Troy Maxson
    • 2016
  • Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Chris Pratt, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Martin Sensmeier in The Magnificent Seven (2016)
    The Magnificent Seven
    • Chisolm
    • 2016
  • Denzel Washington in The Equalizer (2014)
    The Equalizer
    • Robert McCall
    • 2014
  • Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington in 2 Guns (2013)
    2 Guns
    • Bobby
    • 2013
  • Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman, and Kelly Reilly in Flight (2012)
    Flight
    • Whip Whitaker
    • 2012
  • Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
    Safe House
    • Tobin Frost
    • 2012
  • Denzel Washington and Chris Pine in Unstoppable (2010)
    Unstoppable
    • Frank
    • 2010
  • Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli (2010)
    The Book of Eli
    • Eli
    • 2010
  • John Travolta and Denzel Washington in The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
    The Taking of Pelham 123
    • Walter Garber
    • 2009
  • Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
    The Great Debaters
    • Melvin B. Tolson
    • 2007
  • Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    American Gangster
    • Frank Lucas
    • 2007

Producer

  • The Equalizer 3
    • producer
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • The Piano Lesson
    • producer
    • Pre-production
  • A Journal for Jordan (2021)
    A Journal for Jordan
    • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
    • 2021
  • Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
    Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
    • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
    • 2020
  • Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Ashton Sanders in The Equalizer 2 (2018)
    The Equalizer 2
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2018
  • Denzel Washington in Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017)
    Roman J. Israel, Esq.
    • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
    • 2017
  • Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences (2016)
    Fences
    • producer (produced by)
    • 2016
  • Tyrese Gibson: Shame (2015)
    Tyrese Gibson: Shame
    • producer
    • Music Video
    • 2015
  • Denzel Washington in The Equalizer (2014)
    The Equalizer
    • producer
    • 2014
  • Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
    Safe House
    • executive producer
    • 2012
  • Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli (2010)
    The Book of Eli
    • producer
    • 2010
  • Denzel Washington and Derek Luke in Antwone Fisher (2002)
    Antwone Fisher
    • producer
    • 2002
  • Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (2000)
    Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
    • producer
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995)
    Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream
    • executive producer
    • 1995

Director

  • A Journal for Jordan (2021)
    A Journal for Jordan
    • Director (directed by)
    • 2021
  • Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Fences (2016)
    Fences
    • Director (directed by)
    • 2016
  • James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo, and Chandra Wilson in Grey's Anatomy (2005)
    Grey's Anatomy
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
    The Great Debaters
    • Director
    • 2007
  • Denzel Washington and Derek Luke in Antwone Fisher (2002)
    Antwone Fisher
    • Director
    • 2002
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos167

Denzel Washington Details His 'Regal Swagger' in 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'
Clip 2:52
Denzel Washington Details His 'Regal Swagger' in 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'
Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington Answer Fan Questions
Clip 3:31
Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington Answer Fan Questions
Denzel Washington | Career Retrospective
Clip 2:22
Denzel Washington | Career Retrospective
Denzel Washington Discovers the Value of His Per Diem
Clip 2:05
Denzel Washington Discovers the Value of His Per Diem
Denzel Washington Guarantees It
Clip 0:53
Denzel Washington Guarantees It
Why Denzel Washington Would Be a Perfect Magneto
Clip 3:52
Why Denzel Washington Would Be a Perfect Magneto
"Weston Escapes From The Police Station"
Clip 0:57
"Weston Escapes From The Police Station"
"Weston Guards Frost While the Safe House Is Attacked"
Clip 0:59
"Weston Guards Frost While the Safe House Is Attacked"
"Frost Attacks Weston While Driving Through Cape Town"
Clip 0:59
"Frost Attacks Weston While Driving Through Cape Town"
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Calling Pelham 1 2 3"
Clip 0:56
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Calling Pelham 1 2 3"
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Chase"
Clip 0:34
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Chase"
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Money Transfer"
Clip 0:23
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 -- "Money Transfer"

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 6′ 0½″ (1.84 m)
  • Born
    • December 28, 1954
    • Mount Vernon, New York, USA
  • Spouse
    • Pauletta WashingtonJune 25, 1983 - present (4 children)
  • Children
      Katia Washington
  • Parents
      Lennis Washington
  • Relatives
    • Sibling(Sibling)
  • Other works
    TV commercial (PSA): Boys/Girls Clubs of America
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Print Biographies
    • 16 Interviews
    • 30 Articles
    • 9 Pictorials
    • 22 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Tom Hanks said working with Washington on Philadelphia (1993) was like "going to film school". Hanks said he learned more about acting by watching Denzel than from anyone else.
  • Quotes
    (In 1998) Acting's like someone asking you for years to write the characters, but they write the book.
  • Trademarks
      Often portrays real people: Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in The Hurricane (1999), Malcolm X in Malcolm X (1992), Herman Boone in Remember the Titans (2000), Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007), Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987) and Melvin Tolson in The Great Debaters (2007).
  • Nickname
    • D
  • Salaries
      The Equalizer 3
      (2023)
      $20,000,000

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