Denzel Washington was born in Mount Vernon, New York, on December 28, 1954. His mother, Lennis, was a beautician, and his father, Denzel, was a Pentecostal minister. Washington has two older siblings.
Washington attended Fordham University, where he studied journalism. He also began acting in student productions during his time at Fordham. After graduating from college, Washington moved to San Francisco to study acting at the American Conservatory Theater.
Washington made his professional acting debut in 1977, appearing in the television show Wilma. He gained his first major success in the early 1980s with the television series St. Elsewhere.
He made his film debut in 1981 with the comedy Carbon Copy. His breakthrough film role came in 1987 with Cry Freedom, in which he played South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.
Washington has won numerous awards for his work, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. He is considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation.
Notable Achievements
Here are some of Denzel Washington's most notable achievements:
- Two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989) and Best Actor for Training Day (2001)
- Three Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989), Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Philadelphia (1993), and Cecil B. DeMille Award (2016)
- A Tony Award: Best Actor in a Play for Fences (2008)
- Two Silver Bears: Best Actor for The Hurricane (2000) and Lifetime Achievement Award at the - Berlin International Film Festival (2023)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)
Washington is married to actress Pauletta Washington. They have four children together.
Washington is a highly respected actor and filmmaker. He is known for his powerful performances and his commitment to telling important stories. He is a true Hollywood icon.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Carbon Copy | Roger Porter | |
| 1984 | A Soldier's Story | Private First Class Melvin Peterson | |
| 1986 | Power | Arnold Billings | |
| 1987 | Cry Freedom | Steve Biko | |
| 1988 | For Queen and Country | Reuben James | |
| 1989 | The Mighty Quinn | Xavier Quinn | |
| 1989 | Glory | Private Silas Trip | |
| 1990 | Heart Condition | Napoleon Stone | |
| 1990 | Mo' Better Blues | Bleek Gilliam | |
| 1991 | Mississippi Masala | Demetrius Williams | |
| 1991 | Ricochet | Nick Styles | |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Malcolm X | |
| 1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | Don Pedro of Aragon | |
| 1993 | The Pelican Brief | Gray Grantham | |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | Joe Miller | |
| 1995 | Crimson Tide | Lt. Commander Ron Hunter | |
| 1995 | Virtuosity | Lt. Parker Barnes | |
| 1995 | Devil in a Blue Dress | Easy Rawlins | |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling | |
| 1996 | The Preacher's Wife | Dudley | |
| 1998 | Fallen | Detective John Hobbes | |
| 1998 | He Got Game | Jake Shuttlesworth | |
| 1998 | The Siege | Anthony Hubbard | |
| 1999 | The Bone Collector | Lincoln Rhyme | |
| 1999 | The Hurricane | Rubin Carter | |
| 2000 | Remember the Titans | Herman Boone | |
| 2001 | Training Day | Alonzo Harris | |
| 2002 | John Q. | John Quincy Archibald | |
| 2002 | Antwone Fisher | Dr. Jerome Davenport | Also director and producer |
| 2003 | Out of Time | Matt Lee Whitlock | |
| 2004 | Man on Fire | John W. Creasy | |
| 2004 | The Manchurian Candidate | Maj. Ben Marco | |
| 2006 | Inside Man | Keith Frazier | |
| 2006 | Déjà Vu | Doug Carlin | |
| 2007 | American Gangster | Frank Lucas | |
| 2007 | The Great Debaters | Melvin B. Tolson | Also director |
| 2009 | The Taking of Pelham 123 | Walter Garber | |
| 2010 | The Book of Eli | Eli | Also producer |
| 2010 | Unstoppable | Frank Barnes | |
| 2012 | Safe House | Tobin Frost | |
| 2012 | Flight | William "Whip" Whitaker Sr. | |
| 2013 | 2 Guns | Robert "Bobby" Trench | |
| 2014 | The Equalizer | Robert McCall | Also producer |
| 2016 | The Magnificent Seven | Sam Chisolm | |
| 2016 | Fences | Troy Maxson | Also director and producer |
| 2017 | Roman J. Israel, Esq. | Roman J. Israel | Also producer |
| 2018 | The Equalizer 2 | Robert McCall | Also producer |
| 2020 | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom | — | Producer only |
| 2021 | The Little Things | Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon | |
| 2021 | The Tragedy of Macbeth | Lord Macbeth | |
| 2021 | A Journal for Jordan | — | Director and producer only |
| 2023 | The Equalizer 3 | Robert McCall | Also producer |
| 2024 | Gladiator 2 † |