ProfileName: Denzel Washington
Height: 6' 0½''
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: December 28, 1954
Birth Place: Mount Vernon, New York, USA
Profession: actor
Education: Fordham University in Bronx, New York (majored in journalism; B.A.)
American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California (dropped out in one year, moved to L.A) studied acting with Wynn Handman
Husband/Wife: Pauletta Pearson (aka Paulette Washington; actress, singer, pianist; born on September 28, 1950; married on June 25, 1983; renewed vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating in 1995)
Father: Denzel Washington (reverend with Church of God in Christ; divorced)
Mother: Lynne Washington (beautician)
Sister: Lorice Washington (older)
Brother: David Washington
Son: Malcolm Washington (born on April 10, 1991), John David Washington (actor; born on April 23, 1983)
Daughter: Olivia Washington (twin of Malcolm), Katia Washington (born in 1987)
Claim to fame: as Dr. Phillip Chandler on the NBC hospital drama St. Elsewher (1982)
BiographyBorn on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York, his father, Denzel Sr. was a preacher and his mother, Lennis a beautician. His parents divorced when he was 14 and in an effort to keep her children from all that was going on, Denzel and his sister were sent to a private boarding school. After high school Denzel attended Fordham University, although his original plans were to study medicine, he studied journalism instead. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree, heattended Theater in San Francisco and later won a scholarship to the American Conservatory Theater. In 1982 Denzel received his big break when he got the role of Dr. Phillip Chandler on the hit series St. Elsewhere.
In 1987 he recieved his first Oscar nomination for "best supporting actor" for the film "Cry Freedom" in which he played South African activist, Steven Beeko. Two years later in 1989, he was nominated for his second Oscar as "best supporting actor", which he won, for his role as Tripp, the run away slave in the film "Glory". Denzel would later be nominted three more times. In 1992, "best actor" for his role as Malcolm X, in Spike Lee's "X", 1999 "best actor" for his portrayal as Ruben Carter in, "The Hurricane". In 2001 "best actor" for his first vilan role Alonzo Harris, in "Training Day", which he won.
Denzel Washington is one of today's most versatile and sought after actors in Hollywood. It's now 30 films, 2 Oscar wins and 5 Academy Award nominations (along with other honorable achievements) and over 20 years later. With his latest project as director for the film "Antwone Fisher Story", while some are fading in the hit and miss of Hollywood, Denzel shows no signs of slowing down. Inspite of staying so busy in Hollywood, Denzel has mananged to maintain his most challenging role as a husband and father. He lives in the Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles, with his wife Pauletta Pearson, who he's been with for over 20 years and his four children, John David, (who now attends Morehouse University and plays football there), Katia, Malcolm and Olivia (twins)
FilmographyActor2008 The Great Debaters
2007 American Gangster
2006 Inside Man
2006 Déjà Vu
2004 The Manchurian Candidate
2004 Man on Fire
2003 Out of Time
2002 John Q.
2002 Antwone Fisher
2001 Training Day
2000 Remember the Titans
1999 The Bone Collector
1999 The Hurricane
1998 The Siege
1998 He Got Game
1998 Fallen
1998 Speak of Me As I Am: The Story of Paul Robeson
1997 Happily Ever After Fairy Tales: Mother Goose
1996 The Preacher's Wife
1996 NBA at 50
1996 Courage Under Fire
1995 Crimson Tide
1995 Devil in a Blue Dress
1995 Virtuosity
1993 Much Ado About Nothing
1993 The Pelican Brief
1993 Rabbit Ears: John Henry
1993 Philadelphia
1992 Liberators
1992 Malcolm X
1991 Rabbit Ears: Anansi
1991 Ricochet
1991 Mississippi Masala
1990 Mo' Better Blues
1990 Heart Condition
1989 For Queen and Country
1989 The Mighty Quinn
1989 Glory
1988 National Geographic: Baka - People of the Forest
1987 St. Elsewhere: Season 06
1987 Cry Freedom
1986 Power
1986 St. Elsewhere: Season 05
1986 The George McKenna Story
1985 St. Elsewhere: Season 04
1984 License to Kill
1984 A Soldier's Story
1984 St. Elsewhere: Season 03
1983 St. Elsewhere: Season 02
1982 St. Elsewhere: Season 01
1981 Carbon Copy
1979 Flesh and Blood
1977 Wilma
1977 The Wilma Rudolph Story
Director2008 The Great Debaters
2002 Antwone Fisher
Executive Producer1995 Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream
Producer2002 Antwone Fisher
2001 Half Past Autumn: The Life and Art of Gordon Parks
AwardsAcademy2001 Best Actor Training Day
1999 Best Actor Hurricane
1992 Best Actor Malcolm X
1989 Best Supporting Actor Glory
1987 Best Supporting Actor Cry Freedom
American Film Institute2001 Best Actor Training Day
Berlin International Film Festival2000 Silver Bear for Best Actor The Hurricane
1993 Silver Bear for Best Actor Malcolm X
Black Reel Awards2006 Best Actor Inside Man
Golden Globe2001 Best Actor - Drama Training Day
1999 Best Actor - Drama Hurricane
1992 Best Actor (Drama) Malcolm X
1989 Best Supporting Actor Glory
L.A. Film Critics Association2001 Best Actor Training Day
New York Film Critics Circle1992 Best Actor Malcolm X
Screen Actors Guild2001 Best Actor Training Day
1999 Best Male Actor in a Leading Role Hurricane
Trivia* Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#77). [1995]
* Children: John David (b. 1985), Katia (b. 1988), and twins Malcolm and Olivia (b. 1991)
* Son, Malcolm, was named in honor of Malcolm X'
* To prepare for his role as boxer Rubin Carter in The Hurricane (1999), Washington worked out for a year with L.A. boxing trainer Terry Claybon.
* Attended Fordham University, receiving a B.A. in Journalism.
* 1996 Harvard Foundation Award
* In a Newsweek cover story about the biological basis of the perception of beauty, he was used as a key example in a scientific explanation why he is considered an extremely handsome man.
* Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world [1990]
* According to a 1995 Premiere magazine article, Denzel confronted director Quentin Tarantino when he visted the set of Crimson Tide (1995). Quentin had done an uncredited rewrite of the script. Denzel lambasted Tarantino about his use of racial slurs in his films. Tarantino got embarrassed and wanted to move the conversation to a more private area. Denzel said, "No, if were going to discuss it, let's discuss it now." Denzel later said he still felt that Quentin was "a fine artist".
* Denzel is named after his father who was in turn named after the doctor, Doctor Denzel, who had delivered him.
* In the early 1980s, years before he portrayed Malcolm X (1992) in the Spike Lee film, Denzel Washington portrayed Malcolm X in the off-Broadway production of "When the Chickens Came Home to Roost", at the Henry Street Theatre in NYC.
* Frequent collaborator of Spike Lee (3 films together).
* Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."
* Supports charities such as the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and the Gathering Place (an AIDS hospice).
* Met his wife Pauletta in 1977 when both had small roles in the TV-movie Wilma (1977) (TV), the story of runner Wilma Rudolph. They wed five years later.
* His father was a Pentecostal minister; his mother a beautician and former gospel singer. They divorced when he was 14.
* Is a spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, having been a member of the Boys Club once himself.
* Only the second actor of color (after Sidney Poitier) to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (for Training Day (2001))
* Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.
* Father of actor John David Washington
* Ranked #28 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #40 in 2002.
* Often works with director Edward Zwick.
* Cousin is CBS anchorman Ukee Washington.
* He and his family are members of the same church as actors Dwayne Winstead, Sy Richardson, Marvin Wright-Bey, and Fitz Houston.
* Was awarded the title of "Police Chief for a Day" when he was a member of The Boys and Girls Club of America as a child. The photo was shown during his latest appearance on Regis and Kelly (Apr. 2004).
* 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.
* When he was very young he was at a barber's shop with his mother and a nice old lady sitting in the corner asked his mother to write his full name down. When his mother asked why she said "Because he's going to entertain millions one day". His mother gave the old lady his name and it wasn't until later that they found out she was rumored to be some kind of local fortune teller.
* Cites star-athletes like Jim Brown and Gale Sayers as the role models of his youth.
* First studied Biology in hopes of becoming a doctor, then switched to Political Science then to a Journalism/Drama major in college.
* Has worn some kind of military uniform in at least six of his films.
* Ranked #59 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties
* Because of his pay-or-play deal on the doomed 2005 "American Gangster" project (which was to be directed by Antoine Fuqua), he was paid $20 million even though the film did not move ahead.
* He was voted the 39th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.
