About Denzel Washington
- Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. He is the middle child of a beautician mother, Lennis, and a Pentecostal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr.
- After graduating high school, Denzel enrolled at Fordham University with the intent to pursue a career in journalism. He developed an interest in acting while appearing in student drama productions.
- Following graduation, he moved to San Francisco and enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater. He left after one year to seek work as an actor.
- Denzel's first paid acting role was in a summer stock theater stage production called "Wings of the Morning".
- His acting career expanded to screen roles. He made his first major film appearance in Carbon Copy (1981). He also starred in television productions, including the role of Dr. Philip Chandler in NBC's St. Elsewhere (1982).
- In 1989, Denzel won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Glory (1989).
- Denzel earned critical acclaim for his portrayals of real-life figures in films throughout the 1990s and onwards, such as Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987), Malcolm X in Malcolm X (1992), and football coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans (2000).
- He garnered Oscar nominations for Best Actor for roles in Malcolm X and The Hurricane, and won the Oscar in 2002 for his lead role in Training Day (2001).
- Denzel co-starred in big-budget productions like The Pelican Brief (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Preacher's Wife (1996) and Courage Under Fire (1996).
- With his onscreen persona evolving as a tough, no-nonsense hero, he acted in films like Man on Fire (2004), Inside Man (2006), and The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009).
- He ventured into direction with Antwone Fisher (2002), The Great Debaters (2007) and Fences (2016).
- Denzel headlined The Book of Eli (2010) and starred in Unstoppable (2010), marking his last collaboration with director Tony Scott.
- He collaborated with Jerry Bruckheimer and Spike Lee on several films, and also started producing films including The Book of Eli and Safe House.
- His performance in Flight (2012) earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
- In 2016, Denzel was selected as the recipient for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards.
- Denzel Washington resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Pauletta Washington, and their four children.
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