Birth name Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. NationalityUSA Birth 28 december 1954 (69 years) at Mount Vernon (USA) Awards Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award for Best Actor
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received two Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical drama-war film Glory (1989) and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day (2001).
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). He has been a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and has been a frequent collaborator of directors Spike Lee and the late Tony Scott.
Biography
On June 25, 1983, Washington married Pauletta Pearson, whom he met on the set of his first screen work, the television film Wilma. The couple have four children: John David (b. July 28, 1984), a former football player with the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions (and before that, college football at Morehouse); Katia (b. November 27, 1986) who graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in 2010; and twins Olivia and Malcolm (b. April 10, 1991). Malcolm graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in film studies, and Olivia played a role in Lee Daniels's film The Butler. In 1995, Denzel and Pauletta renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating.
Washington is a devout Christian, and has considered becoming a preacher. He stated in 1999, "A part of me still says, 'Maybe, Denzel, you're supposed to preach. Maybe you're still compromising.' I've had an opportunity to play great men and, through their words, to preach. I take what talent I've been given seriously, and I want to use it for good." In 1995, he donated $2.5 million to help build the new West Angeles Church of God in Christ facility in Los Angeles. Washington says he reads the Bible daily.
Washington has served as the national spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1993 and has appeared in public service announcements and awareness campaigns for the organization. In addition, he has served as a board member for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1995.
In mid-2004, Washington visited Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) at Fort Sam Houston, where he participated in a Purple Heart ceremony, presenting medals to three Army soldiers recovering from wounds they received while stationed in Iraq. He also visited the fort's Fisher House facilities, and after learning that it had exceeded its capacity, made a substantial donation to the Fisher House Foundation. Washington's other charitable contributions include $1 million to the Children's Fund of South Africa and $1 million to Wiley College to resuscitate the college's debate team.
Washington is an Independent voter. He supported Barack Obama in 2008.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia named Washington as one of three people (the others being directors Oliver Stone and Michael Moore) with whom they were willing to negotiate for the release of three defense contractors the group had held captive from 2003 to 2008.
On May 18, 1991, Washington was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Fordham University, for having "impressively succeeded in exploring the edge of his multifaceted talent". In 2011, he donated $2 million to Fordham for an endowed chair of the theater department, as well as $250,000 to establish a theater-specific scholarship at the school. He also received an honorary doctorate of humanities from Morehouse College on May 20, 2007. and an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania on May 16, 2011.
In 2008, Washington visited Israel with a delegation of African-American artists in honor of the state's 60th birthday.
In April 2014, Washington presented at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition with Bryan Cranston, Idina Menzel and Fran Drescher, after raising donations at his Broadway show Raisin in the Sun.
, 1h40 OriginUSA GenresDrama, Science fiction, Fantastic, Comedy, Fantasy, Crime ThemesGhost films, Buddy films ActorsBob Hoskins, Denzel Washington, Chloe Webb, Lisa Stahl, Eva LaRue, Roger E. Mosley Roles Napoleon Stone Rating55% Hoskins plays police sergeant Jack Moony, a racist cop and Washington plays Napoleon Stone, an adorable but sleazy ambulance chasing lawyer who Moony hates. Moony's years of bad habits, such as overeating, smoking, and drinking, finally catch up with him. At the same time, Stone is gunned down in a drive-by shooting. After suffering a heart attack, Moony wakes up to find out that his new heart was once Stone's, and the dead lawyer's ghost has become his constant companion. Now, Moony will have to solve Stone's murder.
, 1h38 Directed byCarl Schenkel GenresDrama, Thriller, Comedy, Action, Crime ThemesSeafaring films, Transport films, Musical films ActorsDenzel Washington, James Fox, Mimi Rogers, M. Emmet Walsh, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Robert Townsend Roles Xavier Quinn Rating60% Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) is the chief of police on a small, unnamed Caribbean island (the novel was set on the fictional island of St. Caro). When Donald Pater, the millionaire owner of a luxury resort hotel, is found murdered, everyone assumes that the culprit is Maubee (Robert Townsend), a petty crook who also happens to be Quinn's best friend. Quinn doesn't believe it and clashes with the local bureaucracy: Thomas Elgin (James Fox), an arrogant political fixer, and the island's underqualified governor (Norman Beaton). Quinn's worries over the murder exacerbate his troubles at home; he is estranged from his wife, Lola (Sheryl Lee Ralph), and rarely has time to see his son.
, 1h45 OriginUnited-kingdom GenresDrama, Thriller, Action, Crime ActorsDenzel Washington, Bruce Payne, Dorian Healy, Sean Chapman, Amanda Redman, Graham McTavish Roles Reuben Rating55% Reuben James (Washington), although having grown up in London, was born in St. Lucia, West Indies, and joined the British Army to escape the poverty of inner city life. He serves with the Parachute Regiment, doing a tour in Northern Ireland for three years at the height of The Troubles in the late 1970s, and later fighting in the 1982 Malvinas/Falklands in the South Atlantic for the remainder of his military career, eventually becoming a war hero himself.
, 2h37 Directed byRichard Attenborough OriginUnited-kingdom GenresDrama, Historical ThemesFilms set in Africa, Films about writers, Films about journalists, Films about racism, Political films ActorsDenzel Washington, Kevin Kline, Penelope Wilton, Kevin McNally, Kate Hardie, John Thaw Roles Steve Biko Rating73% Following a news story depicting the demolition of a slum in East London, South Africa, journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) seeks more information about the incident and ventures off to meet black activist Steve Biko (Denzel Washington). Biko has been officially banned by the South African government and is not permitted to leave his defined banning area at King William's Town. Woods is formally against Biko's banning, but remains critical of his political views. Biko invites Woods to visit a black township to see the impoverished conditions and to witness the effect of the government-imposed restrictions, which make up the apartheid system. Woods begins to agree with Biko's desire for a South Africa where blacks have the same opportunities and freedoms as those enjoyed by the white population. As Woods comes to understand Biko's point of view, a friendship slowly develops between them.
, 1h36 Directed byJud Taylor OriginUSA GenresDrama, Thriller ActorsJames Farentino, Penny Fuller, Don Murray, Kristen Vigard, Millie Perkins, Donald Moffat Roles Martin Sawyer Rating55% Une famille en deuil dont la fille a été tuée dans un accident de voiture par un conducteur ivre, est outrée et frustrée des retards bureaucratiques qu'elle rencontre pour porter l'affaire en justice. Une fois à l'audience, le père est d'abord inquiet de l'inefficacité du jeune procureur à surmonter les aspects techniques et les manœuvres utilisées par l'avocat du conducteur pour garder son client libre. Lorsque le juge est obligé de se prononcer à plusieurs reprises en faveur de la défense, les parents sont scandalisés que le conducteur puisse échapper à la justice et surtout de le voir continuer à circuler librement en voiture sous l'emprise de l'alcool...
, 1h51 Directed bySidney Lumet OriginUSA GenresDrama ThemesChildren's films ActorsRichard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman, Kate Capshaw, Denzel Washington, E. G. Marshall Roles Arnold Billings Rating57% Pete St. John (Richard Gere), a ruthless and highly successful media consultant, is juggling a couple of other political candidates when asked to join the campaign of wealthy but little-known Ohio businessman Jerome Cade (J. T. Walsh), who hopes to win the Senate seat being vacated by St. John's friend Sam Hastings (E. G. Marshall).
, 1h41 Directed byNorman Jewison OriginUSA GenresDrama, War, Crime ThemesFilms about racism, Political films ActorsHoward Rollins, Adolph Caesar, David Alan Grier, Larry Riley, Denzel Washington, David Harris Roles Private First Class Peterson Rating71% The time is 1944 during World War II. Vernon Waters (Adolph Caesar), the Army sergeant in charge of Company B, a platoon of black soldiers, is very drunk and staggering along a road along Fort Neal, a segregated Army base in Louisiana. Waters' last words amidst his raucous laughter were "They still hate you! They still hate you!" before he is shot to death with a .45 caliber pistol.
, 1h32 Directed byMichael Schultz OriginUSA GenresDrama, Comedy, Comedy-drama ActorsDenzel Washington, George Segal, Susan Saint James, Jack Warden, Paul Winfield, Parley Baer Roles Roger Porter Rating56% Roger Porter (Washington) is the long-lost black son of Walter Whitney (Segal), a respectable businessman who lives in the all-white community of San Marino, California. Walter, who is Jewish, has been hiding that fact for purposes of professional advancement in the business which his anti-Semitic father-in-law (Warden) heads.
, 2h19 Directed byDenzel Washington OriginUSA GenresDrama, Historical ThemesSports films, Théâtre, Baseball films, Films based on plays ActorsDenzel Washington, Viola Davis, Mykelti Williamson, Russell Hornsby, Lesley Boone Rating71% Dans les années 1950, à Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson, ancien joueur de la Negro League de baseball est devenu éboueur. Il vit avec son épouse Rose et son fils cadet Cory dans une maison qu'il a pu acheter avec une partie de l'indemnité de blessure de guerre de son frère Gabriel qui, blessé à la tête, est devenu un handicapé mental qui erre dans le quartier et qui est menacé d'internement. Son fils aîné, Lyons, n'arrive pas à se stabiliser, vivant de petits contrats de musique et devant subir les récriminations de son père.