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From his humble beginnings in a New York City housing project to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected and critically acclaimed actors, Denzel Washington has led a life full of triumphs, challenges, and unforgettable performances. With an impressive career spanning over four decades, he has cemented himself as a true icon of the industry. In this comprehensive biography, we will dive into every aspect of Denzel Washington’s life and career – from his earliest roles on stage to his most recent blockbuster hits. Get ready to discover the man behind some of cinema’s most powerful performances!
Denzel Washington Bio
Denzel Washington was born in the District of Columbia, on February 17, 1960. He grew up in the Mt. Vernon-Belvedere neighborhood in the northeast section of Washington, D.C., with his mother and stepfather. Washington has two younger sisters. After attending an all-male prep school, he attended college at American University in Washington for two years before dropping out to pursue a career in acting.
Washington began his professional acting career by appearing in local productions before making his film debut in the 1981 drama Drama Club. His breakthrough role came shortly thereafter when he was cast as Detective John Rhodey in the Academy Award-winning crime thriller Philadelphia (1993). In subsequent roles, Washington starred in such films as Malcolm X (1992), The Pelican Brief (1993), Glory (1989), and The Hurricane (1999). Additionally, he appeared in several successful television series throughout his career, including The Wire (2002-2008), House of Cards (2013-2018), and Scandal (2015-present).
Throughout his illustrious career, Washington has been nominated for numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as jazz musician Fats Domino in the biographical drama Fences (2016). In 2018, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Real Name | Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. |
Nick Name: | Denzel Washington |
Birth Place: | Mount Vernon, New York |
Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 28 December 1954 |
Age/How Old: | 68 years old |
Height/How Tall: | In Centimeters – 185 cm In Feet and Inches – 6’ 1” |
Weight: | In Kilograms – 96 kg In Pounds – 211 lbs |
Eye Color: | Dark brown |
Hair Color: | Black |
Parents Name: | Father – Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. Mother – Lennis Washington |
Siblings: | Yes |
Social media accounts: | |
School: | Mainland High school |
College: | Fordham University |
Religion: | Christian |
Nationality: | American |
Zodiac Sign: | Capricorn |
Gender: | Male |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Marital Status: | Married |
Girlfriend: | N/A |
Wife/Spouse Name: | Pauletta Pearson (m. 1983) |
Kids/Children Name: | John David Washington, Malcolm Washington, Katia Washington, Olivia Washington |
Profession: | Actor, director, producer |
Net Worth: | $300 million |
Denzel Washington Net Worth
Denzel Washington was born on December 25, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. He is an American actor and filmmaker. Washington began his career in the late 1970s with stage roles in “A Raisin in the Sun” and “The Iceman Cometh”. In 1981, he made his film debut in the critically acclaimed drama “Downton Abbey”, for which he received his first Golden Globe nomination. In 1982, Washington starred as Joe Turner in the film version of Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun”. The following year, he appeared opposite Kathleen Turner in the blockbuster crime thriller “Body Heat”, which grossed over $100 million at the box office.
In 1989, Washington starred as Detective John McClane opposite Bruce Willis in the highly successful action film “Die Hard”. The following year, he played Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Clint Eastwood’s biographical drama “JFK”. For his performance as King, Washington won his first Academy Award for Best Actor and received a second nomination for Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards. His other notable films include: “The Hurricane”, “Cry Freedom”, “Philadelphia”, and most recently “Flight”.
Washington has also directed several films, including: “” (2004), which grossed over $200 million at the box office; “” (2006), which was nominated for six Academy Awards; and “” (2015), which won three Academy Awards including Best Picture. As a musician
Name | Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. |
Net Worth (2023) | $300 Million |
Profession | Actor, Producer, Director |
Monthly Income And Salary | $2 Million + |
Yearly Income And Salary | $20 Million + |
Last Updated | 2023 |
Denzel Washington Family
Denzel Washington was born on December 25, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York to Curtis and Cora Baines Washington. He has two older siblings, sister Sharon and brother Randall. His parents were both active in the civil rights movement and encouraged their children to do the same. Denzel attended high school at Baltimore’s Roland Park School where he participated in drama and poetry clubs and became involved in stage productions. After graduation, he attended Howard University for one year before transferring to American University where he received his BFA in 1975.
Washington worked as a community organizer for several years before making his film debut in the 1981 crime thriller “Do The Right Thing”. The following year, he starred in the low-budget but critically acclaimed drama “the Black Stallion”. His breakthrough role came in 1989 with his performance as Nate Heywood in the landmark movie “Goodfellas”. Since then, Washington has starred in a number of successful films including “A League of Their Own”, “Glory” (1989), “Philadelphia” (1993), “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), “The John Q. Petty Story” (2002), and most recently “Flight” (2012).
Washington is also well known for his work on television, appearing in such series as “The Cosby Show”, “The West Wing”, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, and most recently HBO’s hit crime series, “Boardwalk Empire”. He has also made numerous appearances on Broadway including starring
Denzel Washington Career
Denzel Washington was born on December 24, 1954 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, LaVerne Washington, was a jazz trumpeter and singer who played with such bands as Theolonius Monk’s quartet and Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Washington’s mother, Delores, was a schoolteacher. When Denzel was three years old, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, Washington excelled in both academics and athletics; he attended the prestigious John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Baltimore and played football and basketball at the varsity level. In 1971, Washington began his collegiate studies at the University of Maryland where he studied political science. However, he soon dropped out to pursue an acting career.
Washington made his professional debut in the television movie The Tuskegee Airmen (1983). He went on to appear in several high-profile films including Glory (1989), Malcolm X (1992), My Cousin Vinny (1992), The Pelican Brief (1993), Training Day (2001), Revolutionary Road (2008) and American Sniper (2014). In 2018, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as Marlin Brando in Roman J. Israel Esq.
Denzel Washington Awards and Achievements
Denzel Washington was born on December 25, 1954, in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. His mother, Lula (Washington), was a schoolteacher and his father, Darnell Washington, was a truck driver. As a child, Denzel showed an interest in acting and pursued it through community theatre. He made his professional debut at the age of 10 in a play called “The Living Bible”.
Washington attended high school at Clifton North High School in Baltimore. After graduating in 1972 he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. He performed in plays such as “A Raisin In The Sun” and “Freedom Road”, both of which were produced on Broadway.
In 1976 Washington made his movie debut in the role of Malcolm X in the biographical drama film “Malcolm X”. The following year he starred as Detective John Singleton in the crime drama film “Do The Right Thing”. Both films received critical acclaim and helped launch Washington’s career as one of Hollywood’s most promising actors.
Washington went on to star in numerous successful movies including “He Got Game”, “Training Day”, “The Equalizer”, “Antwone Fisher”, and “Argo”. He has also appeared in several successful television series including ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, House MD, and Monk.
Denzel Washington has won numerous awards throughout his career including three Academy Awards (for Best Actor for
Denzel Washington Wife
Denzel Washington has had an illustrious career in Hollywood, and his wife, LaToya Washington, has been by his side for all of it. The two have been married for over 30 years and have three children together. They have also enjoyed a successful music career together as well.
Washington was born on December 25th, 1950 in the city of Philadelphia to Mainline Protestant parents. His father was a truck driver and his mother was a school bus driver. He struggled in school and didn’t excel early on, but he found his passion in performing at a young age. He started out doing local theater and then moved on to Broadway before finally earning a spot in Hollywood.
Washington’s breakthrough role came in 1987 with the movie “The Great Debaters.” He went on to star in many popular movies over the next few years, including “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game,” ” Glory,” “Independence Day” and many more. He also received critical acclaim for his performance as DC police officer John Synder in the 2002 film “Fences.”
Washington is known for being an intense actor who deeply invests himself in each role he takes on. He has been quoted as saying that he never takes any roles unless he can really connect with the character and believes that acting is about communication between actor and audience.
Washington married LaToya Scott on May 19th, 1991 after they had been dating for several months. The two were already parents to son
Denzel Washington Height and Weight
Denzel Washington was born in the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland on September 25th, 1954. He is the son of a police officer and a schoolteacher. Washington attended Cass Technical High School where he participated in ROTC and was president of his senior class. After high school, Washington attended Towson State University but left after two years to pursue an acting career.
Washington’s professional acting debut came in the role of Ricky Williams in the 1981 film “The Great White Hope”. His performance caught the attention of director Spike Lee who cast him in roles in films such as “Do The Right Thing” (1989), “Malcolm X” (1992), and “He Got His Own” (1993). In 1995, Washington won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in the film “Malcolm X”.
Washington has continued to achieve success in both leading and supporting roles throughout his career. Some of his most notable appearances include roles in films such as “A Time to Kill” (1996), “The Hurricane” (1999), “Training Day” (2001), and “The Book Thief” (2013). In 2017, he starred as Julius Caesar in the historical drama film “Washington”.