- Date of Birth: December 28, 1954
- Place of Birth: Mt. Vernon, New York
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Denzel Washington Biography
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DENZEL WASHINGTON
Tall strikingly hadsome and charismatic leading man of films and television in the 1980s and 1990s, Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born December 28th 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. He was the middle child of the three children of a Pentecostal minister father and a beautician. After graduating from high school, Denzel enrolled at Fordham University intent on a career in journalism. However he caught the acting bug while appearing in student drama productions and upon graduating he moved to San Francisco and enrolled at the American Conservatory theatre. He left A.C.T after only one year to seek work as an actor. With his acting versatility and powerful sexual presence, he had no difficulty finding work in numerous television productions. He made his first big screen appearance in Carbon Copy (1981) with George Seagal. Through the 1980s he worked in both movies and television and was chosen for the plum role of Dr. Chandler in NBC’s hit medical series “St Elsewhere” (1982), a role that he would play for six years. In 1987 he stared in Richard Attenborough’s “Cry Freedom”, where he played South African Anti-Apartheid political activist Steve Biko, for which he was nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar. Then in 1989 he won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his powerful portrayal of Tripp, the runaway slave in Edward Zwick’s historical masterpiece “Glory” (1989). In 1992 Washington played one of his most critically acclaimed roles in Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X”, for which he received an Oscar nomination.
He soon became a respected and admired actor and throughout the 1990s Denzel co-starred alongside such actors as Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, and Gene Hackman respectively in such big budget productions as “The Pelican Brief” (1993), Philadelphia (1993), and Crimson Tide (1995). Other films included “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996), and “Courage Under Fire” (1996) – a role for which he was payed $10 million, while in 2001 he became the second African-American (after Sidney Poitier) to win the best actor Oscar for “Training Day.” Cerebral and meticulous in his film work, he made his debut as a director in 1999 with “Finding Faith” (2001) and also directed and starred in “The Great Debaters” in 2007. He lives quietly in Los Angeles with his wife Pauletta and their four children.
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Comments
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KeNamaNeKposted 2 days ago -
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Indeed of of the best actors in the world. I Love all your movies. Can't wait to see the new one in Jan. 2010!!!
posted 59 days ago -
Just wanted to say how very much I believe in your work and think your wonderful...Perhaps, you may not read it, but the thought is still with you.
Keliaposted 60 days ago -
ha u D!!
i like all ur movies that i see and i like the way u act.i think i did bast things in the movies world continue.....posted 62 days ago -
Denzel. Chigorimbo of africasun@zol,co,zw wishes you could post one of the pictures from the making of Cry Freedom with infant John David. Stephen +27768863481
posted 65 days ago -
Well,I'm just fan and understand the busy life of artist. I'm a painter/artrist of abstract art and love watching movies sometimes. Denzel Washington, is one of the best. Denzel, may not read my mail but, my thought's are with him and the energy that envolves is a powerful tools... Peace, Kelia
posted 74 days ago -
Well,I'm just fan and understand the busy life of artist. I'm a painter/artrist of abstract art and love watching movies sometimes. Denzel Washington, is one of the best and I know that the be best is yet to come. Denzel, may not read my mail but, my thought's are with him and the energy that envolves is a powerful tools... Peace, Kelia
posted 77 days ago
