He was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York, one of three children of a Pentecostal minister father and a beautician mother. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Fordham University with thoughts of a career in journalism, but his attention soon turned to acting and he appeared in several student dramas. He moved to San Francisco after finishing college and enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater, which he left after one year to pursue acting work. He found steady work in television and made his screen debut in “Carbon Copy” (1981) with George Segal. He worked in both film and television during the 1980s, landing the role of Dr. Chandler in the hit medical series, “St. Elsewhere” (1982), which he would play for six years. In 1989, for his portrayal of a runaway slave in “Glory”, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
He starred in many movies throughout the 1990s, including: “The Pelican Brief” (1983), “Philadelphia” (1993), “Crimson Tide” (1995), “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996) and “Courage Under Fire” (1996). He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Pauletta, and their four children. He made his directorial debut in 2002 with the film, “Antwone Fisher.” Premiere Magazine voted him the 39th Greatest Movie Star of all time and in 1996 People Magazine voted him “the sexiest man alive.” He is the first African-American actor to receive two Academy Awards. He is the father of actor, John David Washington, and the cousin of CBS anchorman, Ukee Washington.
Denzel Washington is highly respected among others of his ilk. Tom Hanks said that working with him in the film “Philadelphia” was like going to film school, and that he learned more about acting by watching Denzel Washington than from anyone else.
What are some of YOUR favorite films with this most talented and handsome actor?