Denzel Washington

While many media pundits have held up renowned actor Denzel Washington as a symbol of Hollywood’s progress in terms of giving African-American actors their due in terms of respectful, quality roles and accompanying award recognition, Denzel Washington is quick to stress that his achievements are personal successes. An unlikely candidate for movie star, Denzel Washington’s childhood was a drought as far as movies are concerned—his conservative parents banned them in his household.

His parents, who raised Denzel in Mt. Vernon, New York, were very different people and eventually divorced, packing Denzel Washington and his sister off to a boarding school in the process. His mother worked in a hair salon, and it is apparently there that he picked up his gift for gab. His smooth, engaging patter would certainly suggest a childhood surreptitiously listening to cleverly told gossip and joining the conversation when he could. His father’s profession as a minister may account for the convincing moral authority and personal certainty he has brought to so many roles.

Acting was a late career choice for Denzel, who had started university with the aim of becoming a journalist. But then, it may be considered surprising he made it to college in the first place. His teen years involved a certain amount of sowing wild oats, and some of less lucky buddies found their way into prison. Denzel Washington is known for bringing intense focus to his preparation and performance as an actor, training hard for his role in the boxing film The Hurricane, and eschewing any kind of recreational drug use.

While typically cast in the role of hero—with unimpeachable moral conduct and unshakable values—one of his most powerful and entertaining performances was as a vicious, crooked cop in 2001’s Training Day. The Academyâ agreed, and handed Denzel Washington his second Oscarâ victory (the first coming in the supporting actor category in the 1990 film Glory).

Denzel Washington’s first priority is his family. Sorry ladies, he is married with four children.