العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolDENZEL WASHINGTON
'Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr.' (born December 28, 1954) is an Academy Award-winning American actor and director. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his portrayals of several real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and Herman Boone.
Biography
Early life
Washington was born in Mount Vernon, New York. His father, Dillwyn, Virginia-born Reverend Denzel Washington, was an ordained Pentecostal minister and also worked for the Water Department and at a local department store, "S. Klein". His mother, Lennis, was a beauty parlor owner born in Georgia and raised in Harlem. When Washington was fourteen, his parents' marriage took a turn for the worse, and he, his older sister and younger brother were sent away to boarding school so that they would not be exposed to their parents' eventual divorce. He attended grammar school at Pennington Grimes Elementary School in Mount Vernon.
Washington went on to college, attaining a B.A. in Drama and Journalism from Fordham University in 1977. At Fordham he played collegiate basketball under coach P. J. Carlesimo. He still found time to pursue his interest in acting, and after graduation he went to San Francisco, where he won a scholarship to the American Conservatory Theatre. Washington stayed with the ACT for a year, and, after his time there, he began acting in various television movies and made his film debut in the 1981 film ''Carbon Copy''. Although he had a starring role as the illegitimate son of a rich white man, Washington didn't find real recognition until he joined the cast of the long-running TV series ''St. Elsewhere'' in 1982. He won critical raves and audience adoration for his portrayal of Dr. Phillip Chandler, and he began to attract Hollywood notice. In 1987, he starred as anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough's ''Cry Freedom'', and his powerful performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
Early career
Shortly after graduating from Fordham, Washington made his professional acting debut in the 1977 made-for-television movie ''Wilma''. He made his film debut in the 1981 film ''Carbon Copy''. His big break came when he starred in the popular television hospital drama, ''St. Elsewhere'' from 1982 to 1988. He was one of a few actors to appear on the series for its entire six-year run. In 1987, after appearing in several minor television, film and stage roles, Washington starred as South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko in Richard Attenborough's ''Cry Freedom'', a role for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1989, Washington won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing a defiant, self-possessed ex-slave in the film ''Glory''. Also that same year, he gave a powerful performance as Reuben James, a Caribbean-born man who turned from a British Army paratrooper into a vigilante in ''For Queen and Country''.
Career: 1990s
In the Summer of 1990 he starred in a movie called ''Mississippi Masala'' in Greenwood, MS, where he played Demetrius Williams.
Washington played one of his most critically acclaimed roles in 1992's ''Malcolm X'', directed by Spike Lee. His performance as the Black Nationalist leader earned him an Oscar nomination. Both the influential film critic Roger Ebert and the highly acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese called the movie one of the ten best films made during the 1990s.
''Malcolm X'' transformed Washington's career, turning him, practically overnight, into one of Hollywood's most respected actors. He turned down several similar roles, such as an offer to play Martin Luther King, Jr., because he wanted to avoid being typecast. The next year, in 1993, he took another risk in his career by playing Joe Miller, the homophobic lawyer of a homosexual man with AIDS in the movie ''Philadelphia'' starring Tom Hanks. Although it was a big risk for Hanks to play a man with AIDS, critics agreed it was also a risk for Washington to play the homophobic Miller. During the early and mid 1990s, Washington became a renowned Hollywood leading man, starring in several successful thrillers, including ''The Pelican Brief'' and ''Crimson Tide'', as well as comedies (''Much Ado About Nothing'') and romantic dramas (''The Preacher's Wife'').
While filming the 1995 film, ''Virtuosity'', Washington refused to kiss his white female co-star, Kelly Lynch, during a romantic scene between their characters. During an interview, Lynch stated that while she wanted to, "Denzel felt very strongly about it. I felt there is no problem with interracial romance. But Denzel felt strongly that the white males, who were the target audience of this movie, would not want to see him kiss a white woman." Lynch further stated, "That's a shame. I feel badly about it. I keep thinking that the world's changed, but it hasn't changed quick enough".[1]
A similar situation also occurred during the filming of ''The Pelican Brief'' when Julia Roberts expressed in an interview her desire to have her character in the film engaged in a romantic relationship with Washington's character. And an additional occurrence was in the 1989 film "The Mighty Quinn" where Washington's Quinn character did not kiss Mimi Rogers' alluring Hadley character. However, in 1998, Washington starred in a scene of a sexual nature with actress Milla Jovovich, in Spike Lee's ''He Got Game''.
In 1999, Washington starred in ''The Hurricane'', a movie about boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, whose conviction for triple murder was overturned after he had spent almost 20 years in prison. Various newspaper articles have suggested that the controversy over the film’s accuracy may have cost Washington an Oscar for which he was nominated. Washington did receive a Golden Globe Award in 2000 and a 'Silberner Bär' (Silver Berlin Bear) at the Berlin International Film Festival for the role.
He also presented the Arthur Ashe ESPY Award to Loretta Claiborne for her courage. He appeared as himself in the end of "The Loretta Claiborne Story" movie. Washington is often cited as an example of human physical attractiveness due to the symmetry of his facial features.[2][3]
Career: 2000s
In 2000, Washington appeared in the crowd-pleasing Disney film, ''Remember the Titans'', which grossed over $100 million at the United States box office. He was nominated and won an Oscar for Best Actor for his next film, the 2001 cop thriller, ''Training Day'', which was considered a change of pace for Washington, as he played a villainous character after many roles as a heroic lead. Washington was the second African-American performer ever to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Actor (for ''Training Day''). The first being Sidney Poitier, who happened to receive an Honorary Academy Award the same night that Washington won for Best Actor. Washington is the only actor of African descent to have acting nominations (five times) for an African-American performer.
After appearing in 2002's box office success, the Health care-themed ''John Q.'', Washington directed his first film, a well-reviewed drama called ''Antwone Fisher'', in which he also co-starred.
Between 2003 and 2004, Washington appeared in a series of thrillers that performed generally well at the box office, including ''Out of Time'', ''Man on Fire'' and ''The Manchurian Candidate''. Denzel Washington Movie Box Office Results In 2006 he starred in ''Inside Man'', a Spike Lee-directed bank heist thriller co-starring Jodie Foster and Clive Owen, and ''Déjà Vu'' released in November 2006. Next he will be working with Russell Crowe in the film ''American Gangster''.
Washington made a rare stage appearance in 2005 as Brutus in Shakespeare's ''Julius Caesar'' on Broadway. The production's limited run was a sell-out despite receiving universally terrible reviews.
Personal life
In 1983, Washington married actress Pauletta Pearson (now Pauletta Washington), whom he met on the set of his first screen role, ''Wilma''. The couple have four children: John David (b. July 28, 1984), who signed a football contract with the St. Louis Rams in May 2006 after playing college football at Morehouse;[4] Katia (b. November 1987), who is attending Yale University, and twins Olivia and Malcolm (b. April 10, 1991). In 1995, the couple renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating.
Washington and his family visited soldiers at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He later made a sizable donation to the Fisher Houses, small hotels that provide rooms for soldiers' families while the soldiers are hospitalized. In October 2006, he published a bestseller entitled ''Hand to Guide Me'', featuring actors, politicians, athletes, and other public figures recalling their childhood mentors. The book was published in commemoration of the Boys and Girls Club of America's centennial anniversary. Denzel had participated in the club as a child.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia named Washington as one of three people (the others being directors Oliver Stone and Michael Moore) they want to negotiate with for the release of three defense contractors that the group has held captive since 2003.[5]
On May 20,2007 Washington received an honorary doctorate of humanities degree from Morehouse College.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | ''Carbon Copy'' | Roger Porter | |
| 1984 | ''A Soldier's Story'' | Pfc. Peterson | |
| 1986 | ''Hard Lessons'' | George McKenna | |
| ''Power'' | Arnold Billing | ||
| 1987 | ''Cry Freedom'' | Steve Biko | |
| 1989 | ''The Mighty Quinn'' | Xavier Quinn | |
| ''For Queen and Country'' | Reuben James | ||
| ''Glory'' | Pvt. Trip | Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor | |
| 1990 | ''Heart Condition'' | Napoleon Stone | |
| ''Mo' Better Blues'' | Bleek Gilliam | ||
| 1991 | ''Ricochet'' | Nick Styles | |
| 1992 | ''Mississippi Masala'' | Demetrius Williams | |
| ''Malcolm X'' | Malcolm X | Title role, Academy Award Nomination | |
| 1993 | ''Much Ado About Nothing'' | Don Pedro of Aragon | |
| ''The Pelican Brief'' | Gray Grantham | ||
| ''Philadelphia'' | Joe Miller | ||
| 1995 | ''Crimson Tide'' | Lt. Commander Ron Hunter | |
| ''Virtuosity'' | Lt. Parker Barnes | ||
| ''Devil in a Blue Dress'' | Easy Rawlins | ||
| 1996 | ''Courage Under Fire'' | Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling | |
| ''The Preacher's Wife'' | Dudley | ||
| 1998 | ''Fallen'' | Detective John Hobbes | |
| ''He Got Game'' | Jake Shuttlesworth | ||
| ''The Siege'' | Special Agent Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard | ||
| 1999 | ''The Bone Collector'' | Lincoln Rhyme | |
| ''The Hurricane'' | Rubin "Hurricane" Carter | ||
| 2000 | ''Remember the Titans'' | Coach Herman Boone | |
| ''The Loretta Claiborne Story'' | Himself | ||
| 2001 | ''Training Day'' | Detective Alonzo Harris | Academy Award, Best Actor |
| 2002 | ''John Q'' | John Quincy Archibald | |
| ''Antwone Fisher'' | Dr. Jerome Davenport | also as director | |
| 2003 | ''Out of Time'' | Police Chief Matthias Lee Whitlock | |
| 2004 | ''Man on Fire'' | John Creasy | |
| ''The Manchurian Candidate'' | Major Ben Marco | ||
| 2006 | ''Inside Man'' | Detective Keith Frazier | |
| ''Déjà Vu'' | Special Agent Doug Carlin | ||
| 2007 | ''American Gangster'' | Frank Lucas | |
| 2008 | ''The Great Debaters'' | Melvin B. Tolson | Post-production |
Academy Awards and nominations
★ 1987 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - ''Cry Freedom''
★ 1989 - Won - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - ''Glory''
★ 1992 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role - ''Malcolm X''
★ 1999 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role - ''The Hurricane''
★ 2001 - Won - Best Actor in a Leading Role - ''Training Day''
Awards/nominations
★ 1993 - won Silver Bear (Best Actor) for ''Malcolm X'' at the Berlin International Film Festival
★ 2000 - won Silver Bear (Best Actor) for ''The Hurricane'' at the Berlin International Film Festival
Academy Award
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' | '''Training Day''' | 'Won' |
| 2000 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | ''The Hurricane'' | Nominated |
| 1993 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | ''Malcolm X'' | Nominated |
| 1990 | 'Best Supporting Actor' | '''Glory''' | 'Won' |
| 1988 | Best Supporting Actor | ''Cry Freedom'' | Nominated |
BET Awards
| Year | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2001 | 'Best Actor' | 'Won' |
| 2004 | 'Best Actor' | 'Won' |
Black Movie Award
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor | ''Inside Man'' | Nominated |
Black Reel Award
| Year | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Best Actor | ''Inside Man'' | Nominated |
| 2004 | Best Actor | ''Out of Time'' | Nominated |
| 2003 | Best Supporting Actor | ''Antwone Fisher'' | Nominated |
| 'Best Director' | '''Antwone Fisher''' | 'Won' | |
| Best Actor | John Q | Nominated |
References
1. Quotes from ''Jet'' magazine, 1995
2. The biology of beauty Geoffrey Cowley Excerpted by Balancing Act
3. Flirting Fascination Joann Ellison Rodgers
4. Denzel Washington's son among Rams signees
5. Colombian rebels ask Denzel Washington to help broker hostage exchange
External links
★
★
★
★
★ Denzel Washington being interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
Featured Companies
| Golf Holidays International |
