Denzel Washington is an award-winning actor, filmmaker and director who has received three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards. Here is how Denzel got to where he is today.
Denzel Washington Early Life
The acclaimed actor was born on December 28, 1954, in New York. His mother was a Georgia-born beauty salon and operator who grew up in Harlem, New York.
Denzel Washington is named after his father, who is named after the doctor who gave birth to him. His father was born in Buckingham County, Virginia and spent his life working at a local S. Klein department store.
Washington finished his primary in Pennington-Grimes Elementary School in Mount Vernon until 1968. When young Denzel was only 14, his parents decided to part ways. Then his mother sent him to the Oakland Military Academy private preparatory school in New Windsor, New York.
According to Denzel Washington, this decision and point of view changed the direction of his life. From there he moved to Florida to chase his dreams. He initially wanted to attend Texas Tech University, eventually earning a BA in Theater and Journalism from Fordham University in the year 1977.
While in college, Denzel played basketball as a guard.
Denzel Washington Career
Washington began his acting career in 1976 when he played Wings of the Morning in the summer theater.
A year later, he had his first appearance in the movie Wilma, made for television, and his first Hollywood appearance in the 1981 film Carbon Copy. Everything from then on led him to today’s success. His huge career break came with his role as Dr. Phillip Chandler in the NBC television drama about St. Elsewhere Hospital, which ran from 1982 to 1988.
At the time, he was one of the few African American actors to appear on the series throughout the six-year series.
Another important milestone came in 1987 when he played South African political activist against apartheid Steven Biko in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1989 Washington won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a defiant and self-possessed former slave soldier in the movie Glory.
In 1990 Washington starred as Bleek Gilliam in Spike Lee’s film Mo ‘Better Blues.
In 1998 Washington starred in Spike Lee’s He Got Game, a cult film of the modern generation.
In 2000, Washington appeared in Disney’s Remember the Titans and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Drama for his work in The Hurricane.
He was the first actor in color to win the award from Sidney Poitier in 1963.
In 2010, Washington starred in The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic drama, while in 2016 he directed the movie Fences.
In 2017, Washington starred in the legal drama Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Denzel Washington Personal Life
In 1983, Denzel married Pauletta Pearson. Washington met Pauletta while working on the TV movie Wilma.
They have four children. Since 2018, Denzel and his wife have been based in New York.
In 1995 Washington and Pauletta renewed their marriage vows in South Africa. Overall, they have one of the longest weddings in Hollywood.
Denzel Washington Net Worth
Denzel Washington earns between $ 60 million and $ 80 million per film. All in all, his net worth is estimated at approximately $ 250 million.
Considering that Denzel is still an active player, his net worth is expected to became bigger.
