Denzel Washington, Bio, Age, Career , Net Worth, & More
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is a renowned Hollywood actor and producer, noted for his fiercely rendered performances in cinema and television. Washington was born on December 28, 1954 near New York City. His father, Reverend Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. was a pastor, and his mother Lennis owned a beauty business. At the age of 6, he joined the local Boys & Girls Club of America in Mount Vernon, New York where he first performed on stage. It was this club that kept him occupied and out of trouble. His parents parted when he was 14 years old, and Washington and his sister were sent to boarding school in New Windsor, New York. He attended Fordham University where he played basketball and studied drama and journalism. He stepped out of college for a semester to mull out his future choices, and after working as a creative arts director at a summer camp in Connecticut, decided that he wanted to pursue acting.
Biography
| Also known as: | Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. |
| Occupation: | Actor • Director • Producer |
| Born: | December 28, 1954 |
| Age : | 70 years old |
| Birthplace: | Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.A. |
| Spouse: | Pauletta Pearson Washington |
| Children: | 2 |
Career
After graduating, Washington joined at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and won his first role in the TV movie “Wilma” where he also met his future wife Pauletta Pearson. He then acted in the comedy film “Carbon Copy” and gained accolades for his portrayal in the play “A Soldier’s Play”. His first notable leading role was as Dr. Phillip Chandler in the TV drama “St. Elsewhere” which aired on NBC for 6 years. His other TV, film and stage roles at this time include “A Soldier’s Story”, “Hard Lessons”, “Power” and “For Queen and Country”. Washington gained his first Oscar nomination for the film “Cry Freedom” in 1987, and just two years later, he received the Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film “Glory”.
During the 1990s, Denzel Washington did multiple blockbuster films, of which the most highly regarded was “Malcolm X” in which he hooked up with filmmaker Spike Lee. Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X was emotive and authentic and got him another Oscar nod. In a decision that astonished many critics and supporters, Washington did not win the prize.
This performance, however, will undoubtedly be hailed as one of his best. His other major projects in the 90s include “Courage Under Fire” in which he starred with Meg Ryan, “Philadelphia” in which he starred with Tom Hanks, “The Pelican Brief” with Julia Roberts, “The Preacher’s Wife” with Whitney Houston, and “The Hurricane” in which he played the role of the boxer Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. He gained a Golden Globe Award for it, therefore making him the first black actor to have won a Best Actor Golden Globe since Sidney Poitier 36 years previously.
Net Worth
| Source of Income | Actor • Director • Producer |
| Net Worth | $280 million USD |