Denzel Hayes Washington Jr., born on December 28, 1954 is a highly celebrated American actor, producer, and director, known for his powerful performances on both stage and screen. In 2020, he was named the greatest actor of the 21st century. His awards include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award, with nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. He has also received the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2016), the AFI Life Achievement Award (2019), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025).
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. |
| Date of Birth | December 28, 1954 |
| Place of Birth | Mount Vernon, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Pauletta Washington (1983-present) |
| Children | John David, Katia, Malcolm, and Olivia |
| Occupations | Actor, Director, Producer |
| Net Worth | Estimated $300 million |
Early Life and Education
Denzel Washington was born in Mount Vernon, New York. His father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr., was a Pentecostal minister, and his mother, Lennis “Lynne” Washington, owned a beauty parlor.
Following his parents’ divorce, he attended Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York. He graduated from Fordham University in 1977 with a BA in Drama and Journalism. Before pursuing acting, he was a creative arts director at Camp Sloane, a YMCA summer camp in Connecticut.
Career
Washington’s acting career took off at Fordham, where he starred in Shakespeare’s Othello. His first screen role was in the 1977 television film Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story.
His breakthrough came with the role of Dr. Phillip Chandler in the NBC drama St. Elsewhere (1982–1988). In 1984, he played Private First Class Melvin Peterson in A Soldier’s Story, a role he had previously played in the Off-Broadway play A Soldier’s Play.
Washington gained prominence in Hollywood, starring in films like The Mighty Quinn (1989), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Mississippi Masala (1991), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). He received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987).
In 1989, he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Glory. Further roles included Malcolm X (1992), Philadelphia (1993), and The Hurricane (1999), earning him a Golden Globe Award.
In 2001, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Training Day. This made him the first African American actor to win two competitive Academy Awards and the first Black actor since Sidney Poitier in 1964 to win the leading actor award.
Washington’s other Oscar-nominated roles include Malcolm X (1992), The Hurricane (1999), Flight (2012), Fences (2016), Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021).
Washington has also directed films, starting with Antwone Fisher (2002). Other directing credits include The Great Debaters (2007) and Fences (2016).
On stage, he appeared in Coriolanus (1979) and The Tragedy of Richard III (1990) and made his Broadway debut in Checkmates (1988).
He won a Tony Award for his role in Fences (2010) and has also appeared in Julius Caesar (2005), A Raisin in the Sun (2014), and The Iceman Cometh (2018). He is set to return to Broadway in Othello in 2025. He has also starred in The Equalizer film series (2014–2023).
Personal Life
Denzel Washington is married to Pauletta Pearson, whom he met on the set of Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story in 1977.
They married on June 25, 1983, and renewed their vows in 1995 in South Africa, with Desmond Tutu officiating.
They have four children: John David, Katia, and twins Olivia and Malcolm. John David is an actor, Katia is a film producer, Olivia is an actress, and Malcolm is a director and producer.
Denzel Washington Net Worth
As 2025, Denzel Washington’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $300 million.
Filmography
- Carbon Copy (1981)
- A Soldier’s Story (1984)
- Cry Freedom (1987)
- Glory (1989)
- Malcolm X (1992)
- Philadelphia (1993)
- The Hurricane (1999)
- Training Day (2001)
- Antwone Fisher (2002)
- The Great Debaters (2007)
- American Gangster (2007)
- The Book of Eli (2010)
- Fences (2016)
- The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
- The Equalizer (2014)
- Remember the Titans (2000)
Awards and Nominations
Denzel Washington’s awards include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.
He was named the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2020. He has also been nominated for Emmy and Grammy Awards.
He received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019.
He will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.
