- Has expressed a desire to ditch good guy roles in favor of playing villains and starring in comedies. (August 4, 2004)
- Washington didn't do much research before playing a police chief in OUT OF TIME because he has often played law officers before. (October 4, 2003)
- Washington suggested his latest entry, OUT OF TIME, could be one of his last as an actor because his goal now is to add to his list of credits as a director. (September 16, 2003)
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington are demanding $1 million each from American electronics giant Fry's Electronics after their images appeared in newspaper ads for the company. (June 19, 2003)
- Derek Luke let out a whoop and then hugged Washington real hard when he heard he'd been cast in his first movie, ANTWONE FISHER -- to make it even more satisfying for Luke, he got the news in front of the real Antwone Fisher, the sailor who overcomes a horrific childhood in the film. (January 10, 2003)
- Washington, an ensemble player on the popular 1980s hospital drama ST. ELSEWHERE, didn't quit TV the minute he began making a name for himself in film; rather, the actor stayed loyal to the medium that launched him, chose his movie roles with finesse, and grew, gracefully, into the marquee star he is today.
- Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer Of 2002 crown (2002)
- Washington's directorial debut is ANTWONE FISHER STORY.
- He was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#77). (1995)
- His son, Malcolm, was named in honor of Malcolm X
- To prepare for his role as boxer Rubin Carter in THE HURRICANE (1999), Washington worked out for a year with L.A. boxing trainer Terry Claybon.
- In a Newsweek cover story about the biological basis of the perception of beauty, he was used as a key example in a scientific explanation why he is considered an extremely handsome man.
- He was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. (1990)
- According to a 1995 Premiere magazine article, Denzel confronted director Quentin Tarantino when he visted the set of CRIMSON TIDE. Quentin had done an uncredited rewrite of the script. Denzel lambasted Tarantino about his use of racial slurs in his films. Tarantino got embarrassed and wanted to move the conversation to a more private area. Denzel said, No, if we're going to discuss it, let's discuss it now. Denzel later said he still felt that Quentin was a fine artist.
- Denzel is named after his father who was in turn named after the doctor, Doctor Denzel, who had delivered him.
- He is a frequent collaborator of Spike Lee (3 films together).
- He supports charities such as the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and the Gathering Place (an AIDS hospice).
- He met his wife Pauletta in 1979 when both had small roles in the TV-movie WILMA (1977) (TV), the story of runner Wilma Rudolph. They wed four years later.
- He is a spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, having been a member of the Boys Club once himself.
- Only the second actor of color (after Sidney Poiter) to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (TRAINING DAY).
- Has his mother to thank for his success in the movie world.
- Denzel Washington is set to let down students at his teen daughter's school - because the speech he plans to give there is going to be to too tame.
- He would have lived life as an intense and moody man with little sense of humor if he and his wife had failed to have children.
- Alonzo Harris's (Denzel Washington) house in TRAINING DAY is the same house used as Janiece's (Tamala Jones) house in BLUE STREAK (1999) with Martin Lawrence.
- Director Clint Eastwood originally intended to give the role of Butch in A PERFECT WORLD (1993) to him.
- He trained for over a year with a boxing coach for the role in THE HURRICANE (1999).
- In PHILADELPHIA (1993), his law firm includes the name Shilts, a reference to author/AIDS activist Randy Shilts (writer of the book And the Band Played On).
- Many of his lines in TRAINING DAY (2001) are ad-libbed.
- The picture of his early years as a cop that Harris (Washington) shows to Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) in one of the deleted scenes in TRAINING DAY is a still frame from RICOCHET (1991)
- The picture of Malcolm X in Hurricane's cell is actually his picture as Malcolm X from the movie MALCOLM X.
- Was nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Drama in 2000 for THE HURRICANE.
- 1996 He received Harvard Foundation Award
- Nominated for Best Line at MTV Movie Awards for TRAINING DAY (2002)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for TRAINING DAY (2002)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at Screen Actors Guild Awards for TRAINING DAY (2002)
- Nominated for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special at Emmy Awards for Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (2001)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at Screen Actors Guild Awards for THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Nominated for Best Male Performance at MTV Movie Awards for CRIMSON TIDE (1996)
- Nominated for Outstanding Informational Special at Emmy Awards for Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995)
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for PHILADELPHIA (1994) - shared with Tom Hanks
- Nominated for Most Desirable Male at MTV Movie Awards for THE PELICAN BRIEF (1994)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for MALCOLM X (1993)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for MALCOLM X (1993)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for CRY FREEDOM (1988)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for CRY FREEDOM (1988)
Quotes- I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me - spiritually and financially.
- "For whatever reason, God has blessed me with the ability, put me in a position to make these leaps and bounds. I'm fulfilling my part of the bargain, which is to give back and be a positive influence on others."
- "My mother never gave up one me. I messed up in school so much they were sending me home, but my mother sent me right back."
- I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me-spiritually and financially.
- Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.
- "Acting is just a way of making a living, the family is life."
- "A film is just like a muffin. You make it. You put it on the table. One person might say, "Oh, I don't like it." One might say it's the best muffin ever made. One might say it's an awful muffin. It's hard for me to say. It's for me to make the muffin."
- I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it.
- "I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic makeup, but it's not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question."
- I like talking. I like acting. Running and jumping and ducking bullets is not my idea of a good day.
Awards- BET Awards: Best Actor (2004)
- Black Reel Awards: Theatrical - Best Director, ANTWONE FISHER (2003)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, JOHN Q (2003)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, ANTWONE FISHER (2003)
- PGA Golden Laurel Awards: Stanley Kramer Award, ANTWONE FISHER (2003)
- Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- AFI Awards: AFI Actor of the Year - Male - Movies, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- American Cinematheque Gala Tribute: American Cinematheque Award (2002)
- Black Reel Awards: Theatrical - Best Actor, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards: Best Actor, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Villain, TRAINING DAY (2002)
- BET Awards: Best Actor, REMEMBER THE TITANS (2001)
- Black Reel Awards: Theatrical - Best Actor, REMEMBER THE TITANS (2001)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Actor, TRAINING DAY (2001)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, REMEMBER THE TITANS (2001)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actor, TRAINING DAY (2001)
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Berlin Bear - Best Actor, THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Black Reel Awards: Theatrical - Best Actor, THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, THE HURRICANE (2000)
- Women in Film Crystal Awards: Humanitarian Award (2000)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Performance in a Youth or Children's Series/Special, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1998)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture, COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1997)
- Image Awards: Special Award - Entertainer of the Year (1997)
- Lone Star Film & Television Awards: Best Actor, COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1997)
- ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Male Star of the Year (1997)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actor, COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1997)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture, CRIMSON TIDE (1996)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Performance in an Animated/Live-Action/Dramatic Youth or Children's Series/Special, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1996)
- Golden Apple Awards: Golden Apple - Male Star of the Year (1995)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, MALCOLM X (1995)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture, MISSISSIPPI MASALA (1994)
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Berlin Bear - Best Actor, MALCOLM X (1993)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Male Performance, MALCOLM X (1993)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actor, MALCOLM X (1993)
- Sundance Film Festival: Tribute to Independent Vision Award (1993)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, GLORY (1992)
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Best Actor, MALCOLM X (1992)
- Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, GLORY (1990)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, GLORY (1990)
- Cognac Festival du Film Policier: Best Actor, FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY (1988)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, POWER (1988)
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