Denzel Washington
Acting Born Dec 28, 1954 Mount Vernon, New York, USA 149 credits
Biography
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, producer, and director born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. He is the son of Lennis, a beautician, and Denzel Washington, Sr., a Pentecostal minister. Recognized for his dramatic performances on both stage and screen, Washington is widely considered one of the most versatile and celebrated actors of his generation. Throughout his career, he has been honored with numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award. In 2022, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, following his recognition with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019.
Sources & verification
Denzel Washington — The Movie Database (TMDB)
Denzel Washington - Wikipedia
Denzel Washington - IMDb
50 Best Denzel Washington Movies Ranked | Rotten Tomatoes
Denzel Washington facts: Actor's age, wife, children, family and movies ...
Denzel Washington | Biography, Movies, Macbeth, Oscar, & Facts - Britannica
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Career overview
Washington has established a prolific career in the entertainment industry, with 128 known acting credits. He is noted for his engaging and powerful performances, which have earned him consistent critical praise. Beyond his artistic achievements, Washington is credited with helping to dispel industry perceptions regarding the ability of African American actors to draw mainstream audiences to the box office. His work has spanned various media, including film and theater, earning him nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award, alongside other international honors such as two Silver Bears.
In 2020, The New York Times declared Washington the greatest actor of the 21st century. His filmography includes a wide range of projects, with critics frequently ranking his performances in films such as Glory and The Tragedy of Macbeth among his most notable work. As a versatile performer, he continues to be regarded as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated figures, maintaining a significant presence in both dramatic and mainstream cinema.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Number One on the Call SheetHighest 2 LowestDenzel Washington: Falling Forward
Gladiator IIHollywood BlackThe Piano Lesson · ProducerThe Making of Gladiator IIThe Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision
The Equalizer 3The Equalizer 3 · ProducerThe Wait · Thanks
SidneyWhoopi Goldberg: The Winning Act
The Tragedy of MacbethThe Little ThingsA Journal for Jordan · DirectorA Journal for Jordan · ProducerQuentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom · ProducerChadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a KingGiving Voice
The Equalizer 2The Equalizer 2 · ProducerDenzel Washington: Reel Life
Roman J. Israel, Esq.Roman J. Israel, Esq. · ProducerChasing Trane
The Magnificent SevenFencesFences · DirectorFences · Producer
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonThe EqualizerThe Equalizer · Producer
Circus Halligalli2 Guns
FlightSafe HouseSafe House · Executive Producer
The Book of EliThe Book of Eli · ProducerUnstoppable
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3Live from Studio FiveWe Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Fallen Empire: Making 'American Gangster'
The Graham Norton ShowAmerican GangsterThe Great DebatersThe Great Debaters · Director
Déjà VuInside Man
Grey's Anatomy · DirectorThe Reichen ShowBy Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
On Air with Ryan SeacrestMan on FireThe Manchurian CandidatePeople Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia'
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowOut of TimeThe Evolution of an American Filmmaker
John QAntwone FisherAntwone Fisher · DirectorAntwone Fisher · ProducerBehind the Scenes of 'John Q'
Training DayA Better Tomorrow
Remember the TitansStraight from the StreetsHalf Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks · Producer
The Early ShowThe Bone CollectorThe Hurricane
TRLFallenThe SiegeHe Got Game
The ViewMother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special
Courage Under FireThe Preacher's WifeNBA at 50
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildCrimson TideVirtuosityDevil in a Blue Dress
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
Full filmography
- Number One on the Call Sheet (2025) as Self
- Highest 2 Lowest (2025) as David King
- Denzel Washington: Falling Forward (2025)
- Gladiator II (2024) as Macrinus
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- The Piano Lesson (2024) Producer
- The Making of Gladiator II (2024) as Self
- The Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision (2024) as Self
- Denzel Washington: American Icon (2024) as Self
- The Equalizer 3 (2023) as Robert McCall
- The Equalizer 3 (2023) Producer
- The Wait (2023) Thanks
- Sidney (2022) as Self
- Whoopi Goldberg: The Winning Act (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) as Macbeth
- The Little Things (2021) as Joe 'Deke' Deacon
- A Journal for Jordan (2021) Director
- A Journal for Jordan (2021) Producer
- Quentin Tarantino: From a Movie Buff to a Hollywood Legend (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) Producer
- Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Giving Voice (2020) as Self
- The Equalizer 2 (2018) as Robert McCall
- The Equalizer 2 (2018) Producer
- Denzel Washington: Reel Life (2018) as Self
- Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) as Roman J. Israel
- Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Producer
- Chasing Trane (2017) as John Coltrane (voice)
- The Magnificent Seven (2016) as Sam Chisolm
- Fences (2016) as Troy Maxson
- Fences (2016) Director
- Fences (2016) Producer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Equalizer (2014) as Robert McCall
- The Equalizer (2014) Producer
- Circus Halligalli (2013) as Self
- 2 Guns (2013) as Robert 'Bobby' Trench
- Flight (2012) as Whip Whitaker
- Safe House (2012) as Tobin Frost
- Safe House (2012) Executive Producer
- The Book of Eli (2010) as Eli
- The Book of Eli (2010) Producer
- Unstoppable (2010) as Frank Barnes
- The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) as Walter Garber
- Live from Studio Five (2009) as Self
- We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009) as Self
- Fallen Empire: Making 'American Gangster' (2008) as Self
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- American Gangster (2007) as Frank Lucas
- The Great Debaters (2007) as Melvin B. Tolson
- The Great Debaters (2007) Director
- Déjà Vu (2006) as Doug Carlin
- Inside Man (2006) as Keith Frazier
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) Director
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self - Guest
- By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' (2005) as Self
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self
- Man on Fire (2004) as John W. Creasy
- The Manchurian Candidate (2004) as Major Bennett Ezekiel Marco
- People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia' (2004) as Self (archive)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Out of Time (2003) as Matt Lee Whitlock
- The Evolution of an American Filmmaker (2003) as Self
- John Q (2002) as John Quincy Archibald
- Antwone Fisher (2002) as Dr. Jerome Davenport
- Antwone Fisher (2002) Director
- Antwone Fisher (2002) Producer
- Behind the Scenes of 'John Q' (2002) as Self
- Training Day (2001) as Alonzo
- A Better Tomorrow (2001) as Reggie Malone
- Remember the Titans (2000) as Coach Herman Boone
- Straight from the Streets (2000) as Self
- Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (2000) Producer
- The Early Show (1999) as Self - Guest
- The Bone Collector (1999) as Lincoln Rhyme
- The Hurricane (1999) as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
- TRL (1998) as Self
- Fallen (1998) as John Hobbes
- The Siege (1998) as Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard
- He Got Game (1998) as Jake Shuttlesworth
- The View (1997) as Self
- Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997) as Humpty Dumpty / The Crooked Man (voice)
- Courage Under Fire (1996) as Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling
- The Preacher's Wife (1996) as Dudley
- NBA at 50 (1996) as Self - Host
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as King Omar (voice)
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Humpty Dumpty / Crooked Man (voice)
- Crimson Tide (1995) as Lt. Commander Ronald "Ron" Hunter
- Virtuosity (1995) as Parker Barnes
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) as Easy Rawlins
- The Making of 'Crimson Tide' (1995) as Self
- Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994) as Self (archive footage)
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Pelican Brief (1993) as Gray Grantham
- Philadelphia (1993) as Joe Miller
- Much Ado About Nothing (1993) as Don Pedro
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self - Guest
- Malcolm X (1992) as Malcolm X
- Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- Ricochet (1991) as Nick Styles
- Mississippi Masala (1991) as Demetrius Williams
- Rabbit Ears - Anansi (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- Heart Condition (1990) as Napoleon Stone
- Mo' Better Blues (1990) as Bleek Gilliam
- Rabbit Ears - John Henry (1990) as Narrator (voice)
- ZDF-Mittagsmagazin (1989) as Self
- Glory (1989) as Pvt. Trip
- The Mighty Quinn (1989) as Xavier Quinn
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- The George McKenna Story (1988) as George McKenna
- For Queen & Country (1988) as Reuben
- Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (1988) as Self
- Cry Freedom (1987) as Steve Biko
- Power (1986) as Arnold Billings
- License to Kill (1986) as Martin Sawyer
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- A Soldier's Story (1984) as Private First Class Peterson
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- St. Elsewhere (1982) as Philip Chandler
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Carbon Copy (1981) as Roger Porter
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979) as Self
- Flesh & Blood (1979) as Kirk
- Coriolanus (1979) as Roman Soldier / Volscian Soldier
- Flesh & Blood (1979) as Kirk
- Wilma (1977) as Robert Eldridge, age 18
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self - Honoree
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner / Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Here Comes the Flood
- Black Panther 3
- Untitled Hannibal Film as Hannibal the Great
- Untitled Hannibal Film Producer
- American Gangster Special as Self