Washington, Denzel (1954–)

WASHINGTON, DENZEL (1954–). Actor, director. The Mt. Vernon, New York, native graduated from Oakland Academy, a private high school, before going to Fordham University to study medicine. After being cast in a student production of Othello , he decided to pursue acting. After costarring in the film Carbon Copy , 1981, his stage role in the off-Broadway production of A Soldier’s Story led to an important film opportunity when the play was adapted to the big screen. He played a doctor for several seasons on the 1980s television series St. Elsewhere , before moving on to other notable film roles, including Cry Freedom , 1987; The Mighty Quinn , 1989; and Glory , 1989, for which he received an Academy Award for best supporting actor. The 1990s brought about a series of collaborations with director Spike Lee in such films as Mo’ Better Blues , 1990; Malcolm X , 1992; and He Got Game , 1998. As an established leading man, Washington starred in many more films throughout his career and received his second Academy Award for his controversial role as a rogue cop in Training Day , in 2001. He made his directorial debut with Antwone Fisher , 2002.

Filmography: Carbon Copy , 1981; A Soldier’s Story , 1984; License to Kill , 1984; Power , 1986; Hard Lessons , 1986; Cry Freedom , 1987; The Mighty Quinn , 1989; Glory , 1989; Mo’ Better Blues , 1990; Heart Condition , 1990; Ricochet 1991; Mississippi Masala , 1992; Malcolm X , 1992; Philadelphia , 1993; The Pelican Brief , 1993; Much Ado about Nothing , 1993; Virtuosity , 1995; Devil in a Blue Dress , 1995; Crimson Tide , 1995; The Preacher’s Wife , 1996; Courage Under Fire , 1996; Fallen , 1997; The Siege , 1998; He Got Game , 1998; The Hurricane , 1999; The Bone Collector , 1999; Remember the Titans , 2000; Training Day , 2001; John Q , 2002; Antwone Fisher , 2002; The Manchurian Candidate , 2004.