Height: 6'
Nationality: American
Date: December 28, 1954
Birth Place: Mount Vernon, New York, USA
Occupation: actor
Education: Fordham University, Bronx, New York (majored in journalism; B.A.)
American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, California (dropped out in one year, moved to L.A)
Studied acting with Wynn Handman
Wife: Pauletta Pearson (aka Paulette Washington; actress, singer, pianist; married in 1983; renewed vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating in 1995)
Son: Malcolm (born on April 10, 1991: twin of Olivia), John David (actor; born in 1984)
Daughter: Olivia (born on April 10, 1991: twin of Malcolm), Katia (born in 1987)
Claim to fame: as Dr. Phillip Chandler on the NBC hospital drama St. Elsewher (1982)

Facts about Denzel Washington:

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)

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis have filed suit against Fry's Electronics, claiming the chain used their famous faces in newspaper ads without their approval -- The suit seeks $10 million in damages for each of the actors--or about half their typical movie paycheck. (April 10, 2003)

Washington took home three NAACP Image Awards Saturday night, namely best actor for playing a desperate father in JOHN Q, and best supporting actor for his role as a Navy psychiatrist in ANTWONE FISHER, which was also named best picture. (March 10, 2003)

Derek Luke let out a whoop and then hugged Denzel 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)

Denzel Washington, Nicolas Cage and George Clooney are among a rush of top actors making directing debuts in movies -- the appeal of directing, they say, is partly to flex their muscles behind the camera and partly to use their clout to get unconventional projects into production. (December 27, 2002)

Washington’s ANTWONE has been generating a lot of buzz, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association apparently doubts it can go the distance -- the largely white, middle-aged Academy members may find it easier to relate to the fate of a Holocaust victim than the inner-city protagonist of ANTWONE FISHER; the Holocaust victim is the hero of Hollywood exile Roman Polanski 's THE PIANIST, which appears to be gaining momentum with Globe nominations for best picture and best actor. (December 21, 2002)

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.

Washington’s ANTWONE FISHER could have been another I AM SAM, a well-intentioned story that aims for Oscar, but ultimately is so overwrought that it sags like a multi-hanky made-for-Lifetime flick -- directing for the first time, Washington works cleanly and simply, holding back during scenes that could have pushed every button and tugged at every heartstring. (December 20, 2002)

Washington has beaten SPIDER-MAN star Tobey Maguire to American showbiz bible Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer Of 2002 crown -- the actor's hit film JOHN Q and his directorial debut ANTWONE FISHER, which opens this week, made him the obvious choice for the coveted annual title. (December 17, 2002)

Capping a stellar year for Washington, Showbiz magazine Entertainment Weekly picked him as 2002's top entertainer in its edition hitting newsstands today. (December 13, 2002)

Washington had agreed to star in the remake of BLUE EYES fantastic thriller, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, which reportedly will be directed by THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS director Jonathan Demme. (November 30, 2002)

Washington will star in a remake of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, the classic 1962 John Frankenheimer thriller about a veteran who learns his war buddy is embroiled in a plot to assassinate a presidential candidate. (November 19, 2002
Washington and Halle Berry are in the frame to take the lead roles in a remake of hit eighties British comedy EDUCATING RITA. (November 16, 2002)

Washington’s directorial debut THE ANTWONE FISHER STORY premieres at a Hollywood screening late last week – in the fact-based movie, which will open nationwide Dec. 20, Washington also has a small role as a naval psychiatrist who tries to help Fisher, a young sailor. (November 13, 2002)

Denzel may star MAN ON FIRE, where he’ll play a bodyguard whose charge, a little girl, is kidnapped – despite recent news events to consider starring in a new Twentieth Century Fox movie that could court controversy because of its similarity to recent kidnapping stories. (November 2, 2002)

Washington was presented Drama Film Actor award at the 2002 GQ Men of the Year Awards Wednesday (October 18, 2002)

Washington has been voted Best Male Screen Personality at Britain's first Black film and TV awards ceremony. (September 12, 2002)

Plans to be in the crowd Saturday, August 31st 2002, when his son plays in his first college football game.

Washington's directorial debut is ANTWONE FISHER STORY.

(1995) He was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#77).

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.

He attended Fordham University, receiving a B.A. in Journalism.

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.

(1990) He was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world

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.

His performance in The HURRICANE earned him a number of honors, including a Best Actor Golden Globe and a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

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.

Denzel Washington will bring THE ANTWONE FISHER STORY, his directorial debut, to this year's Toronto International Film Festival. (August 2002)

Quotes
"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
Denzel Washington won the Best Actor in the 74th Academy Awards 2001from his appearance in TRAINING DAY
Denzel Washington won the Best Supporting Actor in the 62nd Academy Awards 1989 from his appearance in GLORY.
1996 He received Harvard Foundation Award
In 1999, he won the 57th Golden Globe Awards as the Best Leading Actor for his role in THE HURRICANE
Awarded The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards 1989 as the Best Actor in a Supporting Role in GLORY.
Awarded The 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards 1999 as the Best Actor in a Leading Role-Drama in THE HURRICANE.
Voted as the Best Villain in the MTV Movie Awards 2002 from his appearance in TRAINING DAY.