Denzel Washington

Born on December 28, 1954, Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr is a film director, producer and an award winning actor. He has received honors and critical acclaim for work portraying Malcom X, Rubin Hurricane Carter, Steve Biko, Frank Lucas, Herman Boone and Melvin B. Tolson. He often works in films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Denzel has won two Gold Globe awards, a Tony Award and two Academy Awards for Best supporting Actor in Glory (1989) and Best Actor for Training Day (2001).
Denzel trained at the Lincoln Center in New York and was awarded the title roles in The Emperor Jones and Othello. He also attended the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. He worked on stage and his major career break came when he was cast as Dr. Chandler in St. Elsewhere.
In the 1990s Washington played Demetrius Williams in Mississippi Masala (1992) and as Malcom X in the film by the same name. He played alongside Tom Hanks in Philadelphia. The Pelican Brief and Crimson Tide, Courage Under Fire and The Preacher's Wife were 1990 films. Denzel was awarded a Golden Globe Award and a Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Intentional Film Festival for his portrayal as Rubin Hurricane Carter in The Hurricane (1999).
In 2010 Washington was the star in The Book of Eli, a veteran railroad engineer in Unstoppable, and a pilot in Flight (2012). He costarred with Ryan Reynolds in Safe House and prepared for this role by being tortured.
Washington married Pauletta Pearson in 1983 and they have four children. He is a devout Christian and considered becoming a preacher. He is the national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has made substantial donations to the Children's Fund of South Africa and the Fisher House Foundation.