Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama St. Elsewhere, playing Dr. Philip Chandler for six years. He has received much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, Melvin B. Tolson, Frank Lucas, and Herman Boone. Washington has received two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe awards, and a Tony Award. He is notable for winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his part in Glory in 1989, and the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his role in the film Training Day.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Best Actor
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Known For
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
Robert McCall
The Equalizer 2
(2018)
Robert McCall
The Equalizer
(2014)
Robert McCall
The Pelican Brief
(1993)
Gray Grantham
Fallen
(1998)
John Hobbes
The Magnificent Seven
(2016)
Sam Chisolm
John Q
(2002)
John Quincy Archibald
American Gangster
(2007)
Frank Lucas
The Book of Eli
(2010)
Eli
Unstoppable
(2010)
Frank Barnes
Training Day
(2001)
Alonzo
Man on Fire
(2004)
John W. Creasy
Inside Man
(2006)
Keith Frazier
Déjà Vu
(2006)
Doug Carlin
Malcolm X
(1992)
Malcolm X
The Little Things
(2021)
Joe "Deke" Deacon
Full Filmography
Acting
Wilma
(1977)
Robert Eldridge, age 18
Flesh & Blood
(1979)
Kirk
Coriolanus
(1979)
Roman Soldier / Volscian Soldier
Carbon Copy
(1981)
Roger Porter
A Soldier's Story
(1984)
Private First Class Peterson
License to Kill
(1986)
Martin Sawyer
Power
(1986)
Arnold Billings
Cry Freedom
(1987)
Steve Biko
For Queen & Country
(1988)
Reuben
The George McKenna Story
(1988)
George McKenna
The Mighty Quinn
(1989)
Xavier Quinn
Baka: The People of the Rainforest
(1989)
Narrator
Glory
(1989)
Pvt. Trip
Mo' Better Blues
(1990)
Bleek Gilliam
Heart Condition
(1990)
Napoleon Stone
Rabbit Ears - John Henry
(1990)
Narrator (voice)
Mississippi Masala
(1991)
Demetrius Williams
Rabbit Ears - Anansi
(1991)
Narrator (voice)
Ricochet
(1991)
Nick Styles
Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway
(1992)
Narrator
Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II
(1992)
Narrator
Malcolm X
(1992)
Malcolm X
Much Ado About Nothing
(1993)
Don Pedro of Aragon
The Pelican Brief
(1993)
Gray Grantham
Philadelphia
(1993)
Joe Miller
Virtuosity
(1995)
Lt. Parker Barnes
Devil in a Blue Dress
(1995)
Easy Rawlins
Crimson Tide
(1995)
Lt. Commander Ronald "Ron" Hunter
The Preacher's Wife
(1996)
Dudley
Courage Under Fire
(1996)
Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling
Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special
(1997)
Humpty Dumpty / The Crooked Man (voice)
He Got Game
(1998)
Jake Shuttlesworth
Fallen
(1998)
John Hobbes
The Siege
(1998)
Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard
The Bone Collector
(1999)
Lincoln Rhyme
The Hurricane
(1999)
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
Remember the Titans
(2000)
Coach Herman Boone
Training Day
(2001)
Alonzo
John Q
(2002)
John Quincy Archibald
Antwone Fisher
(2002)
Dr. Jerome Davenport
Out of Time
(2003)
Matt Lee Whitlock
The Manchurian Candidate
(2004)
Major Bennett Ezekiel Marco
Man on Fire
(2004)
John W. Creasy
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
(2005)
Self
Déjà Vu
(2006)
Doug Carlin
Inside Man
(2006)
Keith Frazier
The Great Debaters
(2007)
Melvin B. Tolson
American Gangster
(2007)
Frank Lucas
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
(2009)
Walter Garber
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
(2009)
Self
Unstoppable
(2010)
Frank Barnes
The Book of Eli
(2010)
Eli
Safe House
(2012)
Tobin Frost
Flight
(2012)
Whip Whitaker
2 Guns
(2013)
Robert 'Bobby' Trench
The Equalizer
(2014)
Robert McCall
The Magnificent Seven
(2016)
Sam Chisolm
Fences
(2016)
Troy Maxson
Chasing Trane
(2017)
John Coltrane (voice)
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
(2017)
Roman J. Israel
The Equalizer 2
(2018)
Robert McCall
Giving Voice
(2020)
Self
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
The Tragedy of Macbeth
(2021)
Macbeth
The Little Things
(2021)
Joe "Deke" Deacon
Sidney
(2022)
Self
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
Robert McCall
Gladiator II
(2024)
Production
Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
(2000)
Producer
Antwone Fisher
(2002)
Producer
The Book of Eli
(2010)
Producer
Safe House
(2012)
Executive Producer
The Equalizer
(2014)
Producer
Fences
(2016)
Producer
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
(2017)
Producer
The Equalizer 2
(2018)
Producer
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
(2020)
Producer
A Journal for Jordan
(2021)
Producer
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
Producer
Directing