Born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York, his father, Denzel Sr. was a preacher and his mother, Lennis a beautician. His parents divorced when he was 14 and in an effort to keep her children from all that was going on, Denzel and his sister were sent to a private boarding school. After high school Denzel attended Fordham University, although his original plans were to study medicine, he studied journalism instead. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree, heattended Theater in San Francisco and later won a scholarship to the American Conservatory Theater. In 1982 Denzel received his big break when he got the role of Dr. Phillip Chandler on the hit series St. Elsewhere.
In 1987 he recieved his first Oscar nomination for “best supporting actor” for the film “Cry Freedom” in which he played South African activist, Steven Beeko. Two years later in 1989, he was nominated for his second Oscar as “best supporting actor", which he won, for his role as Tripp, the run away slave in the film “Glory". Denzel would later be nominted three more times. In 1992, “best actor” for his role as Malcolm X, in Spike Lee’s “X", 1999 “best actor” for his portrayal as Ruben Carter in, “The Hurricane". In 2001 “best actor” for his first vilan role Alonzo Harris, in “Training Day", which he won.
Denzel Washington is one of today’s most versatile and sought after actors in Hollywood. It’s now 30 films, 2 Oscar wins and 5 Academy Award nominations (along with other honorable achievements) and over 20 years later. With his latest project as director for the film “Antwone Fisher Story", while some are fading in the hit and miss of Hollywood, Denzel shows no signs of slowing down. Inspite of staying so busy in Hollywood, Denzel has mananged to maintain his most challenging role as a husband and father. He lives in the Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles, with his wife Pauletta Pearson, who he’s been with for over 20 years and his four children, John David, (who now attends Morehouse University and plays football there), Katia, Malcolm and Olivia (twins).