January Review Star: Denzel Washington

Posted By On 04 Jan 2010. Under Mob News!, The Actors Studio  Tags: # The Book of Eli (2010) .... Eli # The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) .... Walter Garber # The Great Debaters (2007) .... Melvin B. Tolson # American Gangster (2007) .... Frank Lucas # Deja Vu (2006) , Denzel Washington  

January Review Star: Denzel Hayes Washington Jr.

December 28th, 1954
Mount Vernon, New York, USA

People say, ‘Congratulations, you finally got the Oscar’, and I have to correct them: ‘Actually, it’s my second one. I won for Glory (1989) in 1989.’ Some people say, ‘Yeah, but that was for a supporting actor role’ but for me, it’s the same thing.


Standout Roles: Training Day, Glory, Deja Vu, Man On Fire, Out Of Time, American Gangster, Remember The Titans, The Hurricane, Fallen, The Bone Collector, Courage Under Fire, Devil In A Blue Dress, Virtuosity, Philadelphia, Crimson Tide, The Pelican Brief, and Malcolm X

Why He Rules: He just keeps on making great movies decades after decades.  He’s one of those rare actors that makes a role interesting simply because he’s in it.  He commands our attention each time he is onscreen and we obediently give it.  In return we get movie moments that last forever.

It’s simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well. You do your work and you go home. And what is wonderful about movies is that once they’re done, they belong to the people. Once you make it, it’s what they see. That’s where my head is at.

Tom Hanks said working with Washington on Philadelphia (1993) was like “going to film school”. Hanks said he learned more about acting by watching Denzel than from anyone else.

He first studied Biology in hopes of becoming a doctor, then switched to Political Science then to a Journalism/Drama major in college.

He is the first African-American actor to receive two Academy Awards.

He turned down the role of Detective David Mills in Se7en (1997), which is also the role he most regrets turning down.

Named Gene Hackman, Angelina Jolie, and Dakota Fanning as the most talented actors he has ever worked with.  He still wants to work with Martin Scorsese.

“I just didn’t see myself in Amistad (1997). I ain’t putting no chains around my neck. I’m not in the mood right now, too edgy. It just wasn’t for me. I’m not having it. I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s what happened then, but how about me cutting everybody’s head off and end the movie there?’” (on refusing the role in Amistad (1997))

Body Of Work

  1. Inside Man 2 (2010) (in production) …. Detective Keith Frazier
  2. Steinbeck’s Point of View (2012) (announced) (rumored) …. Tom Redding
  3. Unstoppable (2010/I) (post-production)
  4. The Book of Eli (2010) …. Eli
  5. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) …. Walter Garber
  6. The Great Debaters (2007) …. Melvin B. Tolson
  7. American Gangster (2007) …. Frank Lucas
  8. Deja Vu (2006) …. Agent Doug Carlin – ATF
  9. Inside Man (2006) …. Detective Keith Frazier
  10. The Manchurian Candidate (2004) …. Ben Marco
  11. Man on Fire (2004) …. Creasy
  12. Out of Time (2003/I) …. Matthias Lee Whitlock
  13. Antwone Fisher (2002) …. Dr. Jerome Davenport
  14. John Q (2002) …. John Quincy Archibald
  15. Training Day (2001) …. Alonzo
  16. Remember the Titans (2000) …. Coach Herman Boone
  17. The Hurricane (1999) …. Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter
  18. The Bone Collector (1999) …. Lincoln Rhyme
  19. The Siege (1998/I) …. Anthony ‘Hub’ Hubbard
  20. He Got Game (1998) …. Jake Shuttlesworth
  21. Fallen (1998) …. John Hobbes
  22. Courage Under Fire (1996) …. Nat Serling
  23. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) …. Ezekiel ‘Easy’ Rawlins
  24. Virtuosity (1995) …. Lt. Parker Barnes
  25. Crimson Tide (1995) …. Lt. Commander Ron Hunter
  26. Philadelphia (1993) …. Joe Miller
  27. The Pelican Brief (1993) …. Gray Grantham
  28. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) …. Don Pedro
  29. Malcolm X (1992) …. Malcolm X
  30. Ricochet (1991) …. Nick Styles
  31. Mississippi Masala (1991) …. Demetrius Williams
  32. Mo’ Better Blues (1990) …. Bleek Gilliam
  33. Heart Condition (1990) …. Napoleon Stone
  34. Glory (1989) …. Pvt. Trip
  35. The Mighty Quinn (1989) …. Xavier Quinn
  36. For Queen & Country (1988) …. Reuben James


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4 Responses to “January Review Star: Denzel Washington”

  1. AdamC. says:
    January 4, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    Denzel isn’t the most diverse actors but he does a solid job, and I like most of his movies. Outside of film he seems like a stand up kind of guy too. Just a reguilar guy and with his success that’s pretty wild.

    Reply
  2. Floor Lamp says:
    November 25, 2010 at 12:40 am

    denzel washington is of course one of the sexiest black actors that you can ever see -,;

    Reply
  3. Gwendolyn Williams says:
    April 1, 2011 at 8:50 am

    Denzel is the man of my dreams.My adult children know who my heart desires to meet. He is a Blessed, Strong,Talented,Respectful,full of Integrity Handsome Man!

    Reply
  4. mary says:
    June 3, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Denzel Washington, oh! que homem lindo, e grande ator [desculpe não escrevo inglês] sou mary de são paulo brazil

    Reply
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