*There’s a lot you can learn from Denzel Washington. As one of the world’s most respected and beloved actors and with a career spanning over four decades, the superstar has achieved remarkable feats in the industry.
In addition to being a talented actor, Washington is also a man of inspiration and great wisdom. His life is a living example of how any dream can come true with hard work and determination.
Today, let’s take a closer look at Washington’s rise to domination and acknowledge his success by remembering his on-screen debut.
Youth and Hardships
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born in 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York City. His father, Reverend, was a Pentecostal minister, and his mother, Lennis, was a beauty parlor owner.
At just six, Washington first took the stage, performing in a talent show at his local Boys & Girls Club. This club provided him with a safe place to be and kept him occupied.
At 14, the young lad dealt with the struggle of watching his parents get divorced, leaving his mother with him and his two siblings. Living in a lower-class neighborhood surrounded by violence and crime, Washington had moments when he got into fights and got involved with gangs.
Still, his mother pushed him to stay on the right path. In an attempt to do that, she sent him and his older sister to boarding school in New Windsor. This pivoted him from a life of aimlessness to one of curiosity, where he started his quest to find his position in the world.
Finding His Passion
Washington admits he pursued many paths before finally catching the acting bug in college. He joined the football team in high school and played as a quarterback. While he loved the thrill and power of accomplishment that came with sports, he soon realized that a professional path in the field wasn’t for him.
His interest in medicine didn’t pan out. He then tried political science, a subject that he was immediately drawn to after hearing the stories of others and enrolled in the journalism field.
“I was actually pre-med. Then, I went into political science, pre-law. I realized I wasn’t doctor or lawyer material; then I went with journalism.”
At this point, Washington didn’t realize he was working his way into the field of arts. He found his true passion when he took a semester off and worked as a creative arts director at a summer camp. When asked to put on a show for the kids, he had his first experience performing in front of an audience. His stage presence and natural charisma were undeniable, and soon, all his colleagues suggested that he try acting. Inspired by the overwhelming response, Washington decided to pursue acting.
Upon returning, Washington took his first steps into the performing art world by enrolling at the Lincoln Center campus of Fordham University, where he began performing in players, often cast in the lead roles.
Early Acting Career: On-Screen Debut With TV Dramas
After a rich and successful college career in theater, Washington made the bold decision to appear on-screen. Because of his unparalleled talent and confidence, the actor bagged his first role in a biographical TV drama, Wilma, right after graduating.
Washington represented a character named Robert Eldridge in the 1977 play. Despite the little screen time, the experience gave him his first, somewhat awkward introduction to the technical side of filmmaking. On the set, he also met Pauletta Pearson, his current wife, who later became a source of comfort and strength during his early Hollywood years.
This was just the start of his acting career. Washington completed another role in a television film in 1979 before getting his first major acting role in Carbon Copy two years later.
Carbon Copy: Remembering Washington’s First Movie Role
Washington made his big-screen debut with Carbon Copy, a 1981 comedy about a white businessman (George Segal) who reunites with his Black teenage son. Washington plays the long-lost son, Roger Poter, who wishes to get in touch with his old man. From the actors’ solid chemistry to plenty of jokes, this movie was a perfect way to start Washington’s career.
“It changed everything. I could have taken a bad comedy and had an entirely different career.”
While Roger Poter’s character started at the story’s forefront, it gradually got pushed aside.
However, the young Washington was a delight from the moment he first appeared. He excellently adopted the demeanor of a tough, street-smart boy, barging into Walter’s office and admiring his father’s luxurious lifestyle. He made out like he was looking for a payday. Despite being his first, the film is a masterpiece and is considered one of Washington’s best works.
Blockbusters and Achievements
Following his feature film debut in the comedic genius Carbon Copy, Washington received another major break on television with the NBC show St. Elsewhere. In it, he played Philip Chandler, a career-defining role that propelled him from an unknown bit actor to a movie star. After being in the show for six seasons, there was no question that Washington had made it.
He continued with his exceptional performance in many movies, including The Pelican Brief, Philadelphia, The Hurricane, The Bone Collector, and Malcolm X.
In the year 2000, Washington won the award for Best Actor at the Golden Globes due to his phenomenal acting in the film The Hurricane. This was a massive milestone for the African-American actor as now he was being considered for Hollywood’s top awards. His dream came true in 2002 when he won the Academy Award for his performance in Training Day. He has since won two Golden Globes and been nominated for three Academy Awards.
The Life of Denzel Washington: A Story of Courage and Determination
Denzel Washington is a global phenomenon. Through his hard work and talent, he has become one of the most recognizable actors of our time and generations to come. But few are aware that he has risen like a phoenix from his own ashes.
The actor never shied away from making efforts, taking risks, and showing vulnerability when needed. From Oscar winners like Philadelphia to collaborations like Inside Man, his definitive filmography list never fails to impress.
“Keep striving. Keep working. Fall seven times; get up eight!” says Washington.
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