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Denzel's Mother Lennis
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Denzel's Father Denzel Hayes Sr.
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The Civil Rights Movement
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Denzel is born!
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born in Mount Vernon, New York, to Lennis Washington (a beauty parlor owner) and Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. (a Pentecostal minister and employee for the NYC water department). Lennis grew up in Harlem, a predominantly black neighborhood. Denzel Sr. came from rural Virginia. -
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Vietnam War
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Childhood
Denzel frequented the Mount Vernon Boys Club (now the Boys and Girls Club) starting at age 6. Denzel is a middle child with an older sister, Lorice, and a younger brother, David. -
Assassination of el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
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Oakland Academy
At age 14, Lennis enrolled Denzel at Oakland Academy, a boarding school in New York state. On the experience, Washington said, "That decision changed my life because I wouldn’t have survived in the direction I was going. The guys I was hanging out with at the time, my running buddies, have now done maybe 40 years combined in the penitentiary. They were nice guys, but the streets got them." He was one of few black students. -
Denzel's Parents Divorce
Denzel learned his parents were getting divorced while enrolled at Oakland Academy. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
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Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
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Democratic National Convention Protests
The Chicago Mayor employed aggressive and violent tactics against protesters like Civil Rights Marchers faced. -
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Denzel Enrolls at Fordham University
Denzel was at first unsure of what he wanted to do. He transitioned from wanting to be a doctor, a lawyer, and a journalist, taking relevant classes for each. Denzel played college basketball and football, though during games he rarely played. -
Nixon Resigns After Watergate Scandal
Distrust of government and paranoia abounds. -
"Malaise"
1974-1980s -
The Emperor Jones
At Fordham, Denzel was cast as the lead role of Brutus Jones in Eugene O'Neill's 'The Emperor Jones'. -
Semester Off
Without a clear idea of what he wanted to do, Denzel found himself butting against school. "I left Fordham for a while, midway through my junior year, so I could take some time to figure out what it was I really wanted to do---which is really just a euphemism for saying I was on academic probation." -
A Prophecy
At his mother's beauty shop in Mount Vernon a woman named Ruth Green shared a prophecy with Denzel. "I was in my Mother's beauty shop, and I was looking in the mirror, and I saw a woman sitting across the room from me. And she said to my mother, 'Bring me a piece of paper.' Said, 'I have a prophecy.' This is the God's honest truth. I got the piece of paper, and I--I keep it with me all the time. And she wrote down, she said, 'This boy is going to speak to millions of people.'" -
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Acting at Fordham
After working at a summer camp where a colleague recommended he try acting, Denzel decided to enroll in Fordham's theatre program at the Lincoln Center campus. Denzel would eventually graduate with a BA in Drama and Journalism in 1977. -
Othello
While at Fordham Denzel was also cast as Othello in Shakespeare's famous play. -
Coriolanus
Denzel played various ensemble roles in a production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. Roles: Aediles / Roman Citizen / Voscian Citizen
Roman Soldier / Voscian Soldier The performance dates: June 22-July 22 -
The 80s
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When the Chickens Came Home to Roost
Denzel portrayed Malcolm X in this play by Laurence Holder at the New Federal Theatre. The production is a one act about the relationship between Elijah Muhamed (head of the Nation of Islam) and Malcolm X. Denzel would go on to play Malcolm X again in a Spike Lee film. -
A Soldier's Play
Denzel portrayed Private First Class Melvin Peterson in 'A Soldiers Play' by Charles Fuller at Theatre Four. Dates: Nov. 20, 1981 − Jan. 2, 1983 -
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(TV) St. Elsewhere
Denzel played Dr. Philip Chandler on the medical drama 'St. Elsewhere'. -
Denzel Gets Married
Denzel married Pauletta Pearson. They met on the set of the TV movie 'Wilma', Denzel's first screen role. -
Denzel and Pauletta's first child is born.
They name their son John David. He is also an actor. -
The Washingtons welcome their second child.
They name her Katia. -
Checkmates
Denzel made his Broadway debut in 'Checkmates' by Ron Milner at 46th Street Theatre. He played the role of Sylvester Williams. Dates: August 4 − December 31 -
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Fall of the Soviet Union and End of the Cold War
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Denzel wins an Oscar
Denzel won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Private Silas Trip in the 1989 Civil War film Glory. -
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Gulf War
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The Tragedy of Richard III
Denzel played Richard III of England in one of Shakespeare's histories at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre. Denzel said the role was his most challenging as an actor up to that point. Production Dates: August 3 − September 2 -
The Washington family adds two more children, twins!
They name the twins Olivia and Malcolm. Malcolm is a director while Olivia is also an actor. -
(film) Malcolm X
Denzel reprised the role of Malcolm X in this feature length film written by Arnold Perl and Spike Lee and directed by Lee. Denzel was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the role. -
(film) Much Ado About Nothing
In this film adaptation of the Shakespeare play, Washington played Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon. The adaptation was directed by Kenneth Branagh. -
Bush Administration
2001-2009
Patriot Act
Second Invasion of Iraq
Torture -
September 11th Attacks
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Period: to
Global War on Terror
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Denzel wins his second Oscar
Denzel won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Detective Alonzo Harris, a corrupt LAPD narcotics officer in the 2001 film Training Day. -
Julius Caesar
Denzel portrayed Marcus Brutus in Shakespeare's classic play at the Belasco Theatre.
April 3 − June 12 -
Election of Barack Obama
First African American president. -
Fences
Played Troy Maxson in this play by August Wilson. Performed at the Cort Theatre. April 26 − July 11 -
Denzel wins a Tony
Denzel won a Tony for Lead Actor for his performance as Troy Maxson in Fences. -
A Raisin in the Sun
Denzel played Walter Lee Younger in this Lorraine Hansberry written play at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. April 3 − June 15 -
(film) Fences
Denzel and his costar from the theatrical production, Viola Davis, reprised their roles in a 2016 film adaptation of the play. Washington also directed. -
Trump Administration
2017-2020 -
The Iceman Cometh
Played Theodore "Hickey" Hickman in this Eugene O'Neill written play at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. April 26 − July 1 -
(film) The Tragedy of Macbeth
Washington played the power hungry Scottish general opposite Frances McDormand. This adaptation was written and directed by Joel Coen. -
Othello (2025)
Denzel will be portraying Othello once again opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the Spring of 2025. -
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Sources About His Life
"Denzel (Denzel Washington)." , directed by Anonymous , Columbia Broadcasting System, 2000. ProQuest, https://ezproxy.pc.maricopa.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/audio-video-works/denzel-washington/docview/1822817133/se-2. Washington, D., & Paisner, D. (2006). A hand to guide me: Legends and leaders celebrate the people who have shaped their lives. Meredith Books. https://books.google.com/books?id=ILdSeSY8FSQC&pg=PA17#v=onepage&q&f=false