- 2007
American Gangster
Washington appears on the cover of Entertainment Weekly with costar Russell Crowe, where they discuss their gritty crime epic American Gangster. The film, which is generating Oscar buzz, follows real-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas (Washington) and the efforts of a cop, Richie Roberts (Crowe), who wants to bring him down. Both actors initially turned down their roles, but agreed to do it on the hope of working with director Ridley Scott and one another.
The Great Debaters
Washington stars in and directs a trio of young actors in The Great Debaters. The period drama is a true story about an African-American debating squad that takes on Harvard. "In every breath, in every shot, I can feel [Denzel]," Oprah Winfrey, who produced the film, says. At the NAACP Image Awards, the film is named best film, Washington is honored as best actor, and costar Jurnee Smollett is cited as best actress.
- 2009
The Taking of Pelham 123
In the remake of 1974's The Taking of Pelham 123, Washington stars as a New York subway employee who squares off against train hijacker John Travolta. Though the onscreen heavyweights rarely share screen time, the actor tells Entertainment Tonight, "He was always off-camera in a room on a mic, so we always heard John. We had to do it that way because…you want to be there for the other person."
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): The Weinstein Company; Columbia Pictures
- Name
- Denzel Washington
- Date of Birth
- December 28, 1954
- Birth Place
- Mount Vernon, N.Y.
- Relationships
-
Pauletta Pearson, wife (1977 to present)
- Children
-
John David Washington, son (7/28/1984)
Katia Washington, daughter (11/27/1987)
Olivia Washington, daughter (4/10/1991)
Malcolm Washington, son (4/10/1991)
