Denzel Washington

American actor, named one of the nation’s ten favorite actors who has earned his place in Hollywood through consistent excellence. When he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film "Glory," 1989, he became the fifth black American to win an Academy Award. On 3/25/2002, he was given a rousing ovation for winning the Oscar as Best Actor for his role in "Training Day." Onscreen from 1980 in "Carbon Copy," Denzel first caught the public eye as a doctor on TVs "St. Elsewhere" in the early 80s. He became a star with films that included "Cry Freedom," "Glory," "Malcolm X," and "The Pelican Brief." With an acting style that is simple and powerful, his work in "The Hurricane" 1999, was highly acclaimed, bringing in a Best Actor nomination. Washington is the son of a Pentecostal minister and a mom who owns a beauty shop, the second of three kids. He and older sister Lorice and young brother David were brought up in a disciplined home where they were taught solid values and interaction in civic activities. Their neighborhood was a cross mixture of races and cultures. By age 12, Denzel was handling part-time jobs. At 14, his parents divorced, so devastating to the boy that he became rebellious and difficult. His mom sent him to Oakland Academy, a private prep school. Denzel thrived on the discipline and competition, excelling in sports and playing piano on the side in a local black band. In 1972, he studied journalism at Fordham University, holding jobs to help expenses while winning raves as a student thespian. He was inspired by his breakthrough title role in "Malcolm X," an off-Broadway play. In 1977, he made his first TV movie, "Wilma," where he first met Pauletta Pearson. He took classical acting classes at San Franciscos American Conservatory Theater but dropped out in a year and headed to Los Angeles with great assurance, but found that doors were not open for him. He moved back to his mothers house in Mount Vernon where he and Pauletta began to see each other; they married in 1983. It was she who supported and encouraged Denzel during the lean years. Getting some minor roles, he took a job at an urban recreation-center. One week before reporting for work, he landed a stage role. His two first good performances with the Negro Theatre Ensemble earned him honors and led his career to an upward turn. Washington did other work for television, but turned down movie offers that would have required him to play such roles such as a pimp or druggie. He accepted an offer to play a doctor in the television program "St. Elsewhere" as he believed that the part would cast him as a positive role model for young blacks. During the series full run, from 1982 to 1986, he played the Yale-educated Phillip Chandler. His film roles during that time began to increase in stature and recognition. Immersing himself in a role, he studied the movement and voice of his character, even gaining or losing weight or changing his hairstyle. Quoted in his biography, "Denzel Washington," he said of his role in "Glory," it was difficult to break myself down and become a primitive man; that was the challenge of this part." In 1992, Washington and Lee collaborated as actor and director for the powerful movie "Malcolm X." His extraordinary performance in this stirring movie earned him the Academy Awards nomination for Best Actor, the NAACP Image Award for Best Actor, and the Berlin Film Festivals Award. The film was named the best picture for 1992, a Read less