Denzel Hayes Washington, a name well-known in the film industry, be it for his thrilling movies like “Unstoppable” or dramatic ones like “The Hurricane”, the man has never failed to impress the audience. Denzel Washington is not only an American actor, but he is also a screenwriter, producer, and director. He is recognized all around the world for his amazing performances that have enabled him to win several awards. Denzel Washington has been in the industry for almost four decades and still he continues to work that contributes to the increase of his net worth by every minute.
Early Years
Born on December 28, 1954, Washington was brought up by a single parent, his mother, Lennis, in Mount Vernon, New York. His mother owned a beauty salon while his father, Denzel Washington Senior, was a Pentecostal minister/municipal worker. The two decided to get a divorce when Washington was fourteen.
Subsequently, his mother sent him to Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York. The decision was frustrating at that time, however, Washington later realized that it was this decision that saved his entire life. Before he left for the Academy, he, along with his group of friends, were involved in bad activities. Washington said in an interview with Parade Magazine, that those friends went to prison for forty years, collectively.
Later, he attended Fordham University in New York City. He used to play collegiate basketball there, yet he was confused about his future career and decided to take a semester off to think about his majors. During the break, he worked at a YMCA camp in the summers.
The moment when he figured out that acting was his passion was during a camp talent show when his performance impressed the audience so much that one of them suggested that he should join acting. Having found his answer, Washington returned to Fordham that fall and pursued his majors in drama. He eventually graduated with a BA in drama and journalism in 1977.
Joining The Field Of Professional Acting
Owing to his exceptional skills, Washington was awarded a full scholarship to the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. However, he decided to return to New York after a year to go for professional acting. His first on-screen role was in the made-for-television movie “Wilma” in 1977.
In 1981, he had his first film debut in “Carbon Copy”, followed by “License to Kill” in 1982. He worked in several small-screen roles and stage shows, finally getting his big win in 1982 when he got the role of “Dr. Phillip Chandler” in the successful medical drama, “St. Elsewhere”. He continued to work in it until the show ended after six years.
Achievements & Awards
Soon after that, Washington’s popularity increased exponentially as his talent was seen in multiple movies including “Malcolm X”,” The Pelican Brief”,” Philadelphia”, and “Courage Under Fire”. In 1988, he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor for an Oscar. In 1989, he won the award for his incredible performance in the movie “Glory”.
His nominations kept going on and on. In 1992, he was nominated for the Best Actor for his role in “Malcolm X”, and in 1999, he was nominated and won a Golden Globe for “The Hurricane”. Due to his constant efforts, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in “Training Day” in 2002. In the same year, he starred in the Disney football drama “Remember the Titans”, which earned more than $100 million at the box office.
The massive success of the movie earned Washington a Black Reel Award and an NAACP Image Award, both for best actors. He was also awarded the Cecil B. Demille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globe Awards in 2016, adding more to his achievements.
Even though he never finished graduate school, still he earned three honorary doctorate degrees. The first came in 1991 from his former school. Later in 2007, he was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Morehouse College. Lastly, in 2011, the actor was granted an honorary Doctor of Arts degree by the University of Pennsylvania.
Producing & Directing
The actor also worked behind the camera to direct and produce several movies. He began with directing “Antwone Fisher” in 2002 and since then, Washington has directed “The Great Debaters (2007)” and “Fences (2016)”. As for producing, he has produced a few notable movies including “The Book of Eli (2010)” and “The Equalizer (2014)”.
Personal life
Denzel Washington married Pauletta Pearson in 1983 and the couple has four children. Washington had met his wife on his first on-screen play, “Wilma”. Moreover, he is a practicing Christian and had expressed his considerations of becoming a preacher and leaving his acting career. Fortunately for his fans, he decided to stay in the industry later.
Denzel Washington’s Net Worth 2020
The actor’s net worth is estimated to be a whopping $220 million as of 2020. The 65-year old actor’s movies have made more than $3.7 billion at the global box office. Washington earns $20 million for his roles on average. He has been actively involved in supporting a few organizations.
He has contributed to Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund, Fordham University, the Fisher House Foundation, and Wiley College. He has also been acting as the spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club of America since 1993 and has been on its board since 1995. Moreover, it was revealed earlier this year, by the late Marvel star Chadwick Boseman, that Washington had paid for him to go to Oxford.
Despite the background he came from, Denzel Washington was able to fulfill his dreams and has given some of the most remarkable performances over the years. As he continues to act and impress the audience to this day, his net worth is likely to grow even more over the next few years.
Disclaimer: All of the information mentioned above has been gathered from the sources mentioned below:
I am Sophia william, author of World Stock Market. I have a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and I have worked as a reporter for several news websites. I have a passion for writing and informing people about the latest news and events happening in the world. I strive to be accurate and unbiased in my reporting, and I hope to provide readers with valuable information that they can use to make informed decisions.
