Denzel Washington is undeniably one of the best actors in the history of Hollywood – so much so that he has managed to break barriers and impress people across different genders, age groups, political parties, and cultures.
Indeed, he’s a man that most aspiring actors look up to for inspiration. His movies such as Richochet, The Great Debaters, American Gangster, and The Tragedy of Macbeth have earned himself a spot in the top league of veteran actors.
On top of that, he has won an Oscars award not once, not twice, but thrice. It’s something not even the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Jackman, and Johnny Depp have accomplished.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about this outstanding actor, keep reading!
How Old is Denzel Washington?
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA, to two African American parents named Denzel Washington Sr. and Lennis Washington. This means that The Equalizer leading man is 67 years at the time of this writing.
Isn’t it crazy to think that, in three years, the guy we used to watch doing crazy stunts on the big screen is reaching his seventies? With such little time left, Denzel has hinted that his retirement from acting may be coming very soon:
“At this point, like the character, I’m in the yellow leaf of my career. To be quite honest, looking to do other things. So as far as acting, it’s gonna have to be an extreme challenge for me to be interested. I’ve been talking to one or two of the top directors in the business, and we’re talking about maybe doing something. There’s not that much left for me to do as actor.”
While it may be sad to think that we might never get to witness his acting skills ever again, it’s comforting to know that Denzel will certainly be leaving a legacy behind that the next generation will definitely look back with awe.
How Tall is Denzel Washington?
According to most sources, Denzel Washington stands at around 185cm or 6ft tall. However, one report claims that thanks to Denzel’s age, he has gotten shorter and that the actor’s current height is somewhere around 5’11’’ or 182.2cm.
If you ask us, his height has definitely been an asset to his career as it helps him look more intimidating, which is important for action stars like him.
Meet Denzel Washington’s Wife and Children
Off camera, Denzel Washington plays the most important role of his life, and that is becoming a father to four children, namely:
- John David Washington
- Katia Washington
- Malcolm Washington
- Olivia Washington
He shares these kids with his beloved wife, Pauletta Washington, whom he married on June 25, 1983 – when most of you were not even born yet! They’ll be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary next year.
Pauletta is an actress herself, but she is also a trained pianist and a vocalist. Her acting stint led her to cross paths with Denzel Washington, whom she worked with during the filming of the movie Wilma. They began dating shortly after that.
Fast forward to nearly four decades later, and they’re still pretty much head over heels in love with each other. However, Denzel revealed that it wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies in their relationship:
“There is no secret to the perfect marriage. Everybody has their ups and downs; we’ve had ours. It’s hard work, you know. But we made a commitment. A spiritual foundation helps everything—marriage, work, peace of mind.”
Who are Denzel Washington’s Parents?
Denzel is the second child of his parents Denzel Washington Sr. and Lennis “Lynne” Washington. According to Denzel himself, his parents were like “night and day”, and that led to their unfortunate divorce when the actor was just 14.
Denzel was left under the custody of his mother, who then sent him to a private school in New York to protect him from the violent community that they were living in – even when his mother could barely afford it. Denzel shared:
“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.”
Needless to say, Denzel was a momma’s boy. He had a very tight-knit relationship with his mother. As for his father, though, the same cannot be said. Denzel claimed that he barely bonded with his father due to his commitment to being a Pentecostal minister.
Still, he claims to have no grudge held against his father – it’s just that he was never able to build an emotional connection with him. That is why Denzel’s pain wasn’t all that immense when his father died.
“He died in August. We started shooting around the time that he died. I never shed a tear for my father. That sounds like a book or a song. I never did all through the funeral and all that. There was no connection.”
So, there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about Denzel Washington’s age, height, wife, kids, and parents!
