See a young Denzel Washington in his high school yearbook photos and get to know the ‘Training Day’ and ‘Remember the Titans’ actor better.
Birthdate: December 28, 1954 (Age 70)
High School: Mainland High School
Yearbooks: 1971
Who is Denzel Washington?
It is hard not to look back fondly on Washington’s groundbreaking performances, including his roles as the inspiring slave-turned-Civil War soldier, Private Silas Trip, in ‘Glory’ and the ruthless, corrupt narcotics officer Alonzo Harris in ‘Training Day.’
Denzel Washington is a legendary Academy Award winning actor who is not only one of the greatest actors of the 21st century, but of all time. Washington began his career as a stage actor, performing in a number of off-Broadway plays.
Washington’s films defined Hollywood throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s and have left a lasting impact on all those who have been fortunate enough to witness his greatness.
Where Did Denzel Washington Go to School?
High School Education
Denzel Washington’s parents sent him to Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York to begin high school in order to escape a rough and unstable friend group. Washington subsequently attended Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he graduated from in 1971.
College Education
Washington attended college at Fordham University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Journalism in 1977. He played as a guard on Fordham’s basketball team, under coach P.J. Carlesimo.
Washington went through a period of indecision over which major to study, which resulted in him taking a semester off. He worked at a summer camp following this period, where fellow counselors suggested he try acting after seeing him perform in a staff talent show.
He returned to Fordham in the fall, and enrolled at the Lincoln Center campus where he studied acting, and was cast in lead roles in The Emperor Jones and Othello.
Graduate School
Washington continued his study of acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, where he remained for only one year before returning to New York to embark on a career as a professional actor.
Denzel Washington: Then vs Now
Washington has always been known for his expressive features and commanding presence. From the ‘70s to today, here’s how he looked from his teenage years all the way to today.
Denzel Washington Acting Career
Kicking Things Off
A young Denzel Washington appeared in his first Hollywood film role in 1981 in the comedy-drama film Carbon Copy. He received significant attention for his supporting role as an American soldier during World War II in A Soldier’s Story(1984), and received his first Oscar nomination for his role as a South African anti-apartheid activist in Cry Freedom(1987).
Dominating ‘90s Hollywood
In 1989, Washington won his first Academy Award for his stellar performance as Private Silas Trip in Edward Zwick’s Civil War drama Glory.
He continued to star in Blockbuster films throughout the ‘90s, including as the titular character in the historical epic Malcolm X(1992), and as Joe Miller, an attorney defending a gay man with AIDS in the powerful legal drama Philadelphia(1993).
Later Success
Washington’s roles as Rubin Carter in The Hurricane(2000) and corrupt narcotics officer Alonzo Harris in Training Day(2001), the latter of which he received his second Oscar for, catapulted his success throughout the 2000s.
He remained active throughout the later 2000s and into the 2020s, and is still acting today, with plans to retire after completing his next few projects.
Presence on Stage
Washington also saw success as a stage actor throughout his illustrious career, starring in many critically acclaimed Broadway plays in addition to his film roles.
He made his Broadway debut in Ron Milner’s Checkmates(1988), and later won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Troy Maxson, a struggling working-class father in the Broadway revival of Fences(2010).
Who is Denzel Washington’s Family?
Early Years With Mom & Dad
Washington was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, by his mother, Lennis “Lynne” Washington, and his father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. Lynne owned and operated a beauty parlor, while Denzel Sr. was an ordained Pentecostal minister who also worked as an employee for the New York City Water Department, and at a local S. Klein Department store.
Washington attended elementary school at Pennington-Grimes Elementary School in Mount Vernon until 1968. His parents sent him to military school shortly after.
Siblings
Dedicated Husband and Father
Washington married Pauletta Pearson on June 25, 1983. They have four beautiful children together: John David, an actor and former football player; Katia, Olivia, and Malcolm.
Malcolm made his directorial debut in 2024 with the film The Piano Lesson, which Denzel produced and John David starred in.
The Book of Denzel Washington
From Glory all the way to Gladiator II(2024), Denzel Washington has spent his career gracing us with his presence on the silver screen, creating a deep sense of nostalgia among those who had the pleasure of witnessing him in his prime. Washington has surely proved to moviegoers and critics worldwide that He Got Game.
His most impressive film work includes:
- A Soldier’s Story(1984)
- Glory(1989)
- Training Day(2001)
- Malcolm X(1992)
- The Hurricane(1999)
- Fences(2016)
- Flight(2012)
- The Tragedy of Macbeth(2021)
- The Pelican Brief(1993)
- Philadelphia(1993)
- Crimson Tide(1995)
- He Got Game(1998)
- Remember the Titans(2000)
- Man on Fire(2004)
- American Gangster(2007)
- Inside Man(2006)
- The Book of Eli(2010)
- The Equalizer Trilogy(2014-2023)
- Gladiator II(2024)
Washington also excelled on stage in the following plays:
- Checkmates(1988)
- Julius Caesar(2005)
- Fences(2010)
- A Raisin in the Sun(2014)
- The Iceman Cometh(2018)
- Othello(2025)
Denzel On Fire
Not only was Denzel Washington’s career one of the greatest of all time, but it was also flooded with awards.
Washington won a total of seven awards throughout his career, two of them being Academy Awards. Washington’s performances alone were enough to prove his excellence, but his multitude of awards certainly solidifies it.
Washington’s awards consist of:
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor – Glory – 1990
- Academy Award for Best Actor – Training Day – 2002
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Glory – 1990
- Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – The Hurricane – 2000
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play – Fences – 2010
- Cecil B. DeMille Award – 2016
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role – Fences – 2017
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Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Denzel_Washington
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DenzelWashington-byPhilipRomano.jpg
- PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>
- Headshot: https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3601?page=134
- Football Pic: https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3601?page=252&?s=80640
- Then – https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3601?page=134
- Now – PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>
- via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DenzelWashington-byPhilipRomano.jpg
- PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>
- via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DenzelWashington-byPhilipRomano4bw.jpg
- RON RAFFETY, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>
- via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denzel_Washington_-_L.A._Gladiator_II_Premiere.jpg
- RON RAFFETY, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>
- via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denzel_Washington_-_L.A._Gladiator_II_Premiere.jpg
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