Denzel Washington

By Ashlin Ponte June 10, 09:22 AM

WHO HE IS: Denzel Washington is one of the best actors of this generation. The 54-year-old New York State native started pursuing a career in acting in the late 1970s. Washington has become famous not only for his stellar acting, but also for his choice in films. Washington picks films that are not only usually box office hits, but also sends a larger message that resonates with the audience. He has been featured in films like Malcolm X, Hurricane, The Manchurian Canidate, Training Day, American Gangster and, most recently, The Great Debaters.


WHY WE LOVE HIM: Denzel is the first black man to win an Academy Award for his performance in Training Day. Washington is not only a film and broadway actor, but he is also an activist. He visits wounded soldiers during their stays in hospitals and works with the revolutionaries in Colombia towards the release of hostages. He married former co-star Pauletta Pearson in 1983, and they have four children together.