Denzel Washington has that rare combination of natural star power and incredible talent -- and at 61, it shows no signs of fading. Take a look back at some of Washington's most essential roles.
Denzel Washington has that rare combination of natural star power and incredible talent -- and at 61, it shows no signs of fading. Take a look back at some of Washington's most essential roles.
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<strong>"Carbon Copy" (1981): </strong>Washington starred with George Segal, left, in this farce about a white executive who learns that he has a black teenage son. The comedy is by no means the actor's greatest effort, but it is the movie that introduced us to a star in the making.
"Carbon Copy" (1981): Washington starred with George Segal, left, in this farce about a white executive who learns that he has a black teenage son. The comedy is by no means the actor's greatest effort, but it is the movie that introduced us to a star in the making.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
<strong>"St. Elsewhere" (1982-88)</strong>: Before becoming a major box office draw, Washington was winning hearts on the small screen as Dr. Philip Chandler in the medical drama "St. Elsewhere."
"St. Elsewhere" (1982-88): Before becoming a major box office draw, Washington was winning hearts on the small screen as Dr. Philip Chandler in the medical drama "St. Elsewhere."
Jack Hamilton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images/File
<strong>"A Soldier's Story" (1984)</strong>: Washington (not pictured) began building a name for himself on stage in 1981's "A Soldier's Play," and he did the same on film with the 1984 adaptation. Set on a military base in Louisiana during the racial turmoil of the 1940s, "A Soldier's Story" featured Washington as the fiery Pfc. Peterson. The film was nominated for three Oscars.
"A Soldier's Story" (1984): Washington (not pictured) began building a name for himself on stage in 1981's "A Soldier's Play," and he did the same on film with the 1984 adaptation. Set on a military base in Louisiana during the racial turmoil of the 1940s, "A Soldier's Story" featured Washington as the fiery Pfc. Peterson. The film was nominated for three Oscars.
Columbia Pictures Corporation
<strong>"Cry Freedom" (1987) </strong>and<strong> "Glory" (pictured, 1989)</strong>: The late '80s was when Washington really hit his stride. His first Oscar nomination came for his role in "Cry Freedom," in which he portrayed South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. He followed up that powerful film with the heartbreaking drama "Glory," about the unsung African-American heroes of the Civil War. Washington's portrayal of fugitive slave and soldier Trip earned him his first Academy Award.
"Cry Freedom" (1987) and "Glory" (pictured, 1989): The late '80s was when Washington really hit his stride. His first Oscar nomination came for his role in "Cry Freedom," in which he portrayed South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko. He followed up that powerful film with the heartbreaking drama "Glory," about the unsung African-American heroes of the Civil War. Washington's portrayal of fugitive slave and soldier Trip earned him his first Academy Award.
TriStar Pictures
<strong>"Mo' Better Blues" (1990)</strong>: After playing heroes, Washington dabbled in a more complicated role in this Spike Lee Joint. As a jazz-playing lothario named Bleek Gilliam, Washington's status as a seductive romantic and comedic lead was secured.
"Mo' Better Blues" (1990): After playing heroes, Washington dabbled in a more complicated role in this Spike Lee Joint. As a jazz-playing lothario named Bleek Gilliam, Washington's status as a seductive romantic and comedic lead was secured.
Universal Pictures
<strong>"Mississippi Masala" (1991)</strong>: Surely films like this 1991 love story of an interracial relationship helped Washington land the 1996 title of "Sexiest Man Alive" from People magazine. Sarita Choudhury co-stars in this story about an Indian woman and an African-American man falling for one another in spite of racial prejudices.
"Mississippi Masala" (1991): Surely films like this 1991 love story of an interracial relationship helped Washington land the 1996 title of "Sexiest Man Alive" from People magazine. Sarita Choudhury co-stars in this story about an Indian woman and an African-American man falling for one another in spite of racial prejudices.
Samuel Goldwyn Company/Getty Images/File
<strong>"Malcolm X" (1992)</strong>: Get into a conversation about Academy Award injustices, and Washington's portrayal of iconic historical figure Malcolm X is sure to come up. The actor filled the role with passion but delicate nuance, leading to his third Oscar nomination and first in the lead actor category.
"Malcolm X" (1992): Get into a conversation about Academy Award injustices, and Washington's portrayal of iconic historical figure Malcolm X is sure to come up. The actor filled the role with passion but delicate nuance, leading to his third Oscar nomination and first in the lead actor category.
Warner Bros.
<strong>"Philadelphia" (1993)</strong>: The wonder of a Washington performance is that he can play an abrasive character and not make you hate him (at least, not completely). In "Philadelphia," the story of a lawyer (Tom Hanks, foreground left) who sues when his firm discriminates against him for his HIV status, Washington plays the attorney who represents him and who is as bigoted (initially, at least) as the lawsuit's defendants.
"Philadelphia" (1993): The wonder of a Washington performance is that he can play an abrasive character and not make you hate him (at least, not completely). In "Philadelphia," the story of a lawyer (Tom Hanks, foreground left) who sues when his firm discriminates against him for his HIV status, Washington plays the attorney who represents him and who is as bigoted (initially, at least) as the lawsuit's defendants.
Clinica Estetico/TriStar Pictures
<strong>"Devil in a Blue Dress" (1995)</strong>: Book adaptations are tricky business, but Carl Franklin's take on Walter Mosley's novel is adored, and much of that has to do with how Washington inhabited the character of Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins.
"Devil in a Blue Dress" (1995): Book adaptations are tricky business, but Carl Franklin's take on Walter Mosley's novel is adored, and much of that has to do with how Washington inhabited the character of Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins.
TriStar Pictures
<strong>"The Hurricane" (1999)</strong>: When you need an actor who can fully inhabit a legend and bring to light that figure's humanity, you turn to Washington. The actor's star turn as boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter won him a fourth Oscar nod.
"The Hurricane" (1999): When you need an actor who can fully inhabit a legend and bring to light that figure's humanity, you turn to Washington. The actor's star turn as boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter won him a fourth Oscar nod.
Universal Pictures
<strong>"Remember the Titans" (2000)</strong>: Yes, this is a Disney film through and through, right on down to synchronized dance routines and a feel-good ending. But Washington's Coach Boone is impossible not to love here, and his firm but gracious approach to uniting a freshly integrated football team will probably make you cry. Just a warning.
"Remember the Titans" (2000): Yes, this is a Disney film through and through, right on down to synchronized dance routines and a feel-good ending. But Washington's Coach Boone is impossible not to love here, and his firm but gracious approach to uniting a freshly integrated football team will probably make you cry. Just a warning.
Jerry Bruckheimer Films/Walt Disney Pictures
<strong>"Training Day" (2001)</strong>: Just when you thought Washington was at the age where he wanted to drift comfortably into family-friendly territory, he flipped perception and starred in Antoine Fuqua's "Training Day." No one wants to see an actor as adored as Washington play the bad guy, but he played the heck out of the role and won his first lead actor Oscar for it.
"Training Day" (2001): Just when you thought Washington was at the age where he wanted to drift comfortably into family-friendly territory, he flipped perception and starred in Antoine Fuqua's "Training Day." No one wants to see an actor as adored as Washington play the bad guy, but he played the heck out of the role and won his first lead actor Oscar for it.
Warner Bros.
<strong>"Out of Time" (2003)</strong>: Perhaps it was the rush of playing a dirty cop in "Training Day," or maybe Washington just wanted more action in his life, but he spent much of the aughts inhabiting crime thrillers. It wasn't an Oscar-worthy drama, but "Out of Time" was a lot of fun -- and Washington excelled as the not-so-upstanding police officer-turned-murder suspect. Sanaa Lathan, left, also starred.
"Out of Time" (2003): Perhaps it was the rush of playing a dirty cop in "Training Day," or maybe Washington just wanted more action in his life, but he spent much of the aughts inhabiting crime thrillers. It wasn't an Oscar-worthy drama, but "Out of Time" was a lot of fun -- and Washington excelled as the not-so-upstanding police officer-turned-murder suspect. Sanaa Lathan, left, also starred.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
<strong>"The Manchurian Candidate" (2004)</strong>: We knew Washington could play a soldier -- two of his early defining roles were in uniform -- but with "The Manchurian Candidate," he added an extra layer of tension.
"The Manchurian Candidate" (2004): We knew Washington could play a soldier -- two of his early defining roles were in uniform -- but with "The Manchurian Candidate," he added an extra layer of tension.
Ken Regan/Paramount Pictures
<strong>"Inside Man" (2006)</strong>: Reteaming with Spike Lee, Washington had another hit on his hands with this pulse-racing heist film. Sure, it was another action film, but in the context of the tightly deployed story, we didn't even notice the repetitiveness.
"Inside Man" (2006): Reteaming with Spike Lee, Washington had another hit on his hands with this pulse-racing heist film. Sure, it was another action film, but in the context of the tightly deployed story, we didn't even notice the repetitiveness.
Universal Pictures
<strong>"American Gangster" (2007)</strong>: After getting audiences used to seeing him as a villain, Washington went all out with the role of driver-turned-drug kingpin Frank Lucas in this Ridley Scott-helmed drama.
"American Gangster" (2007): After getting audiences used to seeing him as a villain, Washington went all out with the role of driver-turned-drug kingpin Frank Lucas in this Ridley Scott-helmed drama.
Universal Pictures
<strong>"Flight" (2012)</strong>: Washington returned home to drama with his impressive turn as pilot Whip Whitaker. His work was praised as <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeout.com%2Flondon%2Ffilm%2Fflight-2012" target="_blank" target="_blank">"effortless,"</a> <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.richardroeper.com%2Freviews%2Fflight.aspx" target="_blank" target="_blank">"nuanced"</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fmovies%2Freviews%2Fflight-20121101" target="_blank" target="_blank">"bruisingly true,"</a> not to mention it earned him his fifth career Oscar nod.
"Flight" (2012): Washington returned home to drama with his impressive turn as pilot Whip Whitaker. His work was praised as "effortless," "nuanced" and "bruisingly true," not to mention it earned him his fifth career Oscar nod.
Paramount Pictures