Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington kids

John David Washington (son)

Date of birth: April 23, 1983

John David Washington son Denzel Washington

John David picked up the torch from his parents and became a professional actor, too. At first, he planned to stay away from the family business – acting – and became a professional American football player. Later he quit it and finally turned his face to the movie industry.

He is the oldest kid in the family of 2 stellar actors – Denzel and Pauletta Washington. He was just 8 years old when he debuted on the big screen. John David (whom his family members call JD) portrayed one of the students in the Harlem classroom in “Malcolm X”, where his father played the main role. But later he focused his energy on sports. The boy played for football and basketball teams at “Campbell Hall School”. Then he played American football for the team of Morehouse College.

He was scouted in 2006 by the St. Louis Rams. Later he was re-signed by the Rhein Fire and played in NFL Europe for this team. JD finished his sports career in 2012 and 3 years later started acting.

He debuted as Ricky in the sports drama “Ballers”. The series lasted 5 seasons and brought JD initial success.

He met his big break as Ron Stallworth in the biopic comedy “BlacKkKlansma”. His character has a real-life prototype, the first African-American detective in Colorado Springs. John David’s performance was great and he got a string of awards for it, including a Golden Globe nomination.

Currently, his resume is quite extensive. He starred in the thriller “Tenet”, the romantic drama “Malcolm & Marie” etc.

Katia Washington (daughter)

Date of birth: November 27, 1987

Katia Elizabeth Washington is the second child of Pauletta and Denzel Washington. She graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in art. Since the earliest age, Katia was good at singing and dancing. She was a part of the Shades A Capella band during her years at college.

Like other members of her famous family, she is busy in the movie industry, but not as an actress. She worked as a production assistant on the set of “The Birth of a Nation”, directed by Nate Parker. She also assisted on the set of “Django Unchained” and “Assassination Nation”. She also co-produced the latter satirical drama, directed by Sam Levinson.

Katia keeps secret her personal life. But previously she was romantically linked to Yale graduate Isaiah DeLeon-Mares, who passed away in 2016.

Malcolm Washington (son; Olivia’s twin)

Date of birth: April 10, 1991

In 1991 Denzel and Paulette Washington welcomed twins Malcolm and Olivia. Malcolm is a Californian boy. He grew up in Santa Monica. Denzel’s son studied at Winward School. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania. During the years of his studying, the boy played basketball for the school and college teams.

After graduation, Malcolm focused his mind on creating new movies. He works as a production assistant and producer. He used to work on such films as “Chef” and “Trouble Man”. He also produced the film “The Dispute”. He tried his hand as a scriptwriter and director for the short film “Benny Got Shot”. The screenwork turned out to be so wonderful, that Malcolm got an award for it at the Atlanta Film Festival.

Surely, Denzel’s second son has a bright future in Hollywood.

Olivia Washington (daughter; Malcolm’s twin)

Date of birth: April 10, 1991

Denzel’s second daughter, Malcolm’s twin sister is named Olivia. Olivia Washington was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. A member of a very creative family, she has been preparing to act since childhood. She was a trainee at the dance company “Eartha Robinson Project”. In her early years, she studied to play the piano, and dance and also took acting classes.

Olivia was a high school junior when she understood that acting was her cup of tea. At the same time, she confessed in her interview that her parents never forced her to pursue acting. She had a normal childhood and attended a normal school. The acting was like an after-school activity for her.

She was a high school student when she started training as an actress with her aunt LaTonya Richardson-Jackson. After graduation from school, Olivia entered the famous educational institution for actors – Tisch School of the Arts.

In 2015 Olivia debuted as a stage actress on Broadway. She was cast in two contradictory plays, “The Glass Menagerie” and “Clybourne Park”. After that, she moved her way to the big screen and was featured in the movies “The Butler”, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and “The Little Things”. Surely, she has more films and TV shows ahead as her career is just beginning.

Denzel’s daughter leads a calm and simple off-stage life. She likes knitting and reading. Sometimes she hangs out with her friends.

Who are Denzel Washington parents?

Denzel Washington Sr (father)

Date of birth: October 5, 1909

Date of death: August 8, 1991

Denzel’s father (and namesake) was a faithful person. He worked as a Pentecostal Minister. Despite his so spiritual profession, Denzel Sr. wasn’t close enough with his kids, including the hero of our story.

As the movie star told in his interview, “his parents were very different”. That difference caused their separation in 1968 when Denzel Jr was just 14.

Unfortunately, the actor’s father didn’t put enough effort to stay connected with his son after the divorce. Denzel Jr was 18 when he came to his father’s house, but he wasn’t a well-awaited guest. His dad simply asked him to go away.

In his many interviews, the actor stressed the fact, that he was “his mother’s son”.

Denzel Washington Sr grew up on a farm in Virginia. He was a spirit-filled person, according to his son’s words. After the divorce, Denzel Sr re-married Leola Edwards Washington. She worked as an ordained minister. They were together till her death in 1988. Denzel Sr. passed away 3 years later.

Lennis Washington (mother)

Date of birth: April 4, 1924

Date of death: June 14, 2021

Denzel’s mother Lennis (or Lynne) was a great woman, who stood behind Denzel’s success. After his parents’ divorce, Denzel spent too much time in the street and was close to crossing the line with drugs and other dangerous things. To save him, Lennis sent the boy to a private school. Later the famous actor Denzel Washington told that his mom saved his life.

Lennis was the daughter of Tillman Lowe and Eliza Jackson. She had 5 siblings: Morris, Fannie, Catherine, Mary, and Westley. Lennis grew up in Harlem and was a typical city girl. She had three kids from her ex-husband Denzel Washington Sr. She also adopted 2 children: Douglas and Vanessa Smith.

Denzel’s mother owned the beauty parlor. She was a faithful person and taught her kids to be pious. She believed in Denzel, even when he made wrong choices and had lots of problems at school. The celebrated actor owed his success to his mom.

Denzel Washington siblings

Lorice Washington (older sister)

Date of birth: August 31, 1951

Lorice Annette Washington is Denzel’s older sister. She leads a very private lifestyle. In one of his interviews, Denzel told, that his sister has bipolar disorder.

Lorice followed in her father’s footsteps and devoted her life and career to church. She was 4 when she started singing in her father’s church. Later Lorice studied psychology and spiritual nutrition at Briarcliff College. After that, she traveled across the United States and Europe to develop her spirituality.

Denzel’s sister authored a book “The Anointing, Prayer, Fasting and the Spirit-Filled Diet’.

Currently, she is a pastor and evangelist. The woman serves in Lorice Washington Ministries. Lorice lives in Ruckersville, VA.

David Washington (younger brother)

Denzel has a younger brother, named David. They maintain close relationships. David stayed by the side of Lennis, their mother, when she was dying. The woman asked David to phone her sister Mary, who was 99 at that time. That was her last talk.

David stays out of the limelight, so nothing is known about him.

Bio

Denzel Hayes Washington was born in Mount Vernon, a suburb of New York City, in the family of Lennis and Denzel Washington Sr. He was the second of three children in the Washington family.

After graduation from school, Washington entered Fordham University to study drama and journalism. During his years at the University Denzel was cast in several important productions, staged at the Lincoln Center (Fordham’s main campus). Thus, he portrayed Othello in the eponymous Shakespeare play. He also played the main part in “Emperor Jones” by Eugene O’Neill.

After getting a bachelor’s degree in Fordham, he spent a year in the American Conservatory Theater. After that, he moved to New York to start acting professionally.

Having started as a theater actor, Denzel gradually moved his way to the small screen. In 1977 he appeared in the television film about Wilma Rudolf. In the early 1980s, he met his big break with the role of Dr. Phillip chandler from the hospital series “St. Elsewhere”. In 1989 Denzel portrayed the runaway slave Trip in the military drama “Glory”. For that role, he won his first Academy award.

The second Academy Award Denzel got for the film “Training Day”. In this political drama, he depicted Detective Alonzo, an unscrupulous and cruel policeman guided by his philosophy and methods that are close to law violence. His character turned out to be very colorful and cunning. Denzel’s play was wonderful, and he got a well-deserved award for it.

In the 2020s, the actor is still busy and popular. Among his latest screen works, there are the main parts in the drama “The Tragedy of Macbeth” and the criminal thriller “The Little Things”.