Editing Denzel Washington (section)

==Career==
{{See also|Denzel Washington on screen and stage}}

=== 1976–1989: Early roles and rise to prominence ===
Washington spent the summer of 1976 in [[St. Mary's City, Maryland]], in [[summer stock theater]] performing ''Wings of the Morning'',<ref name="msa.maryland.gov">{{cite magazine|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5800/sc5881/000001/000000/000293/pdf/msa_sc_5881_1_293.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727190722/http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5800/sc5881/000001/000000/000293/pdf/msa_sc_5881_1_293.pdf |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |url-status=live|title=Matthias da Sousa: Colonial Maryland's Black, Jewish Assemblyman|first=Susan Rosenfeld|last=Falb|magazine=Maryland Historical Magazine|volume=73|issue=4|date=December 1978}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smcm.edu/archives/documents/StMarysWhenDidTimeline.pdf|title=St. Mary's: A When-Did Timeline|website=St. Mary's Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221145632/http://www.smcm.edu/archives/documents/StMarysWhenDidTimeline.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |page=30|first1=Janet Butler|last1=Haugaard|first2=Susan G.|last2=Wilkinson|first3=Julia A.|last3=King}}</ref> the Maryland State play, which was written for him by incorporating an African-American character/narrator based loosely on the historical figure from early colonial Maryland, [[Mathias de Sousa]].<ref name="msa.maryland.gov"/>

Shortly after graduating from Fordham, Washington made his screen acting debut in the 1977 made-for-television film ''Wilma'' which was a [[docudrama]] about sprinter [[Wilma Rudolph]], and made his first Hollywood appearance in the 1981 film ''[[Carbon Copy (film)|Carbon Copy]]''. He shared a 1982 Distinguished Ensemble Performance [[Obie Award]] for playing Private First Class Melvin Peterson in the [[Off-Broadway]] [[Negro Ensemble Company]] production ''[[A Soldier's Play]]'' which premiered November 20, 1981.<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=1438 ''A Soldier's Play''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050106134119/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=1438 |date=January 6, 2005 }}, Lortel Archives</ref> [[File:Denzel Washington.jpg|thumb|Washington at the [[62nd Academy Awards]] (1990), at which he won [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for the film ''[[Glory (1989 film)|Glory]]'']]

A major career break came when he starred as Dr. Phillip Chandler in [[NBC]]'s television hospital drama ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'', which ran from 1982 to 1988. He was one of only a few African-American actors to appear on the series for its entire six-year run. He also appeared in several television, motion picture and stage roles, such as the films ''[[A Soldier's Story]]'' (1984), ''[[The George McKenna Story|Hard Lessons]]'' (1986) and ''[[Power (1986 film)|Power]]'' (1986). In 1987, he starred as South African anti-apartheid political activist [[Stephen Biko]] in [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Cry Freedom]]'', for which he received a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]].

In 1989, Washington won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his portrayal of a defiant, self-possessed ex-slave soldier in the film ''[[Glory (1989 film)|Glory]]''. That same year, he appeared in the film ''[[The Mighty Quinn (film)|The Mighty Quinn]]''; and in ''[[For Queen and Country]]'', where he played the conflicted and disillusioned Reuben James, a British soldier who, despite a distinguished military career, returns to a civilian life where racism and inner-city life lead to vigilantism and violence.

=== 1990–1999: Hollywood stardom and acclaim ===
In the summer of 1990, Washington had appeared in the [[Richard III of England|title role]] of the [[Public Theater]]'s production of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]''. Mel Gussow of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Washington as "an actor of range and intensity, is expert at projecting a feeling of controlled rage".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/17/theater/review-theater-denzel-washington-portrays-shakespeare-s-top-schemer.html|title= Review/Theater; Denzel Washington Portrays Shakespeare's Top Schemer|work= The New York Times|date= August 17, 1990|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Gussow|first1= Mel}}</ref> Also that year Washington starred as Bleek Gilliam in the [[Spike Lee]] film ''[[Mo' Better Blues]]''. Charles Murray of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' praised Washington's performance as a "taut portrayal of the driven musician" and "like all Lee’s film, Mo’ Better Blues is a real ensemble piece, and the standard of the performances is uniformly excellent: but Washington [and] Lee deserve extra plaudits."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mo-better-blues-review/|title= Mo Better Blues|website= Empire|date= January 2000|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref> In 1991, he starred as Demetrius Williams in the [[Mira Nair]] directed romantic drama ''[[Mississippi Masala]]'' opposite [[Sarita Choudhury]]. Set primarily in [[Deep South|rural Mississippi]], the film explores [[Miscegenation|interracial romance]] between African Americans and [[Indian Americans]]. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised the chemistry of the two leads writing, "Washington is an actor of immense and natural charm, and he makes a good match with Sarita Choudhury".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mississippi-masala-1992|title= Mississippi Masala|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref>

Washington was reunited with Lee to play one of his most critically acclaimed roles, the [[Malcolm X|title character]] of the historical epic ''[[Malcolm X (1992 film)|Malcolm X]]'' (1992). ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film it's Critic's Pick with [[Vincent Canby]] declaring, "In Denzel Washington it also has a fine actor who does for "Malcolm X" what [[Ben Kingsley]] did for "[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]". Mr. Washington not only looks the part, but he also has the psychological heft, the intelligence and the reserve to give the film the dramatic excitement".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/18/movies/review-film-malcolm-x-as-complex-as-its-subject.html|title= Review/Film; 'Malcolm X,' as Complex as Its Subject|work= The New York Times|date= November 18, 1992|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Canby|first1= Vincent}}</ref> His performance as the [[Black nationalism|Black nationalist]] leader earned him another nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]. Also that year, he established the production company Mundy Lane Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web| last1 = Laski| first1 = Beth| title = Mundy lane sees a full load ahead| work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| access-date = February 9, 2019| date = March 6, 1997| url = https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/mundy-lane-sees-a-full-load-ahead-1117343128/}}</ref> The next year, he played the lawyer defending a gay man with AIDS played by [[Tom Hanks]] in the [[Jonathan Demme]] film ''[[Philadelphia (film)|Philadelphia]]'' (1993). ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' wrote, "Casting Washington in the lead guaranteed the film the black audience that otherwise might not have had much interest in the problems of a rich white homosexual with Aids. But Aids is rampant in inner cities, where it attacks not just gay men, but IV drug users and women."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/philadelphia-un-packaging-hollywood-aids-drama-tom-hanks-denzel-washington-jonathan-demme|title= Philadelphia|website= BFI|date= May 9, 2017|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref>

During the early and mid-1990s, Washington starred in several successful thrillers, including ''[[The Pelican Brief (film)|The Pelican Brief]]'' with [[Julia Roberts]] in 1993, and ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'' with [[Gene Hackman]] in 1995, as well as the Shakespearean comedy ''[[Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film)|Much Ado About Nothing]]'' directed by [[Kenneth Branagh]]. In 1996, he played a U.S. Army officer who investigates a female chopper commander's worthiness for the Medal of Honor in ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'', opposite [[Meg Ryan]]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "All of [the] predicaments are palpably and convincingly registered through Washington’s probing, reserved and sensitively drawn performance in a role that, in another era, might have been played by the likes of a [[Montgomery Clift]] or [[William Holden]]."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/courage-under-fire-1200444775/|title= Courage Under Fire|website= Variety|date= January 1996|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref>

In 1996, he starred alongside [[Whitney Houston]], and [[Courtney B. Vance]] in the romantic comedy ''[[The Preacher's Wife]]'' directed by [[Penny Marshall]]. The film is a remake of the 1947 film ''[[The Bishop's Wife]]'' starring [[Cary Grant]], [[Loretta Young]], and [[David Niven]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|title=Praying for Crossover Appeal|date=December 11, 1996|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-12-11-ca-7763-story.html|access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref> In 1998, Washington starred in Spike Lee's film ''[[He Got Game]]''. Washington played a father serving a six-year prison term when the prison warden offers him a temporary parole to convince his top-ranked high-school basketball player son ([[Ray Allen]]) to sign with the governor's alma mater, Big State. The film was Washington's third collaboration with Lee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GOING+FOURTH+DENZEL+WASHINGTON+AND+SPIKE+LEE+ON+THEIR+QUARTET+OF...-a0143596899 |title=Going Fourth Denzel Washington And Spike Lee On Their Quartet Of Movies |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=August 14, 2011 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070723/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/GOING+FOURTH+DENZEL+WASHINGTON+AND+SPIKE+LEE+ON+THEIR+QUARTET+OF...-a0143596899 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The same year he starred in [[Gregory Hoblit]]'s supernatural horror film [[Fallen (1998 film)|''Fallen'']] (1998) with [[John Goodman]], [[James Gandolfini]], and [[Donald Sutherland]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1080990-fallen|title= Fallen (1998)|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref>

In 1999, Washington acted alongside [[Angelina Jolie]] in the crime thriller ''[[The Bone Collector]]''. That same year, Washington starred in ''[[The Hurricane (1999 film)|The Hurricane]]'', a film about [[boxing|boxer]] [[Rubin Carter|Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter]], whose conviction for triple murder was overturned after he spent almost 20 years in prison. Although less successful at the box office than ''The Bone Collector'', ''Hurricane'' had a better reception from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bone_collector|title=''The Bone Collector''|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=November 5, 1999 |accessdate=January 12, 2022}}</ref> He received a Silver Bear Award at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]] for his role as Carter. [[Roger Ebert]], film critic for ''[[Chicago Sun-Times|The Chicago Sun-Times]]'', wrote of Washington's performance, "This is one of Denzel Washington's great performances, on a par with his work in ''Malcolm X''."<ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|authorlink=Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-hurricane-2000|title= The Hurricane movie review|newspaper=[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]|via=[[Rogerebert.com]]|date=January 7, 2000|accessdate= June 6, 2021}}</ref>

=== 2000–2009: Established actor and action roles ===
[[File:Denzel_Washington_cropped_02.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Washington in 2000]]
At the [[57th Golden Globe Awards]] in 2000, Washington won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]] for his work in ''[[The Hurricane (1999 film)|The Hurricane]]''. He was the first black actor to win the award since [[Sidney Poitier]] in 1963.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/all-ready-for-a-storm-1.243614 |title=All ready for a storm |work=Herald Scotland |date=March 23, 2000 |access-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KT0DAAAAMBAJ&q=golden%20globe%20black%20actor&pg=PA60 |title=Denzel Washington and Halle Berry Win Golden Globe Awards|work=Jet |date=February 7, 2000 |access-date=February 24, 2011 }}</ref> Mick LaSalle of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' declared, "Washington gives a penetrating portrait of life at its most extreme. He takes the viewer into the mind of a man experiencing confinement and physical deprivation. More profoundly, he shows what it's like to deal every day with the torments of wild rage and impotence, despair and hope."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/A-Full-Force-Hurricane-Denzel-Washington-2812757.php|title= A Full-Force 'Hurricane' / Denzel Washington creates indelible images in emotional biopic|website= San Francisco Chronicle|date= January 7, 2000|accessdate= August 25, 2023}}</ref> In 2000, he portrayed [[Herman Boone]], the high school football coach in the Disney sports drama film ''[[Remember the Titans]]'' which grossed over US$100 million in the U.S.<ref name="Box Office Mojo">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=rememberthetitans.htm |title=Remember the Titans (2000) |website=Box Office Mojo |date=January 28, 2001 |access-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> Andrew O'Hehir of ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' wrote, "Washington is of course the linchpin of ''Remember the Titans''; he's a commanding actor in a commanding role, and as memorable as he was in ''The Hurricane''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.salon.com/2000/09/29/titans/|title= Remember the Titans|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= September 29, 2000|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref>

Washington starred in the [[Antoine Fuqua]] directed crime thriller ''[[Training Day]]'' (2001) acting opposite [[Ethan Hawke]]. He portrayed [[Detective Alonzo Harris]], a [[Police corruption in the United States|corrupt]] [[Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles cop]]. [[Roger Ebert]] wrote of his performance, "For Denzel Washington, [it is] a rare villainous role; he doesn't look, sound or move like his usual likable characters...he's like a monster from a horror film, unkillable and implacable."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/training-day-2001|title= Training Day movie review|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref> Washington won an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] becoming the second African-American actor to win the category after Poitier, who was presented with an [[Honorary Academy Award]] the same night.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/collection-highlights/sidney-poitier|title=Sidney Poitier|date=September 27, 2014|work=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=February 4, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He also received nominations for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]] and the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role]].

In 2002, he starred in the [[Nick Cassavettes]] directed healthcare-themed drama ''[[John Q.]]'' (2002) portraying John Quincy Archibald. Washington acted opposite [[James Woods]], [[Robert Duvall]], and [[Ray Liotta]]. The film was a financial success but received mixed reviews with critics praising Washington's performances. [[BBC]] film critic Neil Smith wrote, "What credibility there is comes from Washington's intense, humane performance and the supporting players' sterling attempts to rise above the stereotypical roles with which they have been saddled."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/04/18/john_q_2002_review.shtml|title= John Q|website= BBC|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref> That same year Washington directed his first film, a well-reviewed drama called ''[[Antwone Fisher (film)|Antwone Fisher]]'' (2002), in which he also co-starred as a Navy psychiatrist. Stephen Holden of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised his direction writing, "Mr. Washington shows a confident grasp of cinematic narrative in a hearty meat-and-potatoes style. But the most remarkable aspect of his behind-the-camera debut is his brilliantly surefooted handling of actors." He also praised his acting adding, "[He] is so sensitively reactive that his performance seems more lived than acted".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/19/movies/film-review-a-director-and-his-hero-find-answers-in-the-details.html|title= A Director and his hero find answers in the details|work= The New York Times|date= December 19, 2002|page=E1|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Holden|first1= Stephen}}</ref>

[[File:DenzelWashingtonMay05.jpg|thumb|right|Washington after a performance of ''Julius Caesar'' in May 2005]]
Between 2003 and 2006, Washington appeared in a series of thrillers that performed generally well at the box office, including [[Carl Franklin]]'s ''[[Out of Time (2003 film)|Out of Time]]'' opposite [[Eva Mendez]] and [[Tony Scott]]'s ''[[Man on Fire (2004 film)|Man on Fire]]'' alongside [[Dakota Fanning]]. In 2004 he acted opposite [[Meryl Streep]] in the remake of the [[The Manchurian Candidate (1962 film)|1962 film of the same name]], ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]''.<ref name=boxoffice>{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=denzelwashington.htm |title= Denzel Washington Movie Box Office Results |website= [[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date= March 20, 2007}}</ref> In 2006, he starred in ''[[Inside Man]]'', a [[Spike Lee]]-directed bank heist thriller co-starring [[Jodie Foster]] and [[Clive Owen]]. [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (website)|Variety]]'' wrote, it's "flashy cast, clever script and vibrant showcasing of New York City are strong plusses for Spike Lee's most mainstream studio venture".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/inside-man-1200517643/|title= Inside Man|website= Variety|date= March 18, 2006|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref> Later that year he starred in the [[Time travel in fiction|time travel]] movie ''[[Deja Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]'' released in November.

In 2005, he was back onstage playing [[Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger|Brutus]] in the [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] revival of ''[[Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]''. Theatre critic [[Ben Brantley]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "Washington does not embarrass himself, as leading citizens of Hollywood have been known to do on Broadway. But even brilliantined in the glow of his inescapable fame, he can't help getting lost amid the wandering, mismatched crowd and the heavy topical artillery that have been assembled here."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/theater/reviews/a-bigname-brutus-in-a-caldron-of-chaos.html|title= A Big-Name Brutus in a Caldron of Chaos|work= The New York Times|date= April 4, 2005|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Brantley|first1= Ben}}</ref> Despite mixed reviews, the production's limited run was a consistent sell-out.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Brantley|authorlink=Ben Brantley|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/theater/reviews/04caes.html|title=A Big-Name Brutus in a Cauldron of Chaos|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 4, 2005}}</ref> In 2007, he co-starred with [[Russell Crowe]] for the second time (the first was 1995's ''[[Virtuosity]]'') in [[Ridley Scott]]'s crime drama ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' for which he received a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama]] nomination. He also directed and starred in the drama ''[[The Great Debaters]]'' with [[Forest Whitaker]]. He next appeared in Tony Scott's 2009 film ''[[The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009 film)|The Taking of Pelham 123]]'' (a remake of [[The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974 film)|the 1974 thriller]] of the same name), where he played New York City subway security chief Walter Garber opposite [[John Travolta]]'s villain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/|title=The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3|date=June 12, 2009|via=IMDb}}</ref>

=== 2010–2019: Return to theater and ''The Equalizer'' trilogy ===
[[File:Denzel Washington og Anne Hathaway IMG 6550b.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Washington with [[Anne Hathaway]] at the [[Nobel Peace Prize Concert]] in 2010]]
Washington returned to Broadway playing Troy Maxson, opposite [[Viola Davis]], in the revival of [[August Wilson]]'s ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]'' (2010). [[Ben Brantley]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "Mr. Washington has the fluid naturalness we associate with good screen actors... face and stance alone provide fascinating (and damning) glimpses into Troy’s attitudes toward his son from an earlier relationships".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/theater/reviews/27fences.html|title= It's No More Mr. Nice Guy for This Everyman|work= The New York Times|date= April 26, 2010|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Brantley|first1= Ben}}</ref> Washington won the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] on June 13, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/05/04/2010-tony-award-nominations-denzel-washington-scarlett-johansson-earn-nods/|title=2010 Tony Award Nominations: Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson Earn Nods|access-date=May 4, 2010|date=May 4, 2010|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|first=Christopher John|last=Farley}}</ref> That same year, Washington starred in ''[[The Book of Eli]]'' (2010), a post-apocalyptic action-drama set in the near future. Also in 2010, he starred as a veteran railroad engineer in the action film ''[[Unstoppable (2010 film)|Unstoppable]]'', about an unmanned, half-mile-long runaway freight train carrying dangerous cargo. The film was his fifth and final collaboration with director Tony Scott, following ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'' (1995), ''[[Man on Fire (2004 film)|Man on Fire]]'' (2004), ''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]'' (2006) and ''[[The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009 film)|The Taking of Pelham 123]]'' (2009).

In 2012, Washington starred in ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'', for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as an alcoholic airline pilot facing investigation for his part in a plane crash. He co-starred with [[Ryan Reynolds]] in ''[[Safe House (2012 film)|Safe House]]'', where he prepared for his role by subjecting himself to a torture session that included [[waterboarding]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Arienne|last=Thompson|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/02/washington-waterboarded-while-filming-/1|title=Denzel Washington waterboarded while filming|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 9, 2012|accessdate=July 13, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, Washington starred in ''[[2 Guns]]'', alongside [[Mark Wahlberg]]. From April to June 2014, Washington played the leading role in the Broadway production of [[Lorraine Hansberry]]'s classic drama ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'', directed by [[Kenny Leon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Denzel Washington Heads Back To Broadway In 'A Raisin In The Sun'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/denzel-washington-heads-back-to-broadway-in-a-raisin-in-the-sun-554987/|access-date=August 2, 2013|newspaper=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> The show received positive reviews and won the 2014 [[Tony Award]] for Best Revival of a Play.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tony-Winning Revival of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' Plays Final Performance Tonight|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/tony-winning-revival-of-a-raisin-in-the-sun-plays-final-performance-tonight-322471|access-date=October 15, 2014|newspaper=playbill.com|date=June 15, 2014}}</ref> That same year he starred in ''[[The Equalizer (film)|The Equalizer]]'' (2014), an action [[thriller film]] directed by [[Antoine Fuqua]] and written by [[Richard Wenk]], based on the [[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|television series of same name]] starring [[Edward Woodward]].<ref name="ScreenRant">{{cite web|first=Sandy|last=Schaefer|date=October 25, 2012|url=https://screenrant.com/denzel-washington-equalizer-directors|title=Denzel Washington's 'Equalizer' Secures Start Date; Lining Up Directors|website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> He reprised his role in his first sequel, ''[[The Equalizer 2]]'' (2018) and the third and final sequel ''[[The Equalizer 3]]'' (2023).

In 2016, Washington starred in ''[[The Magnificent Seven (2016 film)|The Magnificent Seven]]'', a remake of the [[The Magnificent Seven|1960 western film of the same name]], alongside [[Chris Pratt]], [[Ethan Hawke]], [[Vincent D'Onofrio]], [[Lee Byung-hun]], [[Manuel Garcia-Rulfo]], [[Martin Sensmeier]], [[Haley Bennett]], and [[Peter Sarsgaard]]. [[Principal photography]] began on May 18, 2015, in north [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. The film premiered on September 8 at the [[2016 Toronto International Film Festival]], and was released in the United States in conventional and [[IMAX]] theaters on September 23, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37307798|title=Toronto 2016: Magnificent Seven diversity 'not a statement', says director|first=Tim|last=Masters|date=September 9, 2016|website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> In ''The Magnificent Seven'', Washington plays Sam Chisolm ("the Bounty Hunter"), a duly sworn warrant officer from [[Wichita, Kansas]].<ref name="CB">{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2016/09/03/the-magnificent-seven-chris-pratt-and-denzel-washington-characte/|title=The Magnificent Seven Chris Pratt And Denzel Washington Character Vignettes|date=September 3, 2016|author=Jay Jayson|work=Comicbook.com|access-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> His character was renamed from [[Chris Adams (character)|Chris Adams]] (played by [[Yul Brynner]] in the original film) to Sam Chisolm.<ref name="IM">{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/20761-magnificent-seven-remake-review-racial-reclamation-rides|title='The Magnificent Seven' Isn't a Remake. It's a Reclamation.|date=September 8, 2016|first=Jordan|last=Zakarin|work=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|access-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> It is Washington's first Western film.<ref name="EWW">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/11/magnificent-seven-chris-pratt-denzel-washington|title=The Magnificent Seven: Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington share favorite Westerns|date=August 11, 2016|first=Darren|last=Franich|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> Washington did not watch Westerns growing up, as it was the end of the Western era in the movies. Moreover, he and his siblings were barred from going to the cinema by his father, a minister in a church. They grew up watching Biblical films instead, like ''[[King of Kings (1961 film)|King of Kings]]'' and ''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]'', although he has said that he watched portions of the shows ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' and ''[[Bonanza]]''.<ref name="EWW" /><ref name="THRV">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-denzel-washington-director-antoine-927318|title=Venice: Denzel Washington, Director Antoine Fuqua Talk Getting Into Character, Politics in 'Magnificent Seven'|date=September 10, 2016|first=Ariston|last=Anderson|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=September 10, 2016}}</ref> He did not view the [[The Magnificent Seven|original film]] in preparation, but has watched ''[[Seven Samurai]]''.<ref name="EWW" /> Fuqua flew to New York City to negotiate with Washington, who accepted the offer.<ref name="Q&A">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-how-antoine-fuqua-persuaded-925605|title=Toronto: How Antoine Fuqua Persuaded Denzel Washington to Join 'Magnificent Seven' (Q&A)|date=September 8, 2016|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name="TW">{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/why-magnificent-seven-may-be-hollywoods-first-color-blind-blockbuster/|title=Why 'Magnificent Seven' May Be Hollywood's First Color-Blind Blockbuster|date=September 8, 2016|first=Sharon|last=Waxman|work=[[The Wrap]]|access-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:The Equalizer 08 (15310534581).jpg|thumb|Washington at the premiere of ''[[The Equalizer (film)|The Equalizer]]'' in 2014]]
In 2016, Washington directed the film ''[[Fences (film)|Fences]]'', co-starring [[Viola Davis]] and [[Stephen McKinley Henderson]] and based on [[August Wilson]]'s [[Fences (play)|play of the same name]], with a script by Wilson. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, Washington plays a former Negro league baseball player working as a garbage collector who struggles to provide for his family and come to terms with the events of his life. The film was released on December 16, 2016, by [[Paramount Pictures]]. Owen Gleiberman of ''[[Variety (website)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Washington, as both actor and director, gets the conversation humming with a speed and alacrity that keeps the audience jazzed...Washington tears through it with a joyful ferocity, like a man possessed."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/fences-review-denzel-washington-1201921332/|title= Fences review|website= Variety|date= November 22, 2016|accessdate= September 27, 2023}}</ref> For his performance, Washington was nominated in the Best Actor category for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama|Golden Globe Award]], a [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role|Screen Actors Guild Award]], and an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]]. The film was nominated for three other Oscars, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]], and won Davis her first Oscar, in the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actress]] category.

The following year, Washington starred in the [[legal drama]] film ''[[Roman J. Israel, Esq.]]'' (2017). [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote, "[He]'s a star player, styling out his character’s complicated and tricky mix of attributes...However contrived, this character is always fully and comfortably inhabited, and Washington brings off the funny moments".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/01/roman-j-israel-esq-review-denzel-washington-colin-farrell-dan-gilroy|title= Roman J Israel Esq|website= the Guardian|date= February 2018|accessdate= September 27, 2023|last1= Bradshaw|first1= Peter}}</ref> While the film received mixed reviews, his performance was praised by critics and led to nominations for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama|Golden Globe Award]], a [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role|Screen Actors Guild Award]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]], Washington's ninth Oscar nomination overall, and his sixth for Best Actor.

Beginning March 22, 2018, Washington starred as Theodore "Hickey" Hickman in a Broadway revival of [[Eugene O'Neill]]'s ''[[The Iceman Cometh]]''. The production, directed by [[George C. Wolfe]], began regular performances April 26 and ran for 14 weeks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/theater/denzel-washington-iceman-cometh-broadway.html|title=Denzel Washington to Star in 'Iceman Cometh' on Broadway|last=Haigney|first=Sophie|date=August 21, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 22, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Washington received positive reviews with Alexis Soloski of ''[[The Guardian]]'' writing, "For most of it, Washington is playing Washington, letting his good looks and irrepressible charm do most of the character work, though the play’s most exciting moments are when he lets that charm falter (something he’s also been exploring in his recent film work, too) showing something uglier and more ravaged underneath."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/apr/26/the-iceman-cometh-review-denzel-washington-mixed-return-to-broadway#:~:text=For%20most%20of%20it%2C%20Washington,something%20uglier%20and%20more%20ravaged|title= The Iceman Cometh review – Denzel Washington's mixed return to Broadway|website= The Guardian|date= April 26, 2018|accessdate= August 25, 2023|last1= Soloski|first1= Alexis}}</ref>

===2020–present===
In 2020, he produced the [[Netflix]] [[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (film)|film adaptation]] of the [[August Wilson]] play ''[[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]]'' starring [[Chadwick Boseman]] and [[Viola Davis]]. The film was directed by [[George C. Wolfe]] and received positive reviews. The following year he portrayed Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon in the crime thriller ''[[The Little Things (2021 film)|The Little Things]]'' acting opposite [[Rami Malek]] and [[Jared Leto]]. The film was released during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and was released in theaters and on [[HBO Max]]. Also in 2021, Washington portrayed the [[Macbeth (character)|titular character]] in the [[The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)|2021 film adaptation]] of the [[William Shakespeare]] tragedy ''[[Macbeth]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/the-tragedy-of-macbeth-teaser-denzel-washington-frances-mcdormand-joel-coen-apple-a24/|title='The Tragedy Of Macbeth' Teaser: Denzel Washington & Frances McDormand Take On Iconic Shakespeare Duo In Joel Coen Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Valerie|last=Complex|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref> He received universal acclaim for his performance and was nominated for several awards, including an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]], a [[Golden Globe Award]], and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]. That same year, Washington directed the drama ''[[A Journal for Jordan]]'', based on the memoir ''A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor'' by [[Dana Canedy]]. It received a wide theatrical release on December 25, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/denzel-washington-a-journal-for-jordan-christmas-release-sony-marvel-dates-1234861038/|title='A Journal For Jordan' Heads To Christmas; Sony Also Dates Untitled Marvel Pics|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|website=Deadline|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref> and received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_journal_for_jordan|title= A Journal for Jordan|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= August 30, 2024}}</ref> 

In 2024, Washington starred in [[Ridley Scott]]'s epic historical drama ''[[Gladiator II]]'' alongside [[Paul Mescal]], [[Pedro Pascal]], and [[Connie Nielsen]]. The film is a sequel to Scott's ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2023/03/denzel-washington-gladiator-sequel-cast-paul-mescal-ridley-scott-1235302321/|title= Denzel Washington Reuniting With Ridley Scott On 'Gladiator' Sequel At Paramount|website= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date= March 17, 2023|accessdate= August 25, 2023}}</ref> Washington's performance was described as scene-stealing and the standout aspect of the film, earning a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award]] nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gladiator II {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gladiator_ii |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> In the same year, Washington served as a producer of ''[[The Piano Lesson (2024 film)|The Piano Lesson]]'', the [[Netflix]] film adaptation of the [[August Wilson]] [[The Piano Lesson|play of the same name]] directed by his son [[Malcolm Washington]] and starring his other son [[John David Washington]].

In 2025 Washington returned to Broadway portraying the [[Othello (character)|title role]] in a revival of [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Othello]]'' starring opposite [[Jake Gyllenhaal]] as [[Iago]]. [[Kenny Leon]] will helm over the production, having previously directed Washington in the Broadway revivals of ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]'' and ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/theater/denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal-othello-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ak0.XrMM.jka7mN-woG4Q|title= Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to Lead Broadway 'Othello'|work=The New York Times|date= March 6, 2024|accessdate= March 6, 2024|last1= Paulson|first1= Michael}}</ref> The production and Washington's performance earned mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/othello-3/|title= Othello|website= Didtheylikeit|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref> Adrian Horton from ''[[The Guardian]]'' described the production as "underwhelming" and wrote of his performance, "[He] has moments of sublime melody...the kind of rhapsodic deliveries that feel worth whatever price of admission, but the overall tone of his performance is one of perfunctory hyper-competence."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/mar/24/othello-review-denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal|title= Othello review – Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal’s underwhelming blockbuster|website= [[The Guardian]]|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref> David Rooney of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' noted Washington's [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] "magnetism" and "swaggering authority" but added, "there’s little evidence of a driving force behind his performance, which is symptomatic of the production overall."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/othello-theater-review-denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal-shakespeare-broadway-1236170552/|title= ‘Othello’ Theater Review: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal Bring Star Wattage to Middling Revival Otherwise Short on Electricity|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref>

That same year, Washington reunited with [[Spike Lee]] on the [[police procedural]] drama film ''[[Highest 2 Lowest]]'', a remake of the 1963 [[Akira Kurosawa]] film ''[[High and Low (1963 film)|High and Low]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denzel-washington-spike-lee-high-and-low-kurosawa-remake-1235902630/|title= Denzel Washington and Spike Lee Reuniting to Remake Kurosawa's 'High and Low' With A24 and Apple|website= Variety|date= February 8, 2024|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref> The film will be a joint production with [[A24]] and [[Apple TV+]] and will also star [[Jeffrey Wright]] and [[Ilfenesh Hadera]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jeffrey-wright-spike-lee-high-and-low-1235945929/|title= Jeffrey Wright Joins Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's 'High and Low'|website= Variety|date= March 19, 2024|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref> Washington announced in November, that he would be starring in ''[[Black Panther 3]]'', set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Werpin |first=Alex |date=November 12, 2024 |title='Black Panther' 3: Denzel Washington Says Ryan Coogler Is Writing Role for Him in Next Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-3-denzel-washington-ryan-coogler-writing-role-next-film-mcu-franchise-1236059199/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112142735/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-3-denzel-washington-ryan-coogler-writing-role-next-film-mcu-franchise-1236059199/ |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Washington was also cast as [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general [[Hannibal]] in an upcoming [[Netflix]] film; the decision was controversial in [[Tunisia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tondo |first=Lorenzo |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Denzel Washington's casting as Hannibal in Netflix film sparks race controversy in Tunisia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/11/denzel-washingtons-casting-as-hannibal-in-netflix-film-sparks-race-controversy-in-tunisia |access-date=September 8, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Denzel Washington's Casting as Ancient General Hannibal in Antoine Fuqua Netflix Film Sparks Controversy in Tunisia |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/denzel-washington-hannibal-casting-tunisia-controversy-1235832901/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>