Editing Denzel Washington (section)

== Style and influence ==
Washington has stated that he considers himself a [[stage actor]] and not a [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] star.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Gsd12Znb8|title= Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on their Broadway "Othello"|website= [[CBS Sunday Morning]]|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> He has also cited [[James Earl Jones]] as an influence saying, "he is who I wanted to be" adding "He’s my hero. My college theater career started because of [Jones]".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denzel-washington-james-earl-jones-tribute-1236139578/|title= Denzel Washington Pays Tribute to James Earl Jones: ‘He Was Who I Wanted to Be’|website= Variety|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> Washington also cited [[Sidney Poitier]] as an acting inspiration saying, "He was a mentor, needless to say, an example, a friend".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://people.com/movies/denzel-washington-credits-sidney-poitier-with-inspiring-him-to-keep-acting/|title= Denzel Washington Credits Sidney Poitier with Inspiring Him in Early Career: 'Kept Me Going'|website= People Magazine|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> He has also mentioned [[Morgan Freeman]] as being an influence.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/denzel-washington-tense-first-encounter-with-morgan-freeman/|title= Denzel Washington’s tense first encounter with Morgan Freeman|website= [[Far Out Magazine]]|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref>

Washington has influenced and mentored numerous actors such as [[Chadwick Boseman]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.buzzfeed.com/marycolussi/celebrity-mentor-mentee-relationships|title= 16 Famous People Who Mentored Their Fellow Celebrities And Proved The Value Of Paying It Forward|website= Buzzfeed|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> [[Mahershala Ali]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ZjpQFWhxo|title= Mahershala Ali on Denzel Washington's Influence|website= Youtube|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> [[Michael B. Jordan]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/hes-brought-the-best-out-of-me-michael-b-jordan-reflects-on-relationship-with-denzel-washington.html#:~:text=The%20pair%20finally%20got%20the,but%20also%20through%20personal%20support.|title= ‘He’s Brought The Best Out Of Me’: Michael B. Jordan Reflects On Relationship With Denzel Washington
|website= MovieGuide|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> [[Jamie Foxx]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkim-lcCYXI|title= Jamie Foxx Shares How Great Denzel Washington Has Been For Him And Other Young Actors and Actresses|website= Youtube|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> [[Will Smith]], [[Jake Gyllenhaal]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://laist.com/shows/the-frame/the-frame-first-how-jake-gyllenhaal-was-inspired-by-denzel-washington-to-become-an-actor|title= The Frame 'First': How Jake Gyllenhaal was inspired by Denzel Washington to become an actor|website= LAist|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref> [[Austin Butler]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://people.com/movies/austin-butler-calls-mentor-denzel-washington-the-godfather-of-acting/|title= Austin Butler Calls Mentor Denzel Washington 'the Godfather of Acting'|website= People Magazine|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref> and [[Glen Powell]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/owe-why-denzel-washington-blunt-192247141.html|title= Yahoo News|accessdate= March 23, 2025}}</ref>