I don’t know how many people remember, but women went wild when Denzel showed up as a doctor on the television show: St. Elsewhere, where he was part of the cast between 1982 and 1988. Then right out of the gate (1989), he got a movie role in the blockbuster film: Glory, and he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He became the real, man on fire. Other awards followed including an Oscar for the crime thriller: Training Day. He was a viciously, dirty, cop and he played it perfectly. He can make you love him or hate him as easy as a flip of a coin.
But throwing all the above accolades aside, I only listed a fraction, Denzel is a tremendous role model for all young people. The values his family instilled in him are often called: “Midwest Values.” His father was an ordained minister and he believed in discipline and was concerned about the people in Denzel’s life, so he sent him to a military academy which Denzel said pretty much saved his life. The buddies he ran around with before then all ended up in prison for various crimes.
Denzel attended Fordham University where he played basketball for the legendary P.J. Carlesimo. While in college he also became a Y.M.C.A. director for a children’s camp in Connecticut. During Denzel’s first year on “St. Elsewhere,” he met the woman who would become his wife for almost 40 years now, Pauletta Washington. It is a great fit as she is a phenom in the film business. They’re both brainers. They have two daughters and two sons together. The bottom line is they’d be any child’s dream parents.
Thanks to both Pauletta and Denzel for shining their light in a very dark space of our world. You’re awesome!