Black History

Miguel Montoya 84Ann Street School February 4, 2012

Social Studies
Denzel Washington

DenzelHayes Washington Jr. was born in 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York. He was one of three children growing up. At the age of six, he joined the Boys and Girls club of America in New York. His father wasborn in Virginia and his mother in Georgia. He attended grammar school at Pennington-Grimes Elementary School. After his parents divorce, they sent him to Oakland Military Academy, a boarding school.“He studied drama and journalism at Fordham University from 1973 to 1977 and trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, California from 1977 to 1978” While being in college he stillpursued his passion for acting. He currently lives with his wife and four children in Las Angeles, California, while still acting.

Denzel Washington has appeared in over thirty movies. He has wontwo Oscars, two Academy Awards out of five Academy Award nominations, and a Golden Globe Award. Denzel Washington has also been nominated for two Emmys. In 1996, Denzel Washington was chosen asPeople Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. In 2007, he was chosen as one of “People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive”. Denzel Washington was the first African-American to win two Academy Awards, as well as the thirdto win an Oscar. His first big appearance was “Carbon Copy” in 1981. Since then he has appeared in and produced several major movies. These include:

“A Soldier’s Story (1984). Character: PrivateFirst Class (PFC) Peterson
Power (1986). Character: Arnold Billing
Cry Freedom (1987). Character: Steve Biko
For Queen and Country (1988). Character: Reuben James
The Mighty Quinn (1989)....