There are actors who play characters, and then there is Denzel Washington, who inhabits them so fully that the line between fiction and reality often disappears. Today the legendary actor, director, and producer turns 71—an age that finds him as prolific as ever, recently coming off the critical success of Spike Lee’s thriller Highest 2 Lowest.
Actor/filmmaker Denzel Washington attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 6, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The two-time Oscar winner remains the gold standard of gravity and grace in Hollywood. Let’s look back at the 10 most praised roles that cemented his legacy as a cinematic titan.
1. Training Day (2001)
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As the corrupt, terrifyingly charismatic LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris, Washington delivered a “king-kong” performance that won him his first Best Actor Oscar. It remains his most iconic role, turning the “villain” archetype into something seductive and deeply complex.
2. Malcolm X (1992)
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In his second collaboration with Spike Lee, Washington didn’t just play the civil rights leader; he transformed into him. His portrayal of Malcolm X is widely considered one of the greatest biographical performances in history, capturing the activist’s evolution with staggering precision.
3. Glory (1989)
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This was the film that made Denzel a superstar. Playing Private Silas Trip, a defiant escaped slave fighting in the Civil War, Washington earned his first Oscar (Best Supporting Actor). The single tear shed during the whipping scene remains one of the most powerful images in cinema.
4. Fences (2016)
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Washington both directed and starred (alongside Viola Davis) in this adaptation of August Wilson’s play. As Troy Maxson, a garbage collector struggling with his past and his family, Denzel delivered a masterclass in dialogue and raw, domestic emotion.
5. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
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In Joel Coen’s stark, black-and-white adaptation, Washington played Lord Macbeth with a weary, seasoned wisdom. His command of the language and his portrayal of a man unraveling under the weight of ambition earned him his tenth Oscar nomination.
6. The Hurricane (1999)
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As Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a boxer wrongfully imprisoned for murder, Washington carried the film with a performance of immense physical and mental strength. He captured the literal and figurative “storm” within a man fighting for his soul. Washington revealed this role was probably the one he enjoyed the most.
7. Philadelphia (1993)
Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington / IMDb
While Tom Hanks took the lead, Washington’s role as the homophobic lawyer Joe Miller was the film’s emotional bridge. His character’s journey from prejudice to empathy provided the audience with a surrogate through which to understand the AIDS crisis.
8. American Gangster (2007)
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As the cool, calculated Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, Washington proved he could play “bad” with an elegance that was almost frightening. It is a performance of terrifying stillness and ruthless efficiency.
9. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
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In this neo-noir classic, Washington played “Easy” Rawlins, a WWII veteran turned private eye. It’s one of his most “cool” and underrated performances, showcasing his ability to lead a genre film with effortless magnetism.
10. Flight (2012)
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As Whip Whitaker, an alcoholic pilot who saves a plane while high, Washington explored the dark depths of addiction. It’s a brave, unvarnished performance that refused to let the character off the hook, resulting in a deeply human portrait of a flawed hero.
