Denzel Washington ranks among the greatest and most sought-after actors of his generation. Boasting an illustrious film and theater career spanning over 40 years, the two-time Academy Award and Tony Award-winning actor shows no signs of slowing down.
From his breakout role as soldier Silas Trip in Edward Zwick’s 1989 historical war drama Glory to his phenomenal performance as civil rights leader Malcolm X in Spike Lee’s 1992 epic autobiographical joint, Malcolm X, to his unforgettable performance as corrupt LAPD officer Alonzo Harris in Antoine Fuqua’s crime thriller Training dayWashington has consistently displayed effortless charm and charisma and a commanding screen presence throughout his career.
As a classically trained actor, it’s no surprise that Washington takes on roles in the drama, suspense, autobiographical, and even action genres. In addition, Washington’s continued dedication to his work on Broadway, regardless of the success and admiration he has earned in Hollywood, speaks volumes about the actor’s work ethic and respect for the craft.
Despite Washington’s achievements in the field of film, there has always been a gray spot in the actor’s filmography, and the gray area in question is the actor’s lack of comedies on his resume. As of the writing of this article, Michael Schultz’s CC and Penny Marshall’s The pastor’s wife are the only two movies under the actor’s belt that can realistically be considered comedies. Whether his reasoning for rarely appearing in comedies is personal or professional, we’ll see why Denzel Washington strays from the genre.
Mentorship
As is usually the case, a strong, reliable and empathetic mentor can dramatically influence the trajectory of one’s life. Whether it’s mentorship in someone’s professional endeavors or something as simple as dating advice, words of wisdom from a trusted source can help clear up any insecurities about starting a new chapter.
Even for someone as valued as Washington, this sense of mentorship still applies. Washington has spoken candidly about the racism he experienced in Hollywood as a budding black actor. While other young actors might have given up after these early negative experiences in Hollywood, Washington persevered and enjoyed a celebrated career.
However, Washington’s career would have gone in a very different direction if it weren’t for prominent actor Sidney Poitier. According to a 2000 interview with USA todaywhen Washington was a struggling young actor, he was offered a job with a $600,000 payout.
However, despite the lucrative financial incentive of this performance, Washington was tired of accepting the role due to its inherently humiliating nature. Unsure of what to do, he contacted Poitier for advice Lilies of the field actor advised Washington to be wise in choosing roles, as an actor’s early career typically dictates the direction of their career. This brief but poignant reminder of integrity inspired him, and Washington passed on the film. After waiting six months for his next appearance, Washington accepted the lead role Cry freedoma film that would earn the actor his first Academy Award nomination.
Public perception
Financial bankability and star power are a few traits that endear industry professionals and the public to an actor or actress throughout their career. Brad Pitt, Pedro Pascal, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tom Cruise are a handful of actors who have achieved A-list status.
Plus, there’s an expectation the audience has when they support these actors, we expect Jackson to be an intimidating figure and we expect Cruise to pull off another stunning stunt. As beloved as these actors’ traits are, they’ve spent large chunks of their career developing them and shaping how audiences perceive them. In Washington’s case, his austere yet regal presence on film is something he’s been working hard at since the ’80s.
One of Washington’s considerations when taking on a role is how the character represents African Americans. You could speculate all day as to why this is the case, but one of the main reasons this is important to Washington is that he is well aware of his core fan base. According to Washington, his main fan base is black women, and he works hard to make sure studios understand that before signing on to make most of his films. A prominent example of the actor’s devotion to these fans is the controversy around 1993 The pelican briefing and Washington’s refusal to kiss on screen with Julia Roberts.
Comedies often fall under narrow categories. There are slapstick comedies, romantic comedies and spoof movies. Again, we must consider Washington’s status as a classically trained actor when discussing his body of work. While comedies undoubtedly present unique challenges for industry professionals, they may not be preferred by every actor when selecting roles. If we had to speculate why there are no comedic credits to Washington’s name, it would be a combination of the actor’s dedication to properly representing himself and African-American men and selecting roles that are better suited to his theatrical background.