Age: 71
male
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, producer, and director. Known for his dramatic roles on stage and screen, he is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, with The New York Times declaring him the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2020. Over his career, he has received several accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. Washington has been honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022. After training at the American Conservatory Theatre, Washington began his career in theatre, acting in performances off-Broadway. He first came to prominence in the NBC medical drama series St. Elsewhere (1982–1988) and in the war film A Soldier's Story (1984). He won two Academy Awards, his first for Best Supporting Actor for playing an American Civil War soldier in the war drama Glory (1989) and his second for Best Actor for playing a corrupt police officer in the crime thriller Training Day (2001). He was Oscar-nominated for his performances in Cry Freedom (1987), Malcolm X (1992), The Hurricane (1999), Flight (2012), Fences (2016), Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). A prominent leading man, Washington also acted in Mo' Better Blues (1990), Mississippi Masala (1991), Philadelphia (1993), Courage Under Fire (1996), Remember the Titans (2000), Man on Fire (2004), Inside Man (2006), American Gangster (2007), and The Equalizer trilogy (2014–2023). Washington directed and starred in the films Antwone Fisher (2002), The Great Debaters (2007), and Fences (2016). On stage, he has acted in productions of both Coriolanus (1979) and The Tragedy of Richard III (1990) at the Public Theater. He made his Broadway debut in the Ron Milner play Checkmates (1988). He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a disillusioned working-class father in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's play Fences (2010). He has also acted in the Broadway revivals of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (2005), Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun (2014), and Eugene O'Neill's play The Iceman Cometh (2018).
Denzel Washington
Henry McDaniel
for Henry McDaniel in Breaking Barriers: The Hattie McDaniel Story
Suggested by kamsismith
Hattie McDaniel, born in 1895, faced seemingly insurmountable challenges as a black woman in early 20th-century America. Despite the racial prejudices and gender discrimination of her time, she possessed an unparalleled talent for entertainment and a burning desire to succeed. The film begins with Hattie's early life in Wichita, Kansas, where her passion for performing first took root. As she navigates the vibrant world of black vaudeville and theater, Hattie's undeniable talent leads her to Hollywood, where she becomes a sought-after actress in the burgeoning film industry. But it's not all glitz and glamour; Hattie faces racism, stereotyping, and limited opportunities, even as she establishes herself as a talented character actress. The heart of the story revolves around Hattie's journey during the production of "Gone with the Wind," where she famously portrayed Mammy, a role that would earn her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. "Breaking Barriers" delves into the complexities of her decision to take on the role, the impact of her win on the industry, and the personal sacrifices she made in the face of criticism and backlash.
