Denzel Washington And Son John David Washington Enjoy An Unbreakable Bond As They Mutually Inspire Each Other

Jul 24, 2023

Award-winning actor Denzel Washington may be an accomplished Hollywood star, but he is also a loving father to his grown kids. The 68-year-old enjoys an especially close bond with his eldest son, John David Washington, who also tracks the same career path in show business.

Denzel became a first-time dad to John David in 1984 following his marriage to Pauletta Pearson Washington a year before. His son, however, didn’t venture into acting until 2015, as he played professional football with the National Football League (NFL) and the United Football League (UFL) for at least six years. 

In 2015, John David joined the cast of the critically-acclaimed “Ballers” series on HBO and soon found the doors of Hollywood opening up for him. In 2017, the young star landed the lead role in the Spike Lee movie “BlacKkKlansman” which was both a commercial and critical success. He got the attention of esteemed director Christopher Nolan to star in his thriller “Tenet,” where he was cited as Best Actor at the Saturn Awards.

Despite initially feeling the pressure to escape the shadow of his father’s legacy, John David has come to embrace the acclaim that comes with being the son of a Hollywood legend. In an interview with People in 2020, John David opened up about drawing inspiration and support from his parents, citing that his father is his “favorite actor.” He looks up to his father’s illustrious career and dedication to his craft.

However, John David is very much aware of the inescapable comparisons to Denzel and knows that his family ties to such a talented and iconic individual are inevitably going to be talked about. Fortunately, there is no jealousy between the father and son, and their mutual admiration for each other has been seen in several interviews.

In 2021, The New York Times named Denzel as the Greatest Actor of the 21st century, and the first one to express his glee over the recognition was John David.  

“It’s about time,” the son told Access Hollywood. “I think he is one of the greatest to ever do it, so it was a very proud moment for our entire family.” 

John David’s praise for his father left Denzel speechless and in tears, but the accomplished superstar is also not one to shy away from expressing his love and admiration for his son. 

In 2018, Denzel said that he is proud of the man John David has become, adding that he had no help getting his first acting job with “Ballers.” He was next to his son when John David received his first acting nomination from the Golden Globes, and the father and son celebrated with a hug.

“He’s really good at what he does, and the fact that he’s been fighting to make his own mark, he didn’t want any help from me,” Denzel said, per People.  

John David, however, has no ambition to surpass his father’s achievement as an actor with two Oscar Best Actor plums for his work in “Glory” and “Training Day” and a string of nominations at different award-giving bodies between the late 1980s and 2022. The son said that his father is “larger than life,” so he will never be able to reach Denzel’s star power. 

“I don’t see it as a reality for me,” John David said via CBS. “I don’t think of it that way. I can’t.” 

John David Washington carries with him the legacy of his talented father, Denzel Washington, but also the love of a devoted family. What can you say about this father-son relationship? Do you know a fan of both actors? Then tell them all about this story!