Denzel Washington’s 4 Children: Everything to Know

The entertainment industry has become a family business for Denzel Washington, his wife Pauletta Washington and their four children.

Denzel and Pauletta married in 1983 and are the proud parents of four children: John David (39), Katie (37) and twins Malcolm and Olivia (32).

All Training day the star’s children followed in his footsteps and pursued a career in the entertainment industry in some form. However, Denzel said he and his family lead normal lives out of the spotlight, even crediting his children for keeping him humble.

“I am who I am – a regular guy with a great job. How I’m analyzed belongs to someone else,” he told Shortened version 2009 “In a few minutes I have to go to a children’s game and then I’m taking our daughter to an audition. Today, that’s my job.”

Over the years, Denzel has instilled his own wisdom in his children, including teaching them about the challenges they may face in life.

“I try to teach my kids that there will be obstacles,” he said during a 2008 appearance on the show. Early Show. “Someone might not like you just because they don’t like themselves. But don’t get stuck.”

He also credited his wife, Pauletta, for raising his four children.

“My children are good people,” Denzel said Guard in 2010. “They are not perfect, but they are generous, humble and kind. My wife did it.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Denzel Washington’s children.

John David Washington, 39

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Denzel and Pauletta’s eldest son, John David Washington, was born on July 28, 1984 in Los Angeles. He attended Campbell Hall School in LA, where he was a member of the basketball, football and track teams. After graduating high school in 2002, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he played football as a running back and graduated in 2006.

After college, John David had a brief career as a professional soccer player. He signed a contract with St. Louis Rams during the 2006-2007 season. before playing for Germany’s Rhein Fire during the 2007 offseason.

In 2009, he was drafted to the California Redwoods United Football League, where he played until 2012 when the league folded.

Denzel once used lines from Spike Lee’s 1992 drama Malcolm X to inspire his son’s youth soccer team, but he was glad that John David’s professional soccer career ended and he turned to acting. “He had I don’t know how many concussions, a broken collarbone, a torn knee and Achilles [tendon],” he told PEOPLE in 2018. “No, I’m glad it’s over.”

John David’s acting career began as a child, when he played a student in Malcolm X while his dad played the title character. During the interview with S. in January 2021 WSJ. Magazinehe said he “always” wanted to be an actor like his dad, but at first turned to a more private life.

“I jumped in and hid in this football persona, this athlete, I literally put on a helmet to hide my face, to hide my identity,” he said.

As an actor, John David has appeared in various projects including Ballers, Tenet, Malcolm & Marie and Amsterdam. It debuted on Broadway in a 2022 revival Piano lesson alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Danielle Brooks. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in 2018 BlackKkKlansman.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporterthe actor said he was sitting next to his dad when he found out he was nominated for best actor in a drama.

“I watched it with my old man,” John David said. “When they called my name it was like super slow motion. I heard ‘Johhh’ and then he grabbed me and we hugged for like 10 minutes. We just held each other. And then my mom was on speakerphone. … She was crying and she said she loved me and was proud of me. It was a pure tearful session.”

John David spoke openly about the influence of his parents on his life and career. At the press conference in September 2022, shared one lesson he learned from his father: “The freedom to fail, to find out, flourish in that failure. In being uncomfortable, you will find the greatest parts of yourself as an artist.”

He previously told PEOPLE that his mom, Pauletta, is the “most consistent person” in his life and cited her as his inspiration; he added that his dad is his “favorite actor”.

He added: “I think the best actor in the industry, in the business, is my father. I’m inspired by the kind of career he’s had and what he’s had to do. … I’m just so inspired and continue to be inspired by what he does and how he does it and his approach to the craft and work.”

Katia Washington, 37

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Denzel and Pauletta’s second child, daughter Katia Washington, was born on November 27, 1986 in LA. Katia studied at Yale University, where she graduated in 2010. Although Katia keeps her personal life private, she has followed the careers of many other members of the Washington family and works behind the scenes as a producer for Bron Studios.

In her career, she worked as a producer on Fences, Malcolm & Marie, Breaking up and A sharp stick.

Malcolm Washington, 32

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Malcolm Washington and his twin sister, Olivia, were born on April 10, 1991 in LA. He attended Windward School, where he coached basketball for four years. He also received several accolades as a high school athlete, including first team all-league, Academic All-American and 2009 Windward Winter Classic Tournament MVP while remaining on the honor roll.

After high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied film and played for the varsity basketball team during the 2009-2010 season. One of his former teammates, Zack Rosen, called Malcolm “boring.” The Daily Pennsylvanian in November 2009. “He brings energy,” Rosen added. “And I think he knows that’s his role — an energetic guy, who brings a lot of spirit.”

Malcolm followed in the footsteps of his father, who played basketball at Fordham University. Malcolm said The Daily Pennsylvanian that his dad still played with him, adding: “He’s slowed down a bit with age, but he thinks he’s still good, so I guess that counts.”

Since then, he has been working as a director and producer. He worked as an assistant director on short films The last bookstore and Trouble Man. As a producer he was involved in Summer 17, Slow and North Hollywood. He also assisted Spike Lee on the 2017 adaptation of the series She must have it.

Olivia Washington, 32

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Like her twin brother Malcolm, Olivia Washington was born in LA on April 10, 1991. After high school, Olivia studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and graduated in 2013 with a BA in Drama.

Similar to her siblings and parents, Olivia pursued a career in the entertainment industry as an actress. In May 2015, she said New York Amsterdam News that she “grew up in an artistic spirit” and often danced or played the piano. But it wasn’t until she was a junior in high school that she started working with family friend LaTanya Richardson-Jackson and realized she wanted to focus on acting.

Olivia said she “learned a lot” from her parents growing up, but had a “very normal childhood” despite being raised by prolific actors.

“I wouldn’t say I grew up in the industry, my parents were in it, but I went to school, I had after school activities, I had a very normal childhood,” she said. “It’s interesting because I think people assume that in my house we talk about ‘industry’ like we’re at the dinner table or something, but that’s not the case.”

As an actress, she appeared in episodes Empire, Madoff and Mr. Robot. She also had roles in films such as Little things, Vacation in Harlem and Lee Daniels‘ Servant.

Olivia also appeared in Breaking up (previously known as 892), for which she won the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Best Cast alongside John Boyega, Nicole Beharie and Selenis Leyva, among others. Olivia has the seal of approval from her father, who spoke of her acting skills in a January 2021 appearance. Good morning America.

“I’m a dad so I’ll keep saying it: Olivia Washington is a great young actress. A very, very, very good young actress, so come get your brother [John David]” Denzel said. “It’s a team sport in our house.”

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Source: HIS Education