Denzel H. Washington, Sr. is the father of American actor, producer, and director Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. Denzel’s son Denzel Jr. began his acting career in theatre, acting in performances off-Broadway. He is known for appearing in Glory, Remember the Titans, Training Day, Inside Man, Man on Fire, Unstoppable, and The Equalizer trilogy, among others. He has received various accolades for his work in the film industry.
Denzel H. Washington, Sr.: Bio Summary
| Name | Denzel H. Washington, Sr. |
| Famous as | father of Denzel Washington |
| Date of birth | 5 October 1909 |
| Place of birth | Buckingham, Buckingham County, Virginia, USA |
| Died | 8 August 1991 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | William Washington and Virginia Page |
| Spouse | Lennis Washington |
| Children | Denzel Washington, Lorice Washington, and David Washington |
Who Is Denzel Washington’s Father?
Denzel H. Washington, Sr. is famous as Denzel Washington’s father. He was born on 5 October 1909, in Buckingham, Buckingham County, Virginia, USA to Virginia Page and William Washington. He is said to be the brother of Arnetia I O Washington, Wiley Gilmore Washington, Sarah Lavarre Washington, Warren W Washington, Paige A Washington, and Christabell (Washington) Grice.
There isn’t much about his early life. He was not educated. Denzel H. Washington, Sr. was an ordained Pentecostal minister who reportedly ran two churches. He was also an employee of the New York City Water Department and worked at a local S. Klein department store. He met and married Lennis “Lynne” Washington, a beauty parlor owner and operator.
Lennis was born in Georgia and was partly raised in Harlem, New York. Denzel H. Washington, Sr., and Lennis Washington became parents of three children, Denzel Hayes Washington Jr., Lorice Washington, and David Washington. Their son Denzel Jr. was named after his father. Denzel Sr was reportedly named after the doctor, Doctor Denzel, who had delivered him.
According to Denzel Jr., his parents Denzel Sr. and Lennis “were like night and day.” Denzel Jr. revealed that his father Denzel Sr. was “just this spirit-filled man until the day he died, a country boy raised on a farm in Virginia.” Denzel Sr. and his wife Lennis Washington decided to end their marriage. They got divorced in the year 1968. After the divorce, Denzel Sr found love again and re-married.
Denzel H. Washington, Sr. married Leola Edwards Washington. Leola is said to have worked as an ordained minister. Denzel Sr. and his wife Leola stayed married until Leola passed away in 1988. Denzel Sr. was not close enough with his children from his marriage to Lennis Washington.
ALSO, READ: Lorice Washington: Facts About The Sister Of Denzel Washington
Their divorce led to Denzel Sr’s relationship with his children, which was already strained to deteriorate even further. He was rarely around and hardly made an effort to stay connected with his children. His son Denzel Hayes Washington Jr has shared that he is “his mother’s son”. Denzel Jr. was sent to a private school by his mother.
Denzel Jr. was sent to the private preparatory school Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York, hoping to keep him out of trouble. “That decision changed my life, because I wouldn’t have survived in the direction I was going,” Denzel Jr said. “The guys I was hanging out with at the time, my running buddies, have now done maybe 40 years combined in the penitentiary.”
“They were nice guys, but the streets got them.” Denzel Jr recalled when he moved to his father Denzel Sr’s place at age 18. “And he kicked me out. He said, ‘You’re just bad.’” Denzel Jr. discovered that he and his father had different interests and had little in common.
“The things I did, like sports, he wasn’t really [interested in]. Not to say that I didn’t love him like a dad. But we didn’t play ball, those type of things,” Denzel Jr disclosed. Although Denzel Jr. wasn’t close to his father, he and his mother were close. He has acknowledged his mother for guiding him and never giving up on him.
Today, Denzel Jr. is a successful actor, producer, and director who has several fans around the world. He has served as the national spokesman for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1993 and has appeared in public service announcements and awareness campaigns for the organization.
Denzel Jr. has served as a board member for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1995. His father, Denzel H. Washington, Sr lived his life away from the spotlight.
What Happened To Denzel Washington’s Father?
Denzel H. Washington, Sr died on the 8th of August 1991, in Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA. He died at the age of 81 years. At the time he passed away, his son Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. was filming Malcolm X. Denzel Jr. made it known that he didn’t shed a tear when his father passed away.
ALSO, READ: Lennis Washington: How Did Denzel Washington’s Mother Die?
Denzel Jr said of his father: “He died in August. We started shooting around the time that he died. [pauses] I never shed a tear for my father. That sounds like a book or a song. I never did all through the funeral and all that. There was no connection.” Denzel Sr was buried at White Plains Rural Cemetery.
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