5 Best Denzel Washington Movie Roles Where He Played A Real Person

Denzel Washington is one of the unforgettable Hollywood names all people instantly recognize. A veteran actor who began his career with the TV movie Wilma (1977) before debuting on the big screen with Carbon Copy (1981), he has been in more movies than most famous actors currently working. There are as many as 18 Denzel Washington movies from the 1990s, a career-high for a decade, but he’s never been away from the big screen for long periods, and it’s always a pleasure to watch him deliver unbelievably good performances at this alarmingly consistent rate.

For his high caliber and prolific work in the industry, Denzel Washington has been nominated for an Oscar a remarkable nine times, spread out across 5 decades from the 1980s for portraying Steve Biko in Cry Freedom to the 2020s for playing Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth. Biko isn’t the only real person Washington has portrayed on screen, a feat he repeated six times in his career, showcasing his ability to capture any persona. Several of Denzel Washington’s best movies are biopics where he portrays real people.

5

The Great Debaters (2007)

As Melvin B. Tolson

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The Great Debaters

PG-13

Drama

Release Date

December 25, 2007

Runtime

126 Minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Denzel Whitaker

  • Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24's

    Denzel Washington

  • hEADSHOT oF Nate Parker

    Nate Parker

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    Jurnee Smollett

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The last time Denzel Washington portrayed a real person was over 17 years ago, in the 2007 Christmas release The Great Debaters. He took on the role of Melvin B. Tolson, a famed educator and politician, who taught English at Wiley College for over 20 years. One of the most historical schools of its time, Wiley College was an all-black school in Texas where Tolson lived for many years while he taught there.

Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli and Inside Man on a blue sky gritty background

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Washington’s portrayal of this man is one of his most underrated movie performances. The dialogue in the movie, written with a certain flair, is delivered with a calm and compassionate tone by Washington. This adds gravitas, sophistication, and complexity to his on-screen persona. He’s polished in his speech but doesn’t waste words, being quick to reprimand misbehaviors sternly, and simultaneously celebrating the joy of speaking beautiful English in the same breath. The racial politics of the time also clearly inform the film’s writing and Washington’s composed and impassioned performance, a common theme in his filmography.

4

Remember The Titans (2000)

As Herman Boone

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Remember The Titans

PG

Sport

Biography

Drama

10/10

Release Date

September 29, 2000

Runtime

113 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot of Ryan Hurst

    Ryan Hurst

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Will Patton

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One of Denzel Washington’s best movies from the 2000s, Remember The Titans, is also one of his most iconic films, wherein he plays Coach Herman Boone. Boone was the football coach at T. C. Williams High School who tried to incorporate racial tolerance into the football team and the players’ mentality, affecting their attitudes and conduct toward each other. He fought tooth and nail against an unfair system, and Washington did ample justice to his persona with his passionate and powerful performance.

The movie is mainstream with the usual biopic and sports drama clichés in the mix, but that doesn’t hold Washington back from delivering a memorable turn in Remember the Titans. He shines through in a work that one would normally think is a remix of genre conventions with a predictable story structure that attempts to champion racial diversity and inclusivity. However, the performances of every cast member are remarkable and that lifts the film to the point it makes an unforgettable impression.

3

Cry Freedom (1987)

As Steve Biko

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Cry Freedom

PG

Drama

Release Date

November 6, 1987

Runtime

157 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Kevin Kline

    Kevin Kline

  • Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24's

    Denzel Washington

  • Headshot of Penelope Wilton

    Penelope Wilton

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Kate Hardie

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Based on books by journalist Donald Woods, who is the protagonist of Cry Freedom, played by Kevin Kline, the movie tells the story of the friendship between Woods and the anti-Apartheid activist Steve Biko, played by Washington. Within just a decade of his acting debut, the latter not only bagged such a relevant and important role, but Washington also earned himself his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Steve Biko in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Denzel Washington As Malcolm X From Malcolm X And Denzel Washington As John Hobbes From Fallen

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His superior performance as Biko establishes Washington’s strength in socially relevant and politically impactful roles. Washington and Kline’s chemistry as activist friends who set out to change the world after the destruction of a London slum will make a mark on any viewer. Richard Attenborough’s direction evokes empathy and demonstrates an understanding approach to the sensitive subject, but the biggest takeaway from Cry Freedom is, of course, Washington’s acting skills.

2

The Hurricane (1999)

As Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter

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The Hurricane

R

Drama

Release Date

September 17, 1999

Runtime

146 Minutes

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While it is still technically a sports drama biopic because Washington plays the role of a sportsperson, The Hurricane is much more a social drama about racism and the power of empathy. It tells the fascinating story of how Rubin Carter, unfairly imprisoned for nearly 20 years, ultimately got his charges quashed with the help of a Canadian family.

Denzel Washington’s Highest-Rated Movies

Movie (producing/self roles excluded)

Rotten Tomatoes Score

Glory (1989)

95%

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

93%

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

92%

Fences (2016)

92%

Mississippi Masala (1991)

92%

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

90%

A Soldier’s Story (1984)

90%

Crimson Tide (1995)

89%

The Mighty Quinn (1989)

89%

Malcolm X (1992)

89%

Washington’s portrayal of Carter, who was nicknamed “The Hurricane” for his quick boxing style, is the highlight of The Hurricane. It earned him another nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2000. However, Denzel Washington did lose the Oscar that year, and as a result, he decided to abstain from voting for the award in the future. While Kevin Spacey’s performance in American Beauty (1999) is also compelling, it’s hard not to feel that Washington should have won that year.

1

Malcolm X (1992)

As Malcolm X

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Malcolm X

PG-13

Biography

Drama

History

12

9.2/10

Release Date

November 18, 1992

Runtime

202 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24's

    Denzel Washington

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    Angela Bassett

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Malcolm X needs no introduction; neither does his biopic. It’s perhaps Denzel Washington’s best movie ever. Some would say his performance as the titular political activist in Malcolm X is even better than his performance in Training Day, which won him his only Best Actor Oscar. His first nomination in that category came for his work in Malcolm X.

Denzel Washington as Nick Styles laughing in Ricochet

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At over 200 minutes, Malcolm X is an epic befitting the man whose life the film follows. Arguably Spike Lee’s best film too, it’s one of the greatest biopics of all time. Ever relevant, it covers a large part of the controversial figure’s life, exploring how he evolved into the influential leader that he is known as. Denzel Washington disappears into the role with a thespian’s ease, perfectly portraying the man in all his glorious complexity.

Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24's

Denzel Washington

Birthdate

December 28, 1954

Birthplace

Mount Vernon, New York, USA