John David Washington Used To Tell People His Dad Was In Jail To Avoid Nepotism in Hollywood
In a recent interview with Mr. Porter, actor John David Washington, Denzel Washington’s oldest son, revealed his way of breaking into the entertainment industry by secretly hiding the fact he was related to one of the biggest A-list actors in Hollywood.
“I was related to Denzel Washington,” he says. “I saw how people changed when they found out who my father was.”
“I used to lie, saying he was a construction worker or in jail, just to have some sense of normalcy. I felt like there was no way people would take me seriously, even if I was good. They would always judge me. So I hid who my father was. I guess I was protecting myself.”
Before becoming an actor, he started playing in the NFL before getting the leading role in HBO show ‘Ballers’ with Dwayne Johnson. The opportunity came after he retired from football from an Achilles injury.
“It doesn’t even guarantee you will make it, but if you don’t, you can almost guarantee that you won’t,” was his father’s advice when he told him he would be starring in the series.
It would be his nomination for Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning film ‘BlackKklansman’ boosted his acting career as he tried to build his own way in Hollywood.
Washington is set to star in the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie ‘Tenet’, and recently released a secret quarantine production with actress Zendaya called ‘Malcom & Marie’.
Washington says he understands how important it is for a Black man to have a platform and use it wisely. He hopes to build opportunities, which have been destroyed due to years of racism.
“As an African American, what gives me hope about where we are going is the amount of people that don’t look like me on the front lines. I think they do actually have an understanding, a real understanding of what the problems are, the systemic issues. And they’re paying attention,” he said.
In relevant news, following the death of George Floyd, a video with Denzel Washington helping a man with a police encounter is going viral and fans are calling the actor a real-life superhero. On May 22, TMZ reported Washington stopped and helped a homeless man who was “in some peril with oncoming traffic.” Video footage of the incident shows Denzel Washington comforting the man and waiting with the man during an encounter with police.TMZ reported the man was “detained — not sure why but possibly to make sure he was okay — then released.”
About Actor John David Washington:
John David Washington is an American actor, known for his leading roles in the films BlacKkKlansman (2018) and Tenet (2020). He was born on July 28th, 1984 in Los Angeles to actor-director Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.
Washington attended high school at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. He then went on to study at Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006.
Washington began his acting career with an uncredited role in the 2007 film The Great Debaters, which was directed by his father Denzel Washington. In 2012, he appeared as a recurring character on the HBO series Ballers.
In 2018, Washington starred in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman as Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer who infiltrated a local Ku Klux Klan chapter. The performance earned him nominations for Best Actor at both the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.
In 2020, Washington starred in the Christopher Nolan action film Tenet. He played the role of an unnamed secret agent tasked with preventing World War III from happening. The film received praise for its intricate plot and visual effects, as well as Washington’s performance.
Washington is also a former American football running back who was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He retired from football in 2008, citing a desire to focus on his acting career.
John David Washington is an acclaimed actor who continues to impress with each new role he takes on. His performances are instantly recognizable, and his unique charm makes him one of the most captivating performers in Hollywood today.
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