Cute Denzel Washington Was Delightfully Surrounded By Family While Being Honored At The AFI Gala

Jun 09, 2019 by apost team

The great (or Greatest Of All Time!) Denzel Washington was recently honored at the American Film Institute (AFI) gala with the Life Achievement Award on Thursday night for his stellar work in landmark movies throughout the years. To watch him receive kind words from Hollywood actors were his family members: his wife Pauletta, and two kids Katia (31) and Malcolm (28).

Also in attendance were colleagues and co-stars, Michael B. Jordan, Julia Roberts, and Chadwick Boseman. They praised his work and renowned acting abilities for his past films like “Training Day,” “Malcolm X,” “Fences,” and “Antwone Fisher.”

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Julia Roberts, who starred with Washington in “The Pelican Brief,” shared a particularly poignant text from his acting teacher, Robert Stone. To introduce it, EW reports that Roberts said that Washington would carry these words in his wallet:

“I say without hesitation that Mr. Washington is the finest young actor I have ever known. At age 22, he has the potential for being one of the outstanding actors of the latter part of the twentieth century,” Roberts read in her speech, “If there is such a thing as genius, then I assure you Mr. Washington is one. I honestly believe that even now he is the best actor I have ever known or seen and God only knows where this can take him.”

Chadwick Boseman from “Black Panther,” hadn’t co-starred with Denzel Washington but as a young actor, Washington actually boosted Boseman’s career and paid for him to attend an acting workshop while a student at Harvard, reports CNBC. He doesn’t just owe Washington his success for that reason. He said in his speech:

"You built a body of work, characters, movies, moments that defied the limitations of story and success that has historically been available to the black actor,” He said, “And amongst all the great male leads of Hollywood history, you measure up as great, if not greater, if not the G.O.A.T. And that would be enough to give, but I know personally that your generosity extends past what you have given."

The outpouring of love from his Hollywood peers continued on with Jamie Foxx, Jodie Foster, and a performance of “A Change is Gonna Come,” by Jennifer Hudson, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The song originally by Sam Cooke was featured in Washington’s seminal movie “Malcolm X.” Beyoncé also surprised guests by turning up to present the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal to Melina Matsoukas, the director of the “Formation” video.

Watch more stars on the red carpet talk up the greatness of Denzel:

It was the AFI’s 47th annual Life Achievement Award, and we are so glad that Denzel got his turn. What are some of your favorite Denzel moments from his movie career? Let us know in the comments!