A credited producer on the film along with his longtime collaborator Todd Black, Washington became the first Black man in Oscars history to be nominated for best picture and actor in the same year. It’s hard to imagine that Washington could direct himself to such an astonishing performance as what he achieves in “Fences.” He won a Tony award for best actor in a play for his stage turn and brought an intensity and aching vulnerability to a man that the viewer isn’t supposed to like, but is compelled by. The scene that proves it: “I ain’t got to like you.” Written by: August Wilson (adapted from his play of the same name) Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount/Everett Collection Alas, he would lose the award to Kevin Spacey in the best picture winner “American Beauty.” After being grotesquely passed over for “Malcolm X” seven years earlier, the industry campaign to get him a lead actor statuette began with this film, especially after winning the Golden Globe for lead actor drama. Covering his wrongful conviction and imprisonment, Washington’s signature passion is pronounced in every beat of his movements and line deliveries, completely disappearing into the role. Washington enters the ring as boxer Rubin Carter in the sports biopic “The Hurricane” from seven-time Oscar-nominated director Norman Jewison (how has the guy behind “In the Heat of the Night” and “Moonstruck” never won?). The scene that proves it: “Take it to the federal court!” Written by: Armyan Bernstein, Dan Gordon (adapted from “Lazarus and the Hurricane” by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton and “The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender to 45472” by Rubin Carter) Image Credit: Courtesy of Universal/Everett Collection This type of last-minute switcharoo on Oscar night, with those precursors, has not been duplicated in the modern era. Not just because he won the same night as Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”), who became the first (and still the only) Black woman to win best actress - he walked away with the statuette after Russell Crowe came into the evening with BAFTA, Critics Choice, Golden Globe and SAG wins for “A Beautiful Mind.” Crowe would have gone back-to-back after winning the year prior for “Gladiator” (2000), and both of his films won best picture.

His charisma as a proudly corrupt LAPD detective won him his second Oscar, and first for leading actor, in what many forget was a surprising turn of events in the Oscar evening. The character arc and Washington’s navigation keep the audience guessing, wanting to trust his words and possible intentions, even when he’s given countless examples not to. Twenty years ago, Washington brought an invigorating villain to the screen opposite his Oscar-nominated co-star Ethan Hawke. The scene that proves it: “King Kong ain’t got shit on me.” His biggest hits have included “The Pelican Brief” (1993) with Julia Roberts, “Crimson Tide” (1995) with Gene Hackman, and his most financially successful feature, “American Gangster” (2007) from director Ridley Scott. It’s not just about acting with Washington, as he’s also been a consistent box office phenomenon worldwide, grossing more than $3 billion. He also has a Tony Award for his turn in the August Wilson play of the same name. Along with directing best picture nominee “Fences,” he was also one of the credited producers, making him the first Black person to be recognized for picture and acting in the same year. He has two Academy Awards - supporting actor for “Glory” (1989) and lead actor for “Training Day” (2001) - and is the most nominated Black actor in Oscars history.

Washington, 67, has a never-ending list of accolades. After that, my outlook on acting was never the same. However, I wouldn’t start to understand his talents until a high school teacher brought in a double VHS cassette copy of Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” (1992). He portrayed a cop-turned-district attorney being terrorized by one of his former foes, played by John Lithgow. My earliest recollection of Denzel Washington’s cinematic endeavors came with the action-thriller “Ricochet” (1991). The industry-given mononym implies adoration and respect yet in selecting the best performances of his career to celebrate the actor, director and producer’s birthday, narrowing such a body of work down is far more daunting than suspected. “Denzel” - like Bono or Prince, the sheer mention of the mighty figure doesn’t require a surname.

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