Washington (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor who also works as a producer and director. Recognized for his powerful performances on stage and screen, he is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, with a declaration from The New York Times naming him the top actor of the 21st century in 2020. He has won several prestigious awards over his career, including two Oscars, three Golden Globes, a SAG Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. He has been awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, 2019 AFI Life Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022). After training at the American Conservatory Theater, Washington began his career in theater, starring in off-Broadway shows. He first came to prominence in the NBC drama *St. Elsewhere* (from 1982 to 1988), and in the war film *A Soldier's Story* (1984). He won two Academy Awards, his first for Best Supporting Actor for playing a soldier during the Civil War in the war drama *Glory* (from 1989) and his second for the role of Best Actor for playing a corrupt police officer in the crime thriller *Training Day* (in 2001). He was received Oscar nominations for his performances in *Cry Freedom* (released in 1987), *Malcolm X* (from 1992), *The Hurricane* (in 1999), *Flight* (from 2012), *Fences* (2016), *Roman J. Israel, Esq.* (in 2017), and *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (from 2021). A renowned leading man, Washington appeared in films such as *Mo' Better Blues* (released in 1990), *Mississippi Masala* (in 1991), *Philadelphia* (1993), *Courage Under Fire* (1996), *Remember the Titans* (2000), *Man on Fire* (released in 2004), *Inside Man* (in 2006), *American Gangster* (2007), and The Equalizer trilogy (2014–2023). Washington starred in and directed the films *Antwone Fisher* (from 2002), *The Great Debaters* (from 2007), and *Fences* (from 2016). In live theater, Washington has appeared in productions like *Coriolanus* (1979) and *The Tragedy of Richard III* (1990) at New York’s Public Theater. He made his Broadway debut in the Ron Milner play *Checkmates* (in 1988). He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a disillusioned father from the working class in the Broadway revival of *Fences* by August Wilson (2010). He has also acted in the Broadway revivals of the plays *Julius Caesar* (2005), *A Raisin in the Sun* (2014), and *The Iceman Cometh* (2018).