John David Washington’s latest movie, Amsterdam, premiered on Friday. I haven’t seen it, but have seen the trailer and it looks like he and the other two leads, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale, have great chemistry. John David is making the promotional rounds for the film and as such appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, where he talked about his acting career, his initial choice to pursue a pro football career, and of course, being Denzel’s son, which he realizes is his inescapable identifier.
Despite carving out his own Hollywood success in films like Tenet and BlacKkKlansman, John David Washington knows that any story about him (including this one) will inevitably identify him as “Denzel’s son.” It’s something the 38-year-old Amsterdam star, the eldest son of actors Pauletta and Denzel Washington, has finally made peace with, he tells CBS Sunday Morning’s Kelefa Sanneh in a new interview.
“I have to understand I could have the best game, career … the headline’s always going to be what it is,” the football-player-turned-actor says. “So to try to prove something to somebody is a fool’s errand.”
But the younger Washington at first resisted following in his parents’ acting footsteps.
“My mother is an extremely talented artist, and my father is one of the greatest of all time. He’s my favorite actor,” says Washington, adding that the idea of going into acting seemed “intimidating” given the inevitable comparisons that would come.
“It didn’t seem as simple to just pursue it,” he says of his deciding to make his mark not as an actor, but as a college football star. Choosing to keep his acting dreams under wraps “because of who I’m related to” Washington instead threw his energy into playing for Morehouse College and, later, the United Football League.
“What motivated it, really, is independence — was my own name, was being able to carry my own weight in my life, even though I was hiding what I really wanted to do,” says Washington, who was also signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent. “It gave me an identity.”
In addition to that identity, Washington says he “felt football would change that narrative” of being the son of a certain two-time Oscar winner. Spoiler: It did not.
His father’s superstardom also cast a shadow over his football achievements, says the Malcolm & Marie actor. He recalls a headline early on his college career as a running back.
“I had a great game and [read] ‘Denzel’s son runs for this many yards and this many touchdowns,'” he says. “I realized then it was inescapable.”
Washington got his breakout role in the series Ballers, which he admits reading for just to get some audition experience under his belt. He’s now making his Broadway debut in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson opposite old family friend Samuel L. Jackson, and says his parents are frequent audience members. “I get notes from them too,” he says.
And while Washington is hopeful that one day he’ll have his own child to carry on the Washington name, he doesn’t waste time wondering if he’ll ever eclipse his famous father’s legacy.
“Nah. I don’t see it as a reality for me,” he admits. “He’s larger than life. So no, I don’t think of it that way. I can’t.
Admittedly, I do describe him as Denzel’s son when talking about him or his movies to people with less knowledge of celebrity gossip. It’s like a fun fact and then people are like “oh, Denzel’s son is hot” (he is) or “Denzel’s son is a good actor” (he is). But I can see how it would suck a bit to be known that way when you’re trying to make your own way and it makes sense that he was driven to pursue football at first to separate himself and his talents from his famous and talented father. That story about the college football headline particularly sucks. I could see mentioning it in the article as a tidbit, but having it there in the headline, but have been so disheartening and that’s when John David realized that no matter what he did, being known as Denzel’s son would be “inescapable.” But I believe he still didn’t really pursue acting until his Achilles injury ended his football career. As an aside, the fact that he played pro football means unlike many other celebs, his height is accurate and contextualizes the heights of his co-stars. And while his football background and physicality makes his action roles very convincing, it seems John David is carving out an interesting and varied career for himself and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
photos credit: Cover Images and Getty
I mean, Denzel’s name got him trough the door and that’s the hardest part, being known aa Denzel’s son seems like a small price to pay.
But at least he’s not pretending it’s a bad thing and he did everything on his own, which makes him better than most nepotism babies.
Plus he’s actually very talented !
I remember watching his earlier interviews ,he used to almost cringe at the mention of his father. He almost had a chip on his shoulder about it,and always used to counter mention his mother to deflect. He seems to realise and be at peace with the fact that the Denzel son tag will aways follow him. At least Denzel is a respected and talented individual.
We saw and enjoyed Amsterdam yesterday although it does drag a bit in the middle. I don’t think he looks like Denzel at all but he does have his voice.
I remember seeing Tenet and thinking at times his voice sounded so much like his dad’s.
Maybe this is a bit mean but I don’t think he’s that great of an actor. I mean by himself he’s fine but when he’s acting against other notable actors, like Adam Driver you can see he’s a bit lacking. Maybe he just needs experience.
I can agree with this. He’s by no means a bad actor — I’ve enjoyed him in the movies I’ve seen him in — but he seems a bit green. He was probably afforded bigger roles earlier than normal because of his connections. I think he’ll grow into it.
I will admit to really enjoying Tenet. Completely empty but very beautiful. I thought he really worked well in that roll. But maybe because he’s playing this one-in-a-billion spy who is kind of a robot?
Idk but I also LOVED Pattinson in that.
I enjoyed his performance in BlacKKKlansman and I had no idea he was Denzel’s son until later. I wish him continued success.
Me too. When I found out who his parents are I was more struck by how much he looks like his mother than anything. I also was impressed with his football career. He’s a very talented man.
I didn’t realize it then either. I’d remembered when he was playing high school and college football. He’s probably lucky too in that he doesn’t resemble his dad facially, his parents didn’t have him all over social media and Washington is a pretty common last name.
I have said this a plenty of time, I don’t get the ‘Denzel’s Son’ when he clearly has his mother’s, Paulette’s, entire face. He had his father’s voice cadence but that face is all his mother.
Because Denzel is the famous one. It doesn’t have to do with looks.
And considering he looks nothing like his Dad…..I said what I said.
It’s funny — I got through the entirety of Blackkklansman without knowing who he’s related to! I don’t think he looks like Denzel at all, but after realizing the relation, he definitely does talk like him.
I saw Blackkklansman on an airplane and when he first appeared on screen, I was looking down. I heard the voice and thought, “I didn’t know Denzel is in this!” Looked up and saw John David instead. I kept thinking throughout the movie that this guy sounds exactly like Denzel. But yeah, he looks like his mom instead.
I personally do think he is a talented actor.
I really like and respect John David. I read a long interview with him once, and he came from LA to Atlanta to play at Morehouse College, an all-black college with a stellar reputation, which had to have been a huge culture shock, and he rose to the challenge. He framed it as him wanting to prove himself against the Southern boys, and he had a point, as those boys still grapple with unspeakable generational trauma and poverty, and as a result, are notoriously talented and tough. And they accepted him. That speaks volumes to me about his character, and I wish him nothing but success. My dad is no longer here, but I always describe him to those who didn’t know him as “just like Denzel Washington” because he was. Maybe that’s why I have such a soft spot for him, but I admire how deep of a thinker he is and I enjoy his complexity. His mom is the real G in that family, truth be told.
He is looking damn fine. His skin glows.
just saw him on Broadway in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. really bought the tix for Samuel L Jackson, but John David was the lead, and he was stellar! (as was the entire production). It is weird though; several times I did hear Denzel’s voice.
I have tickets to see this in about 3 weeks and I can’t wait!