Claim: Denzel Washington is an actor.

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. -LRB- born December 28 , 1954 -RRB- is an American actor , director , and producer . He has received three Golden Globe awards , a Tony Award , and two Academy Awards : Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory -LRB- 1989 -RRB- and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day -LRB- 2001 -RRB- .   Washington has received much critical acclaim for his film work since the 1980s , including his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in Cry Freedom -LRB- 1987 -RRB- , Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in Malcolm X -LRB- 1992 -RRB- , boxer Rubin `` Hurricane '' Carter in The Hurricane -LRB- 1999 -RRB- , football coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans -LRB- 2000 -RRB- , poet and educator Melvin B. Tolson in The Great Debaters -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , and drug kingpin Frank Lucas in American Gangster -LRB- 2007 -RRB- . He has been a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and has been a frequent collaborator of directors Spike Lee , Antoine Fuqua and Tony Scott . In 2016 , Washington was selected as the recipient for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards .   In 2002 , Washington made his directorial debut with biographical film Antwone Fisher . His second directorial effort was The Great Debaters , released in 2007 . Washington 's third directorial effort , Fences , starring himself and Viola Davis , was released on December 16 , 2016 .