Washington (with a birthdate of December 28, 1954) is a celebrated American actor, producer, and filmmaker. Famed for his dramatic roles in film and theater, he is considered one of the greatest actors of his time, with The New York Times declaring him the top actor of the 21st century in the year 2020. He has won several prestigious awards over his career, including an Academy Award, Golden Globes, a SAG, and a Tony Award in addition to being nominated for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. He received the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Award, AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022). Following his training at the American Conservatory Theater, he started his acting career in theater, acting in performances off-Broadway. He was first recognized widely in the NBC drama *St. Elsewhere* (from 1982 to 1988), and in the war film *A Soldier's Story* (released in 1984). He won two Academy Awards, his first for Supporting Actor for playing a Union soldier in the war drama *Glory* (released in 1989) and his second for the role of Best Actor for playing a corrupt police officer in the crime thriller *Training Day* (2001). He was Oscar-nominated for his performances in *Cry Freedom* (1987), *Malcolm X* (1992), *The Hurricane* (in 1999), *Flight* (from 2012), *Fences* (released in 2016), *Roman J. Israel, Esq.* (2017), and *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (2021). A renowned leading man, Washington starred in films such as *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), *Mississippi Masala* (1991), *Philadelphia* (in 1993), *Courage Under Fire* (1996), *Remember the Titans* (2000), *Man on Fire* (from 2004), *Inside Man* (released in 2006), *American Gangster* (released in 2007), and the *Equalizer* films (2014–2023). Washington directed and starred in the films *Antwone Fisher* (2002), *The Great Debaters* (2007), and *Fences* (2016). On stage, Washington has appeared in productions like *Coriolanus* (1979) and *The Tragedy of Richard III* (1990) at The Public Theater. His first appearance on Broadway in the Ron Milner play *Checkmates* (released in 1988). He won the Tony Award for Best Actor on Broadway for his role as a disillusioned father from the working class in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's play *Fences* (from 2010). He has also appeared in the Broadway revivals of the plays *Julius Caesar* (2005), *A Raisin in the Sun* (2014), and *The Iceman Cometh* (2018).