No matter how familiar you are with American actor John David Washington, you’ve definitely heard of his father. Denzel Washington is universally considered one of the greatest performers of his generation.
How do the younger Washington’s acting chops measure up to his dad’s? Has he been able to build his own reputation outside of his father’s imposing shadow? Read on for everything you need to know about John David Washington’s movies and TV shows, plus his accomplishments outside of acting.
Career milestones
Before he appeared in front of the camera, Washington already had an established career as a professional football player for the St. Louis Rams and later the Sacramento Mountain Lions. Here’s how Washington went from playbooks to movie scripts.
Breakthrough role in ‘BlacKkKlansman’
Thanks to his famous father, Washington had his debut film role at the age of just seven years old. He played an unnamed student at the very end of “Malcolm X” (1992), the Spike Lee biopic that starred Denzel in the title role.
But by the time the younger Washington was ready to kick off his acting career in earnest, he had his own strengths to fall back on. First, he was cast in the HBO sports drama “Ballers” in 2015 as NFL player Ricky Jerret, drawing on his own experience as a pro running back. After a few supporting roles in films like “Love Beats Rhymes” (2017), “Monsters and Men” (2018) and “Monster” (2018), Washington finally landed the lead in “BlacKkKlansman” (2018).
As the main character, Ron Stallworth, Washington impressed fans and critics alike, receiving his second major career boost from filmmaker Spike Lee.
Notable performance in ‘Tenet’
After another supporting role in “The Old Man & the Gun” (2018), Washington was given his next chance at playing the leading man in the 2020 sci-fi action movie “Tenet.” Even though the film’s production was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to middling results at the box office, critics praised Washington’s star-making performance as the CIA agent at the center of a mind-bending plot. In fact, all that critical acclaim even netted Washington a 2021 Saturn Award for Best Actor.
Collaborations with acclaimed directors
As you’ve probably noticed, Spike Lee has been a supporter of both generations of Washingtons for as long as John David has been alive. He gave a young Washington his debut role in “Malcolm X,” then returned to jump-start his adult career with “BlacKkKlansman.” But Lee isn’t the only director to take a chance on the younger Washington. According to Lee, Washington’s performance in “BlacKkKlansman” directly inspired famed director Christopher Nolan to handpick the actor to star in his film “Tenet.”
Acting philosophy
Based on these career highlights, you might think John David Washington movies are always big-budget productions with major directors attached. But Washington is committed to showing off his range and acting in more than just summer blockbusters.
Commitment to diverse roles
After playing athletes and CIA agents on the big and small screens, Washington expanded his focus to include challenging roles in smaller productions. Filmed secretly during the pandemic, “Malcolm & Marie” (2021) is a claustrophobic black and white romantic drama starring Washington opposite Zendaya. The NAACP Image Award-winning film was directed by Sam Levinson, creator of the HBO series “Euphoria,” which also starred Zendaya.
Other unexpected roles tackled by the actor include 1930s war veteran Harold Woodman in “Amsterdam” (2022) and Boy Willie in the period drama “The Piano Lesson” (2024). The latter film also starred Samuel L. Jackson and was directed by John David’s brother, Malcolm Washington.
Advocacy for inclusivity in film
Washington doesn’t just exercise that keen eye for diversity when choosing his own roles: He’s also spoken publicly about the importance of recognizing films that have changed what movie acting should look like. For example, Washington cites “Philadelphia” (1993) as one of his favorite films because of its progressive portrayal of a bond between a Black lawyer and his gay client, played by Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, respectively.
Impact on Hollywood
Just like his father, John David Washington has already left a lasting mark on Hollywood with performances in films like “BlacKkKlansman,” “Tenet” and “Malcolm & Marie.”
With so many in Hollywood talking about the impact of nepotism on the arts, John David and his brother Malcolm are living proof that the children of celebrities can get by on their own merit. Of course, having a famous father will always lead to comparisons, but John David’s career already speaks for itself. He’s interested in carving out his own legacy, not just picking up where Denzel left off.
Currently, John David Washington’s net worth is $8 million, further emphasizing his success in the industry.
Future projects and aspirations
Unfortunately, we don’t know much right now about Washington’s plans for the future, but he no doubt has his pick of projects now, thanks to his impressive resume.
Upcoming films and collaborations
So far, Washington has kept mum about his upcoming films. Denzel Washington is set to star in the upcoming “Equalizer 4,” but its director has also floated the idea of John David playing his father’s character in an as-yet-unwritten prequel.
Vision for the next phase of his career
It’s clear that John David Washington has come into his own as an actor and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. While he hasn’t officially announced any upcoming projects, he has spoken publicly about his hopes to play a progressive lawyer like the one in “Philadelphia” or even portray the iconic Joker in a future Batman film. No matter what Washington decides to do next, he’ll no doubt win over even more fans in the process.
Want to keep learning about the greatest Black actors in the business? Check out our archives for more guides to the best Black actors you should know.
