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Denzel Washington has revealed that he ‘didn’t see’ his oldest son John David Washington’s career as an actor coming, joking that he was the ‘last one to know’.
The 67-year-old movie star, who’s dominated Hollywood for the past 30 years with performances in films like Philadelphia, Training Day and The Equalizer, has seen his 37-year-old son make a splash in movies including BlacKkKlansman with Adam Diver and Malcolm & Marie opposite Zendaya in the past few years.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, the Academy Award winner admitted he had ‘no idea’ about his son’s career plans but was happy to ‘brag’ about all his children’s success.
‘I was the last one to know, actually. I didn’t see it coming at all. I mean, he was a professional football player also – but I just didn’t see it coming, with my oldest son.’
Seeing him do well delighted his dad, who encouraged the former American football running back to study acting once his career began to take off.
John David was even hand-picked by director Christopher Nolan to star in Tenet, alongside Robert Pattinson, The Crown actress Elizabeth Debicki and Sir Kenneth Branagh.
‘By the grace of God, he had such success so quickly and once he got in it, then I was like, “Okay, now you got to go back and learn what you’re doing”, which he’s done. In fact, they’re on their way to Broadway next year. So he’s just grown as an actor, my oldest son.’
The proud father laughed: ‘My youngest son is a filmmaker, my oldest daughter’s a producer, my other daughter’s an actress… Not that I’m bragging!’
Denzel is also father to Katia, 35, and 30-year-old twins Olivia and Malcolm, with his wife Pauletta Pearson.
His latest project sees the producer, director and actor back at the helm for A Journal for Jordan, following his directorial triumph with Fences in 2016, which clinched him his seventh of eight acting Oscar nominations, as well as a best picture nod.
The film is based on the true story of 1st Sgt Charles Monroe King (Michael B Jordan) who, before he is killed in action in Baghdad, authors a journal for his son intended to tell him how to live a decent life despite growing up without a father.
Talking about what attracted him to the story, as well as past movies where he’s played police officers and soldiers, Denzel felt they linked together.
‘As the one telling the story this time, I think that all those other films help inform me for this film – but also just doing the research and meeting soldiers over the years.
‘Like in England, I did For Queen & Country and trained with 2 PARA [2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment] and the Royal [Marine] Commandos to understand what they’ve been through, what they’re willing to sacrifice, the unity, the bond. And what real heroes are.
‘It prepared me – it made me want to be a part of telling this story.’
A Journal for Jordan began its journey as an article written for the New York Times by King’s reporter widow Dana Canedy, talking about her late husband’s thoughts as recorded in the journal for his son.
The author explained: ‘I realised I was the only national reporter in the country who’d had that experience and I wanted people to know what it was like for military families, the surviving family members, after your hero dies.
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‘I remember a colleague read it and then sent me an email that said our readers will demand a book, and that’s what happened.
‘I wrote a book, and somewhere along the way, Denzel’s producing partner Todd Black, who’s an amazing man, brought it to his attention.’
Talking about her experience of seeing her late husband on the big screen, portrayed by Creed star Jordan, Dana said he would be ‘so humbled’.
She added: ‘But they do look alike and I’m just grateful that Mike [Jordan] brought his talent and his heart to this.
‘He made it feel like it was personal, and I appreciate that.’
A Journal for Jordan is out in UK cinemas on January 21.
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