Washington (born December 28, 1954) is a celebrated American actor, producer, and filmmaker. Recognized for his powerful performances on stage and screen, he is widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, with a declaration from The New York Times naming him the top actor of the 21st century in 2020. Over his career he has received several accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award. Washington has been honored with the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Award, AFI Life Achievement Award (2019), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022). After studying at the American Conservatory Theater, he started his acting career in theater, acting in performances off-Broadway. He gained early fame in the NBC drama *St. Elsewhere* (1982–1988), and in the war film *A Soldier's Story* (in 1984). He won two Academy Awards, his first for Supporting Actor for playing an American Civil War soldier in the war drama *Glory* (from 1989) and his second for Best Actor for playing a corrupt cop in the crime thriller *Training Day* (released in 2001). He was received Oscar nominations for his performances in *Cry Freedom* (1987), *Malcolm X* (from 1992), *The Hurricane* (in 1999), *Flight* (from 2012), *Fences* (2016), *Roman J. Israel, Esq.* (2017), and *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (released in 2021). A prominent leading man, Washington starred in films such as *Mo' Better Blues* (released in 1990), *Mississippi Masala* (released in 1991), *Philadelphia* (from 1993), *Courage Under Fire* (from 1996), *Remember the Titans* (2000), *Man on Fire* (released in 2004), *Inside Man* (2006), *American Gangster* (2007), and the *Equalizer* films (released from 2014 to 2023). Washington directed and starred in the films *Antwone Fisher* (2002), *The Great Debaters* (in 2007), and *Fences* (2016). On stage, Washington has appeared in performances of *Coriolanus* (1979) and *The Tragedy of Richard III* (1990) at New York’s Public Theater. His first appearance on Broadway in the Ron Milner play *Checkmates* (released in 1988). He received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a disheartened blue-collar father in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's play *Fences* (2010). He has also starred in the Broadway revivals of the plays *Julius Caesar* (2005), *A Raisin in the Sun* (2014), and *The Iceman Cometh* (2018).