Academy-award-winning actor and director Denzel Washington will be one of 17 honorees to receive the Presidential Medal Of Freedom this year.
Legendary actor, director, and two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington has been selected as a recipient of the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. Established by President John F Kennedy in 1963, the Presidential Medal Of Freedom is awarded to civilians who have made significant contributions to America’s national security, world peace, and cultural development in both the public and private spheres. Recipients of the award are chosen by the President Of The United States. Several actors and directors have received the award, including Sidney Poitier, Charlton Heston, Steven Spielberg, Robert De Niro, and Tom Hanks. Along with the Congressional Gold Medal, the Presidential Medal Of Freedom is considered one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
Washington is one of the most prominent and respected actors in the film industry. With a career spanning over five decades, Washington has turned in several memorable performances in films such as Malcolm X, Remember The Titans, Training Day, American Gangster, and most recently, The Tragedy Of Macbeth. At the age of 68, Washington does not seem to be slowing down and is gearing up for The Equalizer 3, which will reunite him with his Man On Fire co-star, Dakota Fanning. Washington has collected many accolades over his illustrious career, including two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor (Glory) and Best Actor (Training Day), one Tony award (Fences), and three Golden Globes, including the 2016 Cecil B. Demille Award. However, it doesn’t end here as Washington is about to add another prestigious honor to his already impressive list of accolades.
Today the White House issued an official statement announcing President Joe Biden’s selections for the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. Washington is among the 17 recipients who will be presented with the award at the White House on July 7. Here’s a snippet from the official release that was issued today.
“President Biden has long said that America can be defined by one word: possibilities. These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith. They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities – and across the world – while blazing trails for generations to come.”
Washington holds the distinct position of being the only actor/entertainer to receive the award this year, which is a true credit to the actor’s contribution and impact on American film and culture. Other recipients include gymnast Simon Biles, congresswoman Gabby Gifford, Olympic gold medalist Megan Rapinoeis and the late Steve Jobs, co-founder/chair of Apple. Washington is being celebrated for his contributions to the film industry and his non-profit work. Since 1993 Washington has served as a national spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs Of America and has appeared in several ads promoting the organization’s work. Not only has Washington served as a spokesperson for the organization but also as a board member, a position that he has held since 1995.
Washington’s work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is only the tip of the iceberg, and his charitable spirit extended to the late actor and Oscar winner Chadwick Boseman. In 1998 Boseman was accepted into the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer program, but was unable to afford the tuition. Actor Phylicia Rashad who was Boseman’s mentor at Howard University, reached out to Washington, who generously agreed to pay for Boseman’s tuition. There is no doubt that Washington played a significant role in shaping the late actor’s career, even if he did so unknowingly. Washington has also inspired countless actors to pursue their craft, including his own son John David Washington. Denzel Washington‘s impact is unlikely to fade anytime soon and will only continue to grow, especially with the Presidental Medal Of Freedom.
Source: White House
