Denzel Washington And the wife Pauletta WashingtonA relationship blossomed early in his career.
The couple first connected while filming the 1977 TV movie, Wilma: The Story of Wilma Rudolph. However, it was not until the following year that Denzel and Paulette became close. During a 2018 interview on Live with Kelly and RyanDenzel hinted that there are greater forces working to get him to meet his future wife.
“About a year later, there was a party I was invited to… and she was there,” he recalls. “At that party, I talked about going to see a play. I went to see the play and at intermission the lights came on. And (Pauletta) was sitting (near me).”
Denzel recalls Pauletta telling him she “went to see the show,” but the actor mocked him, saying he didn't buy it. Although he later joked around, Denzel and Pauletta ended up fighting and married in 1983.
A year after their marriage, the couple welcomed their first child, a son John David Washington. They later expanded their family with daughter Katya and twins Olivia and Malcolm in 1986 and 1991 respectively.
Keep scrolling to revisit Denzel and Pauletta's love story:
1977
The actors crossed paths first on Wilma: The Story of Wilma Rudolph hiring.
1978
One year later, Denzel and Pauletta started dating. In a June 2019 interview with and! news Along with her husband, Pauletta revealed that she ended up paying for the cab on the couple's first date.
“I (plan) to pay for the taxi ride, but then I watch the meter and I run out of money,” Denzel explained before Pauletta interjected, “He turned to me and said, ‘I don’t have money.’”
Denzel denied that was what he said, but Pauletta insisted she had a vivid memory of the experience. She reiterated that she paid for the taxi, and Denzel explained that he took the initiative to pay for everything “since then.”
June 1983
The couple tied the knot. Before walking down the aisle, Pauletta rejected Denzel's proposal twice before agreeing to marry him.
“She rejected me, she said no,” the Oscar winner said. Access Hollywood In July 2013. “And since it was three times, that means she rejected me twice.”
July 1984
One year later, Pauletta gave birth to the couple's first child, John David.
November 1986
The couple expanded their family with their daughter Katya.
April 1991
Denzel and Pauletta completed their family with twins Olivia and Malcolm.
1995
After 12 years of marriage, Pauletta and Denzel renewed their vows. The ceremony was held in South Africa and officiated by their friend the Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
March 2002
Denzel brought his wife as his date to the Oscars. He ended up receiving the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in a film Training day.
June 2005
The couple won the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards.
January 2016
Pauletta was by Denzel's side when he accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the Golden Globe Awards.
June 2019
Denzel made this a family event when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the AFI Film Awards.
September 2024
Pauletta and Denzel attended the Toronto International Film Festival to support Malcolm and John David's film, Piano lesson.
That same month, Pauletta spoke about what it meant to celebrate Denzel's 41st wedding anniversary earlier that year.
“We're working on it. It's work. It's not that you sit there and say, 'Oh, you know…' the people. “There are a lot of prayers for the strength to stay in forgiveness mode and both parts, me and him. But that is the basic love that we have for each other.
December 2024
Denzel was baptized and licensed to become a priest before Christmas, where he thanked Pauletta for her support.
“I am grateful for everything God has given me in 70 years: a loving and devoted wife,” he said. ABC News.
Pauletta then testified on his behalf, recalling how they first met, “The lights came on at intermission and we were sitting next to each other and 45 or 46 years later, I'm still sitting next to him. Like only God would be. And I'm so proud of him.”
She added: “You are our housewife, and you have set a great role model for our children, who are now adult children and know the difference because we showed them the difference.”
