Denzel Washington explains we’ve all been saying his name wrong — because of his mom

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According to Denzel Washington, we’ve all been saying his name wrong — sort of.

On Tuesday, the Oscar-winning actor appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to publicize his new movie, titled “Highest 2 Lowest.” During their amiable conversation, the discussion shifted towards Washington’s fondness for football and the Dallas Cowboys, which led him to clarify the correct pronunciation of his name.

After you mentioned that you’re a Cowboys fan, Kimmel wondered: ‘Which player did you particularly admire during that time?'”

This version maintains the original question’s meaning but rephrases it in a more conversational and easy-to-understand manner.

In my response, I enthusiastically shared, “I’m particularly fond of running backs since that was the role I once played on the field.

Movies

In simpler terms, the director’s newest release, an action-packed ransom-themed movie set against the backdrop of his cherished NYC, exhibits a renewed passion with no signs of slowing down.

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Later on, Kimmel noted an interesting fact: “At present, there are four football players named Denzel in the NFL,” a situation that was less common prior to Washington’s first Oscar win in 1990 for his performance in ‘Glory’.

So, this indicates that they called themselves after me,” stated Washington. “For clarification, my name isn’t pronounced ‘Den-zelle.’ It’s ‘Denzel.’ I am Denzel Washington Jr., and my father is Denzel Hayes Washington Sr.

In simple terms, Washington shares an amusing anecdote about how he got his name. He recounts that when his mother would call out for “Denzel” (usually pronounced Denzle), both him and his father would appear in response. One day, she playfully renamed Washington as “Denzel” (Den-zelle) on the spot, which is why his name is now pronounced in this unique way.

Following the discussion, Kimmel resumed mentioning popular football player names prior to Washington’s groundbreaking moment.

Fifth time’s the charm: Spike Lee teams up with Denzel Washington once again, this time in a movie that reinterprets Akira Kurosawa’s ‘High and Low.’ In this production, Denzel takes on the role of a successful music executive who finds himself caught up in a kidnapping case. Catch the gripping crime thriller on AppleTV+ this Friday.

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2025-09-04 21:01