Summary
Denzel Washingtonhasseveral movies where his character dies -in fact, character deaths make up almost 30% of his filmography. Washington rose to fame in the TV showSt. Elsewhereas Dr. Philip Chandler, but his first movie role was in the 1981 filmCarbon Copy. His career has skyrocketed since then.Denzel Washington has garnered several Oscar nominations, won two, and remains a staple in Hollywood. He also has a wide array of roles;Denzel Washington plays villains, heroes, and morally gray characters.
One particularly notable aspect of his career involves the characters he plays -Denzel Washington’s movie characters tend to diequite frequently.Washington’s characters die in various ways, whether it is a significant on-screen death or it occurs off-screen. The reasons for their deaths also vary. Washington’s characters die in biopics such asCry FreedomandMalcolm X, dramas such asThe Preacher’s Wife, crime thrillers such asFallen, and adaptations of stage plays such asThe Tragedy Of Macbeth. It is peculiar for an actor to have a long list of character deaths, but each contributes to their respective narrative.
10 Best Scenes Of Denzel Washington’s Movie Career
With a varied career across action, comedy, and drama, Denzel Washington has had some truly incredible movie scenes in countless modern classics.
16Cry Freedom (1987)
Steve Biko
InCry Freedom, Denzel Washington portrays Steve Biko, a South African anti-apartheid activist. Thefilm primarily focuses on Apartheid in South Africa in the late 1970s, specifically the dynamic between liberal white reporter Donald Woods, portrayed by Kevin Kline, and Steve Biko.Cry Freedomportrays how Donald Woods learned much of his activism and anti-apartheid stance from Biko despite being initially uncomfortable with Biko’s views.Cry Freedomis a biopic, so it has to follow real-life events. On the way to Cape Town, South African police arrested Steve Biko and proceeded to brutally beat him.
It is a heartbreaking and poignant narrative about the brutality of South Africa under Apartheid while focusing on one of the revolutionary figures who made a difference for the people.
Unfortunately, the horrific beating Steve Biko endured led to his death, soDenzel Washington’s role ends in the same fate. South African authorities initially covered up the truth behind Steve Biko’s death, but Donald Woods was intent on exposing it. Therefore, the rest of the film revolves around Donald Woods attempting to escape South Africa to reveal the truth to the world. It is a heartbreaking and poignant narrative about the brutality of South Africa under Apartheid while focusing on one of the revolutionary figures who made a difference for the people.
15For Queen And Country (1988)
Reuben James
For Queen And Countryis a crime film released in 1988 about a soldier named Reuben James who adjusts to life after fighting in the Falklands War. The film is a compelling portrayal of poverty and the government’s treatment of veterans.Denzel Washington plays the main character, Reuben James, as he learns the hard way that society will continue to treat him as dispensable, regardless of what he sacrificed for the country.
For Queen And Countryhas a lot of death and destruction, so it is a miracle that Reuben James makes it as long as he does. Unfortunately, Reuben dies at the end of the film, fatally shot by a sniper revealed to be a fellow soldier, Bob Harper.Viewers do not see Reuben die because the film cuts out after the gun blast, but given the accuracy of the target, it is widely presumed that Reuben James died.
14Glory (1989)
Private Trip
Gloryis a war film documenting the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War. Matthew Broderick plays Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a real captain in the Civil War. Denzel Washington plays Private Trip, a fictionalized version of one of the many Black soldiers in the regiment.Gloryis a film that follows the Civil War, and sadly, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment lost the fight at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, meaningPrivate Trip died in battle.
However, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was a critical part of the Civil War - it inspired more Black men to fight for the North, giving them far more numbers than the South, which was one of the reasons why the North ultimately won.Gloryportrays the critical importance Black soldiers played in the Civil War; they were an invaluable part of the fight to end slavery once and for all.Denzel Washington also won his first Academy Awardfor Best Supporting Actor inGloryas Private Trip.
5 Movies That Define Denzel Washington’s Career
Denzel Washington is an Academy Award-winning actor, and five films define his career.
13Heart Condition (1990)
Napoleon Stone
Heart Conditionis a comedy about two sworn enemies - a police officer and a lawyer - who must learn to get along after the lawyer dies and becomes a ghost, haunting the police officer. Denzel Washington plays Napoleon Stone, the lawyer who unexpectedly dies in a car accident and now haunts police officer Jack Mooney, played by Bob Hoskins. Jack Mooney now has Napoleon Stone’s heart, which is why the lawyer haunts Jack.
12Malcolm X (1992)
Malcolm X
One of Denzel Washington’sbiggest movie roles was when he portrayed the historical human rights activist Malcolm Xin the filmMalcolm X. The film depicts Malcolm X’s revolutionary life until members of the Nation Of Islam organization killed him. The movie wraps up with its take on the real-life assassination of Malcolm X, aided by a heartfelt performance from Washington.
11Virtuosity (1995)
Parker Barnes
Just because Denzel Washington’s character dies in a movie does not mean they exit the story entirely, asHeart Conditionproves. In other films, Washington’s characters die and come back to life, which is the case for his sci-fi filmVirtuosity, released in 1995.Virtuosityis about a convict who attempts to find a SID (Sadistic, Intelligent, Dangerous) serial killer who has escaped from his virtual reality into the real world.Denzel Washington plays convict and former police officer Parker Barnes.
Toward the end of the film, Parker Barnes and Dr. Madison Carter enter a virtual reality with SID, tricking him into thinking they are still in the real world so that SID will tell them where he hid Karin, Madison’s daughter. In the VR, SID throws Parker Barnes off a building, butbecause it is not reality, he gets back up a few seconds later and survives.Virtuosityis an exciting action film that demonstrates how to blendthe sci-fi and action genresto create a compelling narrative.
10The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
Dudley
The Preacher’s Wifeis a 1996 remake of the 1947 Christmas filmThe Bishop’s Wife. It revolves around a preacher, Reverend Henry Biggs, who struggles with his faith and supporting his family. Dudley, an angel, is sent to help the preacher’s family. Denzel Washington portrays the angel Dudley, while Courtney B. Vance plays Reverend Henry Biggs. Dudley does not die on screen, but his status as an angel means he dies before the film begins. The circumstances of Dudley’s death are unknown, butthe purpose of his character is far more crucial than his actual death.
10 Wildest Hallmark Christmas Movies They’ve Made So Far
The Hallmark Channel is known for making movies with improbable premises', but some of them take these fantastical plot lines to the next level.
9Fallen (1998)
John Hobbes
Fallenis a film that explores one of mythology’s fallen angels, Azazel, in a paranormal context. Denzel Washington plays Detective John Hobbes, who is determined to end Azazel’s possession of people. In true devilish form, Azazel possesses humans to torture and murder others.Fallenhas a final showdown between John Hobbes and Azazel, which leads to John tricking Azazel into possessing his own body, but not before John smokes poisonous cigarettes to ensure Azazel’s demise.John Hobbes willingly dies to take down Azazel, but unfortunately, Azazel escapes into a cat’s body, once again outsmarting humanity.
8Training Day (2001)
Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris
Denzel Washington’sTraining Dayfollows Officer Jake Hoyt, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, andDetective Alonzo Harris, played by Denzel Washington. Jake must spend the day with Alonzo, a narcotics officer, to secure a promotion in his own department. The narrative reveals that Alonzo Harris is actually a corrupt police officer who is on the run from the Russian mafia after killing one of their men.
At the end of the film, Jake gathers enough evidence to turn in Alonzo, so Alonzo escapes to the Los Angeles International Airport to evade arrest and the Russian mafia. However, the mafia gets to Alonzo, effectively killing him.Training Dayhas received several accolades, including Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor.Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor, making it his first win in the category and his second Oscar altogether.
7Man On Fire (2004)
John W. Creasy
Man On Fireis an action film based on the novelMan On Fireby A.J. Quinnell. The film revolves around former CIA agent John W. Creasy, played by Denzel Washington, who becomes the bodyguard of Pita Ramos, played by Dakota Fanning. However, Pita is abducted, and John is immediately suspected of being involved in her kidnapping. It is now up to John to rescue Pita and safely return her to her mother, Lisa. John W. Creasy successfully retrieves Pita and reunites her with Lisa, but not without paying the price -he trades Pita for himself.
However, after the kidnapper takes John,John dies from a gunshot wound he received earlier. The film has an alternate ending, but unfortunately, John W. Creasy still dies, just in a different way. In the alternate ending, John lives long enough to confront the mastermind behind the kidnapping before he commits suicide.
