Denzel Washington turns 68! Star is always a 'man on fire' around wife Pauletta, 72
Denzel Washington, one of Hollywood's greatest acting legends, turns 68 today. The acclaimed thespian has successfully formed an unmatched legacy with credits including films such as 'The Equalizer' and 'Training Day.' Through it all, his wife Pauletta Pearson has been his rock and he credits all his success to her.
The star watched his career take off to new heights after starring in 'Carbon Copy' in 1981. Over the years, his hard work and commitment to his art have earned him several accolades. However, while Denzel has had a stellar career in Hollywood, he has also maintained a beautiful marriage with Pauletta, 72, and their relationship has only gotten stronger with time.
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Denzel and Pauletta, who is a renowned actor herself, first met in 1977 on the set of the film 'Wilma' and the co-stars began dating shortly after. The 'American Gangster' star has since had nothing but praise for the love of his life. Pauletta has made notable appearances in movies, including the Oscar-nominated 'Philadelphia' and 'She's Gotta Have It.' While many know of the couple's undying love for each other, it may come as a surprise that it took a lot of effort for the A-list star to convince his future wife to walk down the aisle. The two lovebirds shared jokes about Denzel's several proposals in a 2013 interview, revealing how Pauletta rejected him more than once. He finally got the answer during his third attempt.
The pair eventually took the holy vows on June 25, 1983, and have since expanded their family with four children—David, Katia, and twins Olivia and Malcolm—all of whom have taken after their parents' career path. But while Denzel and Pauletta appear to have a perfect marriage, the former once admitted that every relationship has its "ups and downs." He acknowledged that some sacrifices had to be made and that Pauletta took significant steps to help her husband shine in the industry.
Pauletta had to drop her Broadway career while starting a family with Denzel, in order to focus on becoming a mother and a wife. However, she didn't regret doing this, once noting, "It takes a lot of sacrifice on both parties' part." She also explained that her priorities mattered greatly. The actress said that being famous is great, but "fame may not last" and that family life continues nonetheless. Denzel also shared a number of tips about having one of Hollywood's most lasting marriages. In a nutshell, he said it was about not giving up on each other. The star noted how he could have had fancy cars like Porsches and houses on every coast, as well as chased women like some of his friends, but he chose not to so he could be with his wife and raise a family together.
Denzel insisted that partners' commitment to their relationship was the utmost and that being "good friends" could make things a lot easier. He showered praise on his lover with an adorable compliment, "She has done the heavy lifting. She has been the consistent one. She has given the daily religious instruction. She was the one taking them to school, while I was out providing." The 'Déjà Vu' actor said his wife has been a major part of their success, but also clarified that it is sometimes "very tough." Denzel, who comes from a broken home, ensured that he maintained a happy home when given the opportunity. He also made sure to choose his wife amidst all the pressure from other women. In a 2010 interview, the actor insisted that having a marriage like his required hard work. He also called for a good spiritual foundation and peace within the family.
It's worth noting that Denzel never misses an opportunity to complement Pauletta's personality. He once joked about how he's always doing "what I'm told" and then lauded his wife for her essential skills that made their home life comfortable. The Hollywood great explained that there was a difference between a house and a home, which he said his wife made possible with her sacrifices and how she raised their kids. Meanwhile, he also acknowledged her awesome cooking skills.
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Denzel once shared that he and his wife rarely subscribe to archaic ways of thinking and that their dynamic is exactly the opposite. "You know, they say behind every great man there's a great woman," he shared. "Well, my wife is in front of me. I'm following her." He recounted an instance when Pauletta tried to hire a chef for the family, but he let her know that he wouldn't be eating any food that wasn't prepared by his wife because he loved her cooking. Finally, the 'Man on Fire' star recognized that he's lucky to be in such a long and happy marriage, and said that all the credit should be going to his wife instead of himself. When asked what made him stick by one woman's side for so long, he said it was the simple fact that she also stuck by him throughout their life. "I had a good woman. That's the bottom line, that's the truth," he remarked.