Legendary actor Denzel Washington has taken a profound step in his personal journey, adding “minister” to his already impressive resume. The 69-year-old Academy Award winner was baptized on Saturday at Kelly Temple in New York City, where he also received his minister’s license in a deeply moving ceremony.
Addressing the congregation before being immersed in water, Washington reflected on his faith and the significance of the moment. “It took a while, but I’m finally here,” he said, according to Archbishop Christopher Bryant, who presided over the event. “If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”
Washington’s wife of 41 years, Pauletta Washington, stood by his side, offering heartfelt words of pride and gratitude. “Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
As the couple’s children—John, 40; Katia, 37; and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33—looked on, Pauletta emphasized the spiritual foundation they’ve built as a family. “You are the head of our house, and you have set a great example for our children, who are now adult children who know the difference because we have shown them the difference.”
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Washington, dressed humbly in a gray T-shirt and black sweatpants, sat on the pulpit steps, visibly moved by the occasion. He later posed for photos holding his baptism certificate and minister’s license, marking the start of a new chapter in his faith journey.
The ceremony comes just weeks after Washington made headlines for candidly addressing the role of religion in his life and the challenges of expressing faith in Hollywood. Speaking to Esquire in November, he remarked, “When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my Lord and Savior. I’m unafraid.”
The Training Day actor acknowledged the stigma surrounding open discussions of faith in the entertainment industry. “You can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe,” he said.
Washington dismissed the notion that Hollywood as a collective entity determines belief systems. “What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard. It’s not like we all meet somewhere and discuss what we believe,” he quipped.
Known for his standout roles in The Equalizer, Training Day, and the upcoming Gladiator II, Denzel Washington has long been a figure of inspiration, both on and off the screen. His baptism and new ministerial role underscore a commitment to his faith that has been a guiding force throughout his life.
As Pauletta summed it up, “You have set a great example.” For Denzel Washington, that example now extends to a calling that goes far beyond Hollywood, one rooted in faith, family, and service.
