Denzel Washington met Morgan Freeman when he began his pursuit of an acting career after graduating from Fordham. While he made his screen acting debut in the docudrama, Wilma, in 1977, Washington made his Hollywood debut only in 1981 in the film Carbon Copy. He was also pursuing theater in the meantime and got a job at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He met his idol, Morgan Freeman, for the first time there in a play.
Washington later revealed that the encounter didn’t end well for him. In an attempt to impress Freeman, he suggested changes to a scene they were acting. These suggestions from a novice Washington were immediately rejected by the Batman Begins actor.
Denzel Washington Revealed Embarrassing Himself In Front Of Morgan Freeman
Before making his debut in Hollywood, Denzel Washington idolized Morgan Freeman because he was a Black actor who made it in the industry. However, their first meeting was one that Washington would rather forget. The Training Day actor recalled the incident in 2008 when Freeman was honored at The Kennedy Center. Washington revealed that he was cast in a minor role in Coriolanus, where Freeman played the title character.
While his role was small, Washington got the opportunity to act in a sword-fight sequence with Freeman. However, The Manchurian Candidate actor made the poor decision to suggest a re-choreograph on this simple fight scene. Washington got a glaring gaze from Freeman, who asked him who he was. When Washington introduced himself to the Bruce Almighty actor, he dismissed his idea and asked him to do what was said. The Inside Man actor shared (via The Kennedy Center):
“I had a scene where I had this three-hit sword fight with Morgan. And of course, I thought the play was all about my character. So I went up to Morgan and I said: ‘I think maybe I could wound you, cut, slice’. Morgan looked at me with that Morgan Freeman gaze, you know the one I’m talking about, that serious look.”
Denzel Washington continued:
“He said to me: ‘First of all, what’s your name?’ I said: ‘You don’t know me, I’m Denzel’. He said: ‘Alright, Denzel. We click the swords three times, click click click. I stab you, you fall down, and you die. Quickly’.”
Washington received another opportunity to redeem himself almost a decade later when he starred alongside Morgan Freeman in the 1989 film Glory. Washington played Private Silas Trip and Freeman played Sergeant Major John Rawlins in the film. For his role in the film, Washington received his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 62nd Academy Awards.
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Denzel Washington Opened Up About Working With Morgan Freeman In Glory
During his speech about Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington shared the experience of working together with him in Glory. Washington described Freeman as an actor with great timing and nuanced acting. He revealed that he was fortunate to know the actor for 29 years till then and that they shared a great friendship. The Equalizer actor shared:
“I had the opportunity to appear with him again in the film Glory. What I saw was an actor with a God-given sense of timing, perfect ear for nuance, this great man that I’ve been fortunate to know and call a friend for 29 years now.”
Washington also talked about Freeman’s production company Revelations Entertainment, which he founded in 1996. He shared the company’s motto as enlighten, express heart, and glorify the human experience, adding that these were things that Freeman had been doing his entire career.
Glory is now available for streaming on Peacock Premium.
