Denzel Washington Reveals The One Role That Changed His Life
By Tony M. Centeno
November 21, 2025
Denzel Washington has portrayed plenty of notable characters over the years, but only a few that helped change the course of his real life.
On Friday, November 21, Bishop TD Jakes released the latest episode of his NXT Chapter podcast featuring the Academy Award-winning actor. During their conversation, Denzel Washington discussed his new Broadway show, the 2025 revival of Othello, and explained why he decided to return to the stage following an eight-year break.
"I had to get back to it," Washington said. "Here on stage, the audience will tell you that night how they feel about you, and you know, it's a humbling experience, and I just wanted to get back to the foundation."
Later on in the conversation, Washington touched on a few of the roles that made a lasting impact on his life. He told TD Jakes that his favorite deaths were his roles in Safe House and Training Day. Yet it was his role as a director of the 2016 film Fences that truly changed him. He reflected on bringing the late August Wilson's screenplay for Fences to life, and working with the likes of Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson and others on the film.
"The family came to me," Washington explained. "His widow, Costanza, said, 'We'd like you to take care of August's plays for us and make it into a film. I said, 'I'm just the man for the job.'"
Listen to the entire conversation between Denzel Washington and Bishop TD Jakes below.