For the last 36 years (yes, 36 years!) award-winning actor and director Denzel Washington and his wife, actress Pauletta Washington’s marriage has not only served as one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting relationships but has also been one of the most successful marriages in the black community.
It has served as one of the best examples of black love next to President Obama and First Lady Michelle’s romance. No matter how many rumors come year after year trying to shatter the couple’s positive image, they continue to celebrate their love with class and grace.
Here is their story of Black love while sharing wisdom from their journey with us all.
Denzel and Pauletta met in 1977 while the actor was filming his first TV role in Wilma - which she was also starring in.
"I don't know if it's show business that has a monopoly on divorce, it's just that you hear about it," explained Denzel. "I just think that you have to work at it. Not give up on each other. It's a commitment. It's not all the honeymoon, it doesn't last forever, so you work at it. And hopefully you're good friends first, that might help!"
When speaking about his wife on a recent episode of the T.D. Jakes Show, Denzel can't stop complimenting his better half.
"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."
"I grew up in athletics, but my wife's family had a great education. My wife was a child prodigy. I married up! Her family had a love and a closeness that I didn't have. I came from a broken home and I said I have to have that."
Washington and Pearson met on the set of the television film Wilma, and married in June 1983. The couple have...
...four children together -- 30-year-old son John David, 27-year-old daughter Katia and 13-year-old twins Olivia and Malcolm.
In 1995, they renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating.
Throughout the years, Pauletta has stood by her husband's side no matter what the rumors or the fact that scores of women were trying to get to her man. It's who she feels, believes and knows who she is to him that keeps the peace.
“He’s a sex symbol. Everybody’s around him. And when we’re out, they push me over and run me over to get to him. That part is not so cute,” Pauletta tells Ebony.
Nonetheless, Pauletta does not allow other women or rumors to distract her from her marriage, but remains confident in her relationship with Denzel. “He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife. That gives him strength, regardless of if he misuses it. I can’t dwell on that. But I do know that gives him a great platform to go and fly.”
Denzel and Pauletta share that it is their overcoming such trials that have made their relationship thrive. Denzel says, “We live in a time — and it’s not for me to judge anyone — when people give up too easily.
It’s a disposable society; get another [spouse].” Pauletta agrees saying, “For me, the ‘love’ in the love story is how you come through the trials. The passion, the lust — that’s easy. The love story is how you come out in love after hardship.”
Talking about their long-lasting marriage with Oprah Winfrey, Denzel said: People who say they knew (if their spouse was the one) right away are lying! It's a marathon, not a sprint."
He admits time apart with months spent away filming has probably helped their marriage rather than hinder it.
He explained: 'Hollywood gets a bad rap; it's just a place with some footprints in cement. I don't live there, I live in...
... Los Angeles. But it's probably helped our marriage that we're apart a lot.'
JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON: “THEY TRIED TO USE MY NAME AGAINST ME”
“Where did he come from?” is what most people said when they saw the standout John David Washington on the hit HBO series “Ballers.”
But many just found out that he has legendary greatness in his genes.
The 31-year-old actor slightly resembles his father, actor Denzel Washington, with an updated contemporary 2015 swagger. According to twitter, this is a fact that apparently many fans of the show just learned. John David Washington became a hot topic on the internet this week, with his name among the top-searched terms on Google.
Judging by the reactions on Twitter, many people are just learning that the Ballers star, who plays wide receiver Ricky Jerret, is related to Denzel.
It turns out that not only is John David Washington the son of Denzel, but he was a baller in real life as well. The Morehouse graduate was also a football standout with legendary talent, and even had a cup of coffee in the NFL, playing for the St. Louis Rams in the 2006 season.
Being the son of a famous father wasn’t always great, John David said. Once opposing players found out he was Denzel’s son, they used that as fuel to talk trash against him.
“Usually it’s ‘yo mama this, or yo mama that. But on the field it was your Daddy’s this and that. They tried to use my father’s name against me. Football players are creative when they’re in the moment.”
But he didn’t let that stop him.
After his brief stint in the NFL, he went on to play in the EuropeanFootball League for Germany’s Hamburg Sea Devils followed by four years for the California Redwoods in the United Football League until it folded in 2012, according to pajiba.com.
And that, no doubt, is how he built his fabulous body, which makes him perfect for the HBO show that just finished airing it’s first season with great reviews.
From running to weight lifting, the young star grew his body into football shape over the years and still keeps it tight now for the show and just overall health.
One of his rules to live by: “What you put in your body, you get out.”
Apart from keeping his body lean and mean and having the handsome genes from his dad, John David says he has trouble with the ladies.
Here’s what he has to say to Steve Harvey: READ MORE HERE
