Denzel Washington and spouse Pauletta Washington’s relationship blossomed at first of his profession.
The couple first related whereas filming the 1977 TV movie, Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story. Nonetheless, Denzel and Paulette didn’t develop nearer till the next yr. Throughout a 2018 interview on Stay With Kelly and Ryan, Denzel hinted that higher forces had been at work to set him up together with his future spouse.
“A few yr later there was a celebration I used to be invited to … and he or she was there,” he recalled. “At that occasion, I talked about going to see a play. I went to see the play and at intermission, the lights went up. And [Pauletta] was sitting [near me].”
Denzel recalled Pauletta telling him that she “simply occurred to go see the present,” however the actor teased that he didn’t purchase it. Regardless of his joke afterward, Denzel and Pauletta ended up hitting it off and the couple wed in 1983.
One yr after their nuptials, the couple welcomed their first little one, son John David Washington. They later expanded their household with daughter Katia and twins Olivia and Malcolm in 1986 and 1991, respectively.
Preserve scrolling to revisit Denzel and Pauletta’s love story:
1977
The actors first crossed paths on the Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story set.
1978
One yr later, Denzel and Pauletta started courting. In a June 2019 interview with E! Information alongside her husband, Pauletta revealed that she ended up fronting the prices for the cab on the pair’s first date.
“I’m [planning on] paying for the cab experience however then I’m watching the meter and I’m working out of cash,” Denzel defined earlier than Pauletta interjected, “He turns to me and says, ‘I’ve no cash.’”
Denzel denied that’s what he stated however Pauletta insisted she has a vivid reminiscence of the expertise. She reaffirmed she paid for the taxi, and Denzel made it well-known that he has taken the initiative to pay for the whole lot “ever since.”
June 1983
The couple tied the knot. Earlier than strolling down the aisle, Pauletta rejected Denzel’s proposal twice earlier than agreeing to marry him.
“She turned me down, she stated ‘no,’” the Oscar winner stated to Entry Hollywood in July 2013. “And because it was 3 times, which means she turned me down twice.”
July 1984
One yr later, Pauletta gave start to the pair’s first little one, John David.
November 1986
The twosome expanded their household with daughter Katia.
April 1991
Denzel and Pauletta accomplished their household with twins Olivia and Malcolm.
1995
After 12 years of marriage, Pauletta and Denzel renewed their vows. The ceremony passed off in South Africa and was officiated by their pal, archbishop Desmond Tutu.
March 2002
Denzel introduced his spouse as his date to the Oscars. He ended up taking house the award for Finest Actor in a Main Function for his position in Coaching Day.
June 2005
The couple gained the Humanitarian Award on the BET Awards.
January 2016
Pauletta was by Denzel’s facet when he accepted the Cecil B. Demille Award throughout the Golden Globe Awards.
June 2019
Denzel made it a household occasion when he was acknowledged for the Lifetime Achievement award on the AFI Movie Awards.
September 2024
Pauletta and Denzel attended the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant to assist Malcolm and John David’s movie, The Piano Lesson.
That very same month, Pauletta opened up about what it meant to have a good time her and Denzel’s forty first wedding ceremony anniversary earlier that yr.
“We work at it. It’s work. It’s not that you just sit there and also you go, like, ‘Oh, you understand…’” she mirrored to Folks. “There are loads of prayers for power for staying in a forgiveness mode and each components, mine and his. But it surely’s the fundamental love that we’ve got for one another.”