Married for more than 38 years, Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta Washington have one of the most endearing relationships in Hollywood.
In a world of fame and fortune, where recklessness is lauded, uptightness shunned and divorce have become the order of the day, Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta Washington, (nee Pearson), have managed to stay true to each other for almost four decades.
Their marriage has stood the test of time despite being riddled with scandals and divorce rumors at some point. More amazing is that the duo has four adorable children whom they have raised into respectable adults in love and togetherness.
Denzel and Pauletta’s beautiful love story celebrates black love in a special way, making them role models to other couples.
Who Is Denzel Washington’s Wife And where Is She From?
Denzel Washington is undoubtedly a definition of the ideal ladies’ man even at 67. At the early phase of his career, the icon caught the eyes of many.
It came as no surprise then that a pressing question in the minds of his admirers at the time remained, “Is Denzel Washington married?”
The sole answer has remained “yes” for most of the actor’s career. The “Wilma” star has been married to Pauletta Washington for almost as long as his time in showbiz.
The lucky winner of Denzel’s heart is an actress, who starred alongside him in his first television film, “Wilma.” Born on September 28, 1950, the 71 year old grew up in North Carolina with her sister Rita Pearson, also an actress.
Like her husband, Pauletta is an accomplished actress in her own rights, known for her works on “Antwone Fisher,” “Philadelphia,” “The Parkers,” “Steps,” and “She’s Gotta Have It.”
How Pauletta And Pearson Met
Pauletta and Denzel Washington met for the first time in 1977, while on set filming the TV series, “Wilma.” While things didn’t heat up immediately, mutual acquaintances reintroduced them during the movie’s wrap party.
The next day, they coincidentally found themselves seated next to each other at a friend’s play. Things took off from there, leading to the rise of a love story set to last a lifetime.
The twosome had their very awkward first date soon enough, which ended with them arguing about who would pay the bill, as Pauletta insisted on footing the bills. Luckily, they reached a compromise without ruining their budding romance.
Third Time Is A Charm
The couple sustained their relationship for six years before Denzel finally summoned the courage to pop the big question. But Pearson was not one to make things any easier for him.
During a 2013 interview, the lovebirds playfully revealed Denzel had to propose three times before winning over his soulmate.
The first two times he proposed, Pauletta turned him down. But the “Equalizer” star remained dauntless, manning up to ask the third time, and thankfully received a “yes!”
Barely months later, the twosome tied the knot, marking the onset of their life journey of thirty-eight years and counting. They married on June 25, 1983.
Welcoming Kids
One year after exchanging vows, Pauletta and Denzel Washington became first-time parents, welcoming their son David Washington in July 1984.
Two years later, their family expanded again with the birth of a daughter, Katia Washington, born November 1986. Again in April 1991, the Hollywood power couple welcomed two new additions, their fraternal twins Malcolm and Olivia.
Pauletta and Denzel Washington’s kids have now grown into adults, following in their parent’s footsteps. David grew up to become an actor following a brief run as a football player.
Katia has a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University while Malcolm graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Film Studies. Olivia also has footings in the arts, making an appearance in the movie, “The Butler.”
Renewing Their Vows
In 1995, after enjoying marital bliss for about twelve years, Denzel Washington and his wife took a trip to South Africa. During that trip, the Hollywood sweethearts renewed their wedding vows, officiated by the renowned Anglican Bishop and theologian, Desmond Tutu.
Divorce Rumors And Scandals
The Washingtons have not been spared from their own dose of rumors and scandals throughout their long-term marriage. Contrary wise, their union has faced some harsh controversies that threatened to tear them apart.
In 2003, the tabloids went wild with reports of Denzel having an affair with his “Out Of Time” actor Sanaa Lathan. Rumor mongers also claimed the actress was pregnant for him, but both parties stepped forward to deny the claims.
Again in 2013, the media struck again, linking the “American Gangster” actor to actress Paula Patton, yet another co-star. At the time, the movie legend reassured the world the rumors had no shred of truth, and that divorce was not in the cards for him and his wife.
Things seemed to hit the peak in 2016, as news outlets reported Pauletta finally had her fill with Denzel’s infidelity and decided to divorce him. The reports claimed the pair already had the process on the way.
It turns out those were just rumors after all, as six years later, the lovebirds are still going strong, with no evidence to prove those baseless allegations of infidelity.
The Secret To Their Lasting marriage
Pauletta and Denzel Washington have been open about the key to their long, successful marriage, or the lack thereof.
When asked how he managed to sustain their marriage for so long while enjoying happiness, the icon joked that he always did as he was told, and kept his mouth shut.
He eventually adopted a more serious stance, crediting his wife for doing the “healthy lifting” in the family which ultimately guaranteed their happiness.
While this is a great attribute which has undoubtedly helped the couple remain steadfast, the duo hardly considers it their relationship secret. In fact, he believed they had none but only relied on their commitment and a spiritual foundation. The icon once shared:
“There is no secret to the perfect marriage… Everybody has their ups and downs; we’ve had ours. It’s hard work, you know. But we made a commitment.”
Their commitment in turn guarantees a healthy marriage, work, and peace of mind.
A Marriage Built On Faith
As the son of a pentecostal minister, Denzel grew up upholding his Christian faith, evident in his movie roles. Thankfully, he found a bride who shared the same faith.
Over the years, the pair have strengthened their love through their daily bible readings. They even worked together on an audio version of the Bible titled “The Bible Experience.”
Pauletta describes the experience as an outline for the original design of marriage, and hopes to share it with the world.