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The American Film Institute recently announced that it will be honoring award-winning actor Denzel Washington with its 47th Lifetime Achievement Award.
Washington, who is the only Black actor to hold two Oscar awards, will be presented with the honor at a ceremony in Los Angeles in June 2019.
“Denzel Washington is an American icon,” Howard Stringer, the chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, told Variety. “As an actor, he stands tall as a heroic, stoic embodiment of the best in all of us, and he does so with heart, humility, and one of the brightest smiles to ever light up the screen. Equally formidable as director and producer, he is a creative force to be reckoned with – and one of the most vital, relevant artists working today.”
In addition to receiving an Oscar in 1990 for “Glory” and one in 2002 for “Training Day,” 63-year-old Washington has received Oscar nominations for several films including “Cry Freedom,” “Malcolm X,” “Flight,” and “Fences.” Outside of being noted as one of the best actors in the industry, Washington has also made strides as a director, making his directorial debut in “Antwone Fisher” and directing himself in “The Great Debaters.”
According to the Associated Press, Washington’s new honor will put him in the ranks with other award-winning actors/actresses including Mel Brooks, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and George Clooney who have all been recipients of this high honor.