Denzel Washington may be one of Hollywood’s most recognizable names, but as it turns out, most of us have been saying his name wrong for decades.
At 70 years old, the Oscar-winning actor is still setting the record straight about how his first name is actually pronounced — and it’s not what people think.
A Childhood Twist That Changed Everything
During a chat on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Washington reminded viewers of the story he first shared years ago.
The mix-up started at home because both he and his father share the same name: Denzel Hayes Washington.
To avoid confusion whenever his mother called out “Denzel!”, she began pronouncing her son’s name slightly differently.
“That’s how it became Denzel,” the actor explained.
In truth, his name should be pronounced “Den-zull,” not the more familiar “Den-zelle.”
But thanks to his mom’s quick fix, the pronunciation stuck — and the world has been saying it that way ever since.
A Longstanding Bit of Trivia
This isn’t the first time Washington has revealed the quirk behind his name.
Back in 2013, he told the same story on The Graham Norton Show, laughing about how both he and his father would appear whenever his mom called.
While the actor has never seemed bothered by the mispronunciation, he does enjoy reminding people of the “real” way to say it.
The British Accent That Went Viral
Interestingly, Washington’s name wasn’t the only thing about him making headlines recently.
A resurfaced clip from his 1988 film For Queen and Country has been circulating online, showing what many fans now call one of the worst British accents ever attempted on screen.
In the movie, Washington plays a paratrooper returning to his London neighborhood after military service.
The viral scene features him delivering an impassioned line in a questionable accent, which quickly drew laughs and criticism across social media.
Even Washington himself admitted years later, “That accent was awful.”
A Career That Survived the Slip-Ups
Despite that infamous accent mishap, Washington’s career has only grown stronger.
The actor has consistently balanced film with theater and has earned respect as one of the industry’s greatest talents.
Yet he doesn’t see himself as a “Hollywood star.”
“What does that even mean?” he joked in a recent interview.
“I’m from Mount Vernon. I’m a Mount Vernon actor.”
A Stage Actor at Heart
Washington has always insisted that the stage is his true home.
Having started his career in theater, he still considers himself a stage actor who happens to work in film.
“Movies are a filmmaker’s medium,” he explained.
“But theater — theater is the actor’s medium. When the curtain goes up, nobody can save you. It’s just you and the audience.”