Actor Denzel Washington has delivered many outstanding performances in various blockbuster hits. His versatility and talent have earned him two prestigious Academy Awards, however, there would have been a third one on his shelf but this Hollywood legend took it home at the 1993 Oscars.
Washington was nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award for his powerful performance in 1992’s Malcolm X, but he was put against actor Al Pacino, who was nominated for his work in 1992’s Scent of a Woman. Ultimately, the Academy Award for Best Actor went to Al Pacino that night, but Washington was not disappointed.
Denzel Washington was glad he lost the Oscar to Al Pacino at the 65th Academy Awards
Many may argue that actor Denzel Washington deserved the Best Actor Oscar for his work in 1992’s Malcolm X, however, Washington once revealed that he was glad that Al Pacino won. In a 2013 interview with Playboy, the actor said,
“There have been times when I didn’t want to win. When Pacino won for Scent of a Woman, I was up for Malcolm X. I didn’t want to win that time. I would have felt badly. It was Pacino’s time. If he hadn’t won that one he would have been 0 for 8. I was already 1 for 2 or something. When he won, was 1 for 3, batting .333. I was OK with that. When I didn’t win some of these awards, other people were angrier about it than I was.”
At the time, Washington already had a Best Supporting Actor Oscar under his name for his work in 1989’s Glory. On the other hand, Pacino had 0 Oscars.
Denzel Washington was praised for his work in Malcolm X
An Oscar win doesn’t mean that Washington’s performance as Malcolm X in 1992’s Malcolm X was average, in fact, it was sensational. The movie narrated Malcolm X’s journey from his early years as a criminal and his conversion to Islam while in prison, to his rise as a charismatic and outspoken advocate for racial equality and justice.
Apart from Washington, the film featured some famous Hollywood stars like Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., and Delroy Lindo. On a budget of $35 million, the film made roughly $73 million at the global box office.
Al Pacino only has one Oscar
The win at the 65th Academy Awards was Pacino’s only Oscar win. It is quite surprising that the actor never got an Academy Award for his work in The Godfather franchise. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Godfather (1973) and also bagged a nomination for Best Actor for his work in The Godfather Part II (1975).
Throughout his career, the actor has earned countless nominations, even for a Grammy in 2001. Both Denzel Washington and Al Pacino are seasoned stars, who have massively contributed to influencing and shaping the future of the entertainment industry, so one can never compare them.
Source: Playboy Magazine
