Denzel Washington, the acclaimed actor, recently clarified the correct pronunciation of his name during a ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ appearance, explaining that his mother altered it to avoid confusion with his father. The 70-year-old star, born Denzel Hayes Washington Jr., revealed that his name was not pronounced ‘Den-ZELL’ as many people assume, but rather ‘DEN-zel.’ Washington shared the anecdote about how his mother, Lennis Washington, changed the pronunciation when he was young, as both he and his father would respond when she called out ‘Denzel.’ This led to the mispronunciation that has persisted over the decades.
The discussion also touched on the growing number of NFL players bearing his name, with Kimmel noting that there were four players named Denzel in the NFL at the time of the segment. Kimmel pointed out that the actor’s name was not popular among NFL players before Washington won his first Oscar in 1990. Prior to that, there were no players with the name Denzel, and the actor noted that there should be some kind of compensation for the widespread use of his name in the sports world. Washington joked about the idea of receiving a small percentage of each jersey sale, a notion that Kimmel readily agreed with.
Washington’s revelation came as he and Kimmel discussed the number of professional football players who share the same name. Kimmel asked if Washington knew that there were currently four players named Denzel in the NFL, adding that there were zero in 1987 before his first Oscar win. Washington responded by confirming that the proliferation of players named Denzel today was a direct result of his own name being used by others. He noted that the name’s pronunciation, which he described as ‘DEN-zel,’ was not the standard one that many people assume, highlighting the long-standing confusion about how to correctly say his name.
His mother, Lennis Washington, played a pivotal role in the mispronunciation, as she changed it when he was young to avoid confusion with his father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. She would call out ‘Denzel,’ and both father and son would respond, leading her to adjust the pronunciation to distinguish between the two. Washington recalled how his mother’s decision caused the name to be pronounced differently, which has continued to this day. During the segment, Washington shared the story with both Kimmel and the audience, adding a personal touch to the discussion.
Kimmel expressed amazement at the story, remarking that it was a clever way for the mother to ensure the family members could be easily identified. The humor and lightheartedness of the exchange made for a memorable moment on the show, with the audience applauding Washington’s candidness. The discussion not only highlighted the actor’s long career in Hollywood but also brought attention to the cultural impact of his name, both in entertainment and sports. Washington’s ability to blend humor with personal storytelling made the segment engaging for viewers and underscored his enduring presence in popular culture.