Denzel Washington will be honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award for 2018, the American Film Institute announced on Friday. The 63-year-old actor will be presented with the award at a ceremony held on June 6, 2019, in Los Angeles.
Washington will be the 47th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors individuals for their “lifetime contribution to enriching American culture through motion pictures and television.” The first award was presented in 1973 to director John Ford, with Meryl Streep, Mel Brooks, Robert De Niro, and Alfred Hitchcock being among the winners as well. Actor and director George Clooney was last year’s honoree.
“Denzel Washington is an American icon,” said Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, after announcing the 2018 honoree. “As an actor, he stands tall as a heroic, stoic embodiment of the best in all of us, and he does so with heart, humanity, 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. AFI is proud to present him with its 47th Life Achievement Award.”
Through his successful acting career, Denzel Washington received numerous other awards including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe awards, and a Tony Award. His best-known works include movies Glory, Malcolm X, The Hurricane, Remember the Titans, Training Day, and American Gangster.
