Denzel charms Silliman students with ‘sexy smile’
Donning tennis shoes and a Silliman College baseball cap, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington spoke to students about his life as an actor, director, producer and father in a candid — and interactive — Master’s Tea Thursday afternoon.
Washington fielded questions for an hour and a half on topics ranging from his family and career to his favorite food (his wife’s curry, fried or jerk chicken). He shared personal stories and joked with his audience, which was limited to students from Silliman, the home of his eldest daughter, Katia Washington ’10.
Washington’s...
I've had the pleasure of seeing Denzel in the flesh twice. Once when he was working on "X" while filming in my neighborhood with Spike, and once on E. 72nd Street in the City. He does have an incredible smile (rivaled only by Derek Luke's I might add), and I only wish that other Yale kids, mine included, could have had a chance to meet him. Maybe next year!
It is so nice to read such a positive article about Denzel. I had the pleasure of seeing him in person twice here in NYC.Once on the set of Malcolm X and once on E. 72nd Street near his bldg at the time. He is a gorgeous man. His smile is only rivaled by that of Derek Luke's (who I've also met on Columbus Ave just last Sunday). Washington discovered Luke BTW. I just hope that next year my own Yalie will have the chance to meet him as well. They are really only human too, but it's always nice to see a movie icon in person.
It is wonderful that Mr. Washington came to Yale to speak. Hopefully, the next time he visits, he will try and squeeze in a visit to the Af-Am Cultural Center, an organization that his child is involved in as well. I am certain that they would have loved to have hosted him and for the Af-American community at Yale that exists beyond Silliman College to have had a chance to meet and greet him as well. He is an outstanding actor and he and his wife are tremendous philanthropists as well. It would just be nice if when time next permits, that he try and squeeze in some time at the Af-Am Center.
Dude, Denzel's talk would have been way too packed... His daughter's in Silliman... It only makes sense. Get over it.
To add on to #5, if they'd opened it up to all Yale students, he would have had to speak in Woolsey, thus defeating the purpose of a Master's Tea.
This happens in all colleges, not just Silliman. I believe Bette Midler came last week and her talk was only open to Saybrook students as she is a Saybrook parent. It's not the best system, but it's not completely unfair.
Denzel's daughter is a part of other organizations at Yale, and particularly she's active in Af-Am house groups. The black community at Yale would have been happy to have hosted him at the Af-Am house. Maybe next year?
I understand that there were logistical concerns, but I do wish that it had been open to a wider audience. Although - while his daughter is in Shades, how active is she with Af-Am house/community? I think a stronger argument would simply be that his work would make him an appropriate guest for that venue.
Mr. Washington is a fine actor, and probably even a good person. But famous and even important people visit all the time for Master's Teas. They are Master's Teas because the audience and venue are limited to the hosting residential college to create an intimate and candid setting. The purpose is so attendees have the experience of sitting in the same small room and having a conversation with someone of consequence. It's not so you can say "I saw Denzel from 100 yards away and listened to him field prepared questions through a loudspeaker."
If the Af-Am house wants him to visit, they should invite him.
I find Denzel Washington to be a very loving person, a fine actor and a great father. It pleases me everytime I hear his name. I'm looking forward to spending time with him if God permits. I'm his number 1 fan. God bless you Denzel.
It should've been open to the rest of yale, too.
Denzel is Awesome.