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Denzel Washington Increases His Own Record As The Most Nominated Black Actor In Oscar History

Denzel Washington Increases His Own Record As The Most Nominated Black Actor In Oscar History

Photo credit: Ettore Ferrari/Ansa via AP   

This year, two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington scored his eighth Oscar nomination for acting with his latest nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He received the nomination for his performance in "Roman J. Israel, Esq., " and increased his own record as the most nominated Black actor in the history of the Oscars. If he wins, he would become the first Black actor to win three Academy Awards. 

"Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya joins Washington in the same category, making it only the fourth time that multiple Black actors have been nominated for Best Actor in the same year. 

Washington won his first Oscar in 1983 for his role in "Glory", and his second in 2002 for his role in "Training Day." That year, he and Halle Berry made history as the first Black actors to win both lead acting awards in the same year, and Washington became the second Black man to win Best Actor. The first was Sidney Poitier, who won his historic Oscar for "Lilies of the Field" in 1964.

Over the course of Washington's 35-year-career, he has received a total of nine Oscar nominations, and won two. Here's a list of nominations and wins:

FENCES (2016)
Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role

FENCES (2016)
Nominee, Best Picture

FLIGHT (2012)
Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role

TRAINING DAY (2001)
Winner, Actor in a Leading Role

THE HURRICANE (1999)
Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role

MALCOLM X (1992)
Nominee, Actor in a Leading Role

GLORY (1989)
Winner, Actor in a Supporting Role

CRY FREEDOM (1987)
Nominee, Actor in a Supporting Role

Congratulations, Denzel! Thank you for continuously blazing a trail and being an inspiration to present and future actors.