Pentecostal Christian Actor Wins Golden Globe Lifetime Achievement Award

Denzel Washington stands with his family at the Golden Globes. (Reuters)

Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington joined the ranks of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro when he was awarded the Golden Globe for lifetime achievement on Sunday—only the third black actor to be recognized in the more than 60-year history of the award.

Washington, 61, was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes ceremony in recognition of his work in front of and behind the camera. 

Washington accepted the award flanked by his wife, Pauletta, and three of his children, 

Washington's movie roles have ranged from black activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in Flight and a rogue detective in Training Day, for which he won his second Oscar in 2002. 

He also directed and starred in the 2007 film The Great Debaters about a professor who coached a debate team from a black U.S. college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama Antwone Fisher.

Washington is the son of a Pentecostal preacher who enrolled in college hoping for a career as a journalist before catching the acting bug. He is a devout Christian who has been the national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Club of America since 1993. 

Washington is the third black actor after Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman to receive the Cecil B. De Mille award. Last year's recipient was George Clooney. Other honourees since 1952 include Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Frank Sinatra and Robin Williams

CONGRATS TO HIM - TOPMOST TREE

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