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Denzel Washington has been an inspiration in every definition of the word. Being one of the most respected and successful actors of all time, there is a reason why he has the reputation he does. Be it a film series like The Equalizer or Oscar-winning films like Glory or Training Day, it is difficult to put him in a box.
Denzel Washington in a still from The Magnificent Seven | Credits: Columbia Pictures/MGMIt could have been very easy to typecast Washington and leave him in a specific kind of role for the rest of his career. However, he managed to push through this and became one of the most versatile actors in the industry. With this in mind, one can imagine that his career would also help others navigate getting typecast.
During an interview, Marvel star Benicio Del Toro revealed that Washington was a very big reason for how his career was shaped.
Benicio Del Toro could have easily fallen into a typecasting trap
Benicio Del Toro has played all kinds of characters over the years. Be it playing the role of the Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the lead in the critically acclaimed Sicario films, he has proven time and time again that he deserves the success he has.
Benicio Del Toro as the Collector in The Guardians of the Galaxy | Credit: Marvel StudiosWhile he has seen a lot of success, there was a time when he could have easily been typecast into similar roles. In 2001, he won an Oscar for his role in Traffic, where he played a Mexican cop. With this, Del Toro could have been such in playing law enforcement characters that did not allow him much room to explore his skills as an actor.
However, he decided to flip this stereotype on its head and use it to his advantage. Rather than playing two-dimensional characters from the same background, he decided to let himself explore the complexities that can come with playing such characters.
Isabella Merced and Benicio Del Toro in Sicario 2 | Credit: Sony PicturesThe perfect example of this would be his work with Denis Villeneuve. Even though he does play the role of a CIA agent in the film, his character certainly does not fit a mold and is extremely complex, allowing him to exist within a stereotype and play interesting characters at the same time.
Benicio Del Toro took notes from Denzel Washington’s career
There is no denying that the approach that Benicio Del Toro took with his career is unique. However, it would seem that a very famous name is to be credited to it. During an interview with The Guardian, he revealed that he took inspiration from Denzel Washington’s career to navigate his own.
Benicio del Toro in Sicario | Credit: Sony PicturesHe pointed out that Washington has also had to deal with all types of typecasting throughout his career. However, he did it in a completely unique manner. Rather, he decided to lean into these archetypes until they bent to his wishes and wants from his career.
Denzel is one of those actors who has had to deal with all those stereotypes. It’s an interesting journey. Me being Latino, I’ve looked at his career [to] see how to navigate and take those stereotypes and flip them upside down.
With this in mind, Del Toro also wanted to follow a similar path. His Latino background made it easier for him to be left in a specific kind of role for his entire career. Instead, he managed to get the career he wanted by following a journey similar to Washington’s.
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