Denzel Washington

SUMMARY

  • Denzel Washington attended the Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
  • A young fan asked Washington how to become a Canadian gangster.
  • Washington advised the fan to pursue a medical career instead.

Denzel Washington is not only one of the greatest acting talents to have existed in Hollywood’s entertainment industry to date but is also an incredibly charming presence with a personality that couldn’t be more down-to-earth. While his acting credits have helped him win over fans globally with ease, the way he carries himself around has made people further fall in love with him.

Universal Pictures.Denzel Washington in American Gangster. | Credits: Universal Pictures.

That said, a recent event further boosted his popularity by a tremendous margin. This happened when, while attending the Toronto International Film Festival 2024, the Oscar winner was asked by a young fan how he could become a gangster when he grows up. And, in his true Denzel Washington sense, the actor gave his fan a life-changing moment with his response.

Denzel Washington Shares a Life-Changing Moment with a Young Fan

At the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival, held from September 5–15, 2024, Denzel Washington was one of the legendary actors gracing the event. There, to promote his produced upcoming musical/drama The Piano Lesson, the actor was met with a lot of reporters with a lot of questions, but one particularly young guy caught his fancy the most.

Universal Pictures.Washington and Russell Crowe in a still from the movie. | Credits: Universal Pictures.

This guy was Liam, Daryn & Deepa’s Kid Reporter currently gaining fame among actors and actresses for outstandingly asking celebrities questions. From the crowd of reporters, this young fan asked The Equalizer actor (via @virginradiotoronto on Instagram): “I’ve heard American Gangster is a good movie. How can I be a Canadian gangster?”

While the project in question – American Gangster – is indeed regarded as one of Washington’s best works to date, telling a kid how to become a gangster when he grows up wasn’t something that lay in not only the actor’s but in anyone’s best interests. Thus, the 69-year-old actor decided to tackle the matter in his true Denzel Washington fashion. Initially, he said:

You shouldn’t be a gangster. You’re too smart to be a gangster.

Continuing, he then tried to offer alternative career options that would better suit his young fan. The Training Day star said:

What’s your favorite subject? Maths and Science? [Liam: Yes.] So you wanna be a doctor? Okay. Better be a doctor than a gangster. Okay? Never wanna be a gangster. [Liam: I know, I don’t like gangsters.] I don’t like gangsters either. [Chuckles]

Effortlessly enough, simply with his influence and fame, the Academy Award winner gave his young fan a life-changing moment through an interaction that Liam would, perhaps, remember for the rest of his life. And, of course, while doing this, Washington also managed to win over a million more hearts with his incredible personality.

Fans React to Denzel Washington Telling His Fan Not to Become a Gangster

Universal Pictures.A still from the movie. | Credits: Universal Pictures.

If Washington was previously loved for his star-studded works spread across a multiplicity of genres, he most certainly seems to have boosted his fame with this recent interaction with his fan. Taking to the comment section of the Instagram post, here’s how fans are reacting to both Washington and Liam’s responses during this conversation:

He will remember that interaction for the rest of his life. 😊❤️ ~ @bradley_blair_osteopath

Denzel is made of Gold…🙌🙌🙌 ~ @faizonlove

Now that’s Gangsta, young King! 🔥🔥🔥 ~ @stevepageot

That’s DOCTOR Liam moving forward! 🤩 ~ @sarahchristieshow

The greatest actor of all time ❤️ ~ @pri_rita28

This made my day and Denzel is 👑 ~ @momuscles

Denzel is built different. In the best way possible. ~ @organizer_multimedia

To say the least, after reading all of these fan reactions, one thing is evident: Denzel Washington’s compassionate response to the young fan’s question has earned him even more admiration and respect, solidifying his status as one of the most worthy role models and inspiring figures in the entirety of Hollywood’s entertainment industry.

American Gangster can currently be watched on Prime Video.

American GangsterDenzel Washington

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Written by Mahin Sultan

Articles Published: 1518

Mahin Sultan is a News Content Writer at FandomWire. With more than a year's worth of experience in her field, she has explored and attained a deep understanding of numerous topics in various niches, mostly entertainment.

An all-things-good enthusiast, Mahin is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Commerce, and her love for entertainment has given her a solid foundation of reporting in the same field. Besides being a foodie, she loves to write and spends her free time either with her nose buried in a good book or binging on COD or K-dramas, anime, new movies, and TV serials (the awesome ones, obviously).

So far, Mahin's professional portfolio has 1,000+ articles written on various niches, including Entertainment, Health and wellbeing, and Fashion and trends, among others.