See the Sweetest Throwback Photos of Denzel Washington with His Wife Pauletta
See the Sweetest Throwback Photos of Denzel Washington with His Wife Pauletta
Stephanie Sengwe, Emily KrauserMon, June 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the special screening of 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Aug. 13, 2025Credit: Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Denzel Washington has had a steadfast rock by his side throughout his incredible career: wife Pauletta Washington.
The couple tied the knot on June 25, 1983, and later welcomed four children together, son John David, daughter Katia and twins Malcolm and Olivia Washington.
Pauletta is a trained classical pianist and thespian, and Denzel has credited his wife for sacrificing her dream for the sake of their family.
"You can buy a house, but that doesn't make it a home," the Malcolm X star told PEOPLE in July 2018. "And not to say a man can't make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids and protected them and sacrificed for them, she did the heavy lifting."
In September 2024, Pauletta told PEOPLE there "is no secret" to ensuring a successful union, which, for her and Denzel, had spanned 41 years at the time.
"We work at it. It's work," she said. "It's not that you sit there and you go like, 'Oh, you know...' There are a lot of prayers for strength for staying in a forgiveness mode and both parts, mine and his. But it's the basic love that we have for each other."
Look back at the sweetest throwback photos of Denzel and Pauletta over the years.
01 of 12
Black-Tie Affair
Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the Jewish National Funds' annual Tree of Life Awards at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel on Dec. 11, 1986Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Denzel and Pauletta, pictured here at a 1986 event, met on the set of his first film, Wilma, in 1977.
The two didn't actually start talking until a few months later, however, when they ran into each other at a mutual friend's party.
02 of 12
Early Days
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the 47th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 20, 1990Credit: Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Over the years, the couple have often joked that Pauletta was the one who paid for the cab ride on their first date.
As the story goes, the two went to a party, and things went a little awry on their way back home.
"So we took a cab, and I'm paying for the cab ride, but then I'm watching the meter, and I'm running out of money," Denzel told E! News.
Pauletta chimed in before revealing she paid the entire bill, "He turned to me and says, 'I have no money.' "
"And I have been paying ever since," the Equalizer actor joked.
Here, they're pictured at the 1990 Golden Globes, though we assume no one had to pay for a cab ride that night.
03 of 12
Party of Three
Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the Moscow Circus Opening with their daughter at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on March 14, 1990Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The first date hiccup clearly didn't dissuade Pauletta. The couple married in 1983 and welcomed their first child — son John David, now also an actor — the following year in July 1984.
Three more kids later joined the family: daughter Katia, born in November 1986, and twins Malcolm and Olivia, born in April 1991.
The couple were snapped taking Katia to the Moscow Circus Opening in 1990.
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04 of 12
Baby on Board
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the 63rd Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 25, 1991Credit: Laura Luongo/Liaison/Getty
The husband-and-wife duo walked the red carpet at the 1991 Academy Awards, while Pauletta was pregnant with their twins.
05 of 12
Sunny Side Up
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Sidney Poitier at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 1992Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The cute couple held hands as they helped celebrate Sidney Poitier, who was being honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1992.
06 of 12
Date Night
Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the 67th Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on March 27, 1995Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Pauletta and Denzel looked picture perfect at the 1995 Academy Awards.
Also perfect? The Oscar winner's love for his wife. During a November 2023 appearance on Tom Brady's radio show, Let's Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray, Denzel shared, "I have been blessed beyond measure with the greatest woman in the world, who not only is a beautiful woman and a great wife and a great mother of our children, but she holds everything together."
07 of 12
Golden Days
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the 'Courage Under Fire' premiere at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 8, 1996Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The pair were all smiles as they attended the 1996 premiere of Courage Under Fire.
08 of 12
Family Outing
Denzel Washington with his wife Paulette Washington and their kids and family attend the actor's Footprint Ceremony at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Jan. 15, 1998Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Denzel and Pauletta were joined by their family — including his mother and their four kids — at his Footprint Ceremony at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1998.
09 of 12
Hollywood Royalty
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the 75th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in L.A. on March 23, 2003Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Mr. and Mrs. Washington looked regal as they strutted down the red carpet for the 2003 Oscars.
"My wife is the backbone of our family, and I'm wise enough to admit that," the Training Day star once told Barbara Walters. "I'd never leave my wife. I may give her a reason to leave me, but I'll never leave her. I won't leave her. We've known each other too long, we've been through too much and being a star temptation is all around, and I haven't been perfect, I'll be candid about it."
Asked to elaborate, Denzel said, "Well, we've gone through ups and downs, and we're still together, and we're best friends."
10 of 12
Laugh It Out
Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the 30th Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2008Credit: Noel Vasquez/WireImage
The Washingtons cracked some jokes as Pauletta appeared next to her husband at the 30th Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball in October 2008.
11 of 12
Kiss Cam Cuties
Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington get ready to kiss for the 'Kiss Cam' during Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the L.A. Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center in L.A. on May 19, 2009Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty
It seems Pauletta got a kick out of Denzel's theatrics before the pair smooched for the kiss cam at the L.A. Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets game during the Western Conference Finals of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
12 of 12
All in the Family
From left: John David Washington, Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington attend the premiere of 'The Book of Eli' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2010Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
A family that laughs together stays together! Pauletta, Denzel and their son John David were clearly amused by something off camera as they walked the red carpet at the L.A. premiere of The Book of Eli in 2010.
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