Pauletta Washington
| Pauletta Washington | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pauletta Pearson September 28, 1950 Newton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| 🏫 Education | University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Texas The Juilliard School |
| 💼 Occupation | Actress, singer |
| 📆 Years active | 1977–present |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Denzel Washington (m. 1983) |
| 👶 Children | 4, including John David Washington and Olivia Washington |
Pauletta Washington (née Pearson; born September 28, 1950) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her work in film, television, and theater, as well as her extensive philanthropic endeavors.
Early life and education
Washington was born Pauletta Pearson in Newton, North Carolina. She exhibited musical talent at an early age and went on to study classical piano and voice. She attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of North Texas, and subsequently pursued post-graduate musical studies at The Juilliard School.
Career
Washington began her professional career in musical theater, performing in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. In 1977, she starred in the television movie Wilma, where she met her future husband, Denzel Washington.
Her notable acting credits include roles in the feature films Beloved (1998) and Tell It Like a Woman (2022). On television, she has appeared in series such as The Parkers, She's Gotta Have It, and Reasonable Doubt. As a vocalist, she has performed at various international venues and contributed to major film soundtracks.
Personal life
She married actor Denzel Washington on June 25, 1983. The couple has four children: actor John David Washington, Katia Washington, Malcolm Washington, and actress Olivia Washington.
Philanthropy and awards
Washington has been heavily involved in community volunteerism and medical philanthropy. Since 1998, she has served as an executive board member of "The Brain Trust," an organizational support group at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles dedicated to raising funding and awareness for neurosurgical care and brain disorder research.[1]
Through this partnership, she and her husband established the Pauletta and Denzel Washington Family Gifted Scholars Program in Neuroscience. Funded by the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai under neurosurgeon Keith Black, the program provides annual summer research fellowships and monthly financial stipends to undergraduate and graduate-level scientific researchers.[2][3]
Honors and Recognition
- Cedars-Sinai "Mother of the Year": Honored by the hospital's Helping Hand support group for her dedication to medical volunteerism.[1]
- Women in Film Crystal Awards (2000): Awarded the Humanitarian Award jointly with Denzel Washington.[4]
- BET Awards (2005): Awarded the BET Humanitarian Award alongside her husband for their combined philanthropic contributions to education and health.[4]
- Vincent C. Munn Inspiration to Learn Award (2015): Honored by Determined to Educate, Inc. for her long-term advocacy for community education.[5]
- LadyLike Foundation Excellence Honoree (2018): Celebrated at the annual Scholarship Luncheon as a "Woman of Excellence" alongside Angela Bassett and Debra Lee.[6]
Theater credits
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Ensemble / Understudy | Mark Hellinger Theatre | Broadway production |
| 1980 | Tintypes | Understudy | Music Box Theatre | Broadway; understudy for Lynne Thigpen[7] |
| 1981 | Shakespeare's Cabaret | Performer | The Bijou Theatre | Broadway production[7] |
| 1981 | Sophisticated Ladies | Performer | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | Broadway and National Tour[7] |
| 1985 | Jerry's Girls | Performer | St. James Theatre | Broadway and National Tour[7] |
| 2000 | Soul Possessed | Vocalist / Performer | The Kennedy Center | Regional; directed by Debbie Allen[7] |
| 2002 | Spiritual | Co-Star | Regional venues | Co-starred with BeBe Winans; directed by Otis Sallid[7] |
| 2005 | A Christmas Show | Performer | Lincoln Center Theater | Featured performance alongside Natalie Cole[7] |
| 2010 | Desperate Writers | Performer | Union Square Theatre | Off-Broadway production[7] |
| 2011 | Love, Loss, and What I Wore | Performer | Westside Theatre | Off-Broadway; directed by Nora and Delia Ephron[7] |
| 2011–2012 | Crowns | Mother Shaw | Goodman Theatre / McCarter Theatre | Regional; directed by Regina Taylor[7] |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Beloved | Rachel | |
| 2017 | 90 Days | Sarah | Short film |
| 2022 | Tell It Like a Woman | Major | Segment: "Pepcy & Kim" |
| 2024 | The Piano Lesson | Mama Ola | Netflix Film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Wilma | Mae Faggs | TV movie |
| 2002–2004 | The Parkers | Terri Angelou | Recurring role |
| 2017–2019 | She's Gotta Have It | Miss Rachel | Recurring role |
| 2022 | Reasonable Doubt | Mama Lu | Main cast |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedFB_Bio - ↑ "Pauletta and Denzel Washington family scholarships to be awarded in Shreveport". EurekAlert!. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. June 18, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Pauletta and Denzel Washington Scholarships Awarded to Three Young Neuroscientists". Newswise. May 19, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Pauletta Washington - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Determined to Educate Inc 2015 Gala Honoree". YouTube. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ Campione, Katie (June 2, 2018). "Angela Bassett Talks Success, Empowering Her Children at LadyLike Foundation Luncheon". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedGoodman
Category:1950 births
Category:Living people
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American musical theater actresses
Category:Actresses from North Carolina
Category:Juilliard School alumni
Category:University of North Texas alumni
Category:University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni
References
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