Throwback Photos of Denzel Washington and His Wife Pauletta as the Actor Turns 70

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Photo:Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Denzel Washingtonis 70!And while the actor is one of the best to ever grace the small screen, big screen and the stage, he credits his wifePauletta— a trained classical pianist and thespian in her own right — for sacrificing her dream for the sake of their family.“You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home,” Denzel told PEOPLE in 2018. “And not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, andraised these beautiful kidsand protected them and sacrificed for them, she did the heavy lifting.“Denzel and Pauletta were married in 1983. The couple share four children —John David, 40, Katia, 38 and twins Malcolm and Olivia, 33. With 41 years under their belt, Pauletta says there isn’t one secret to ensure a successful union.“There is no secret,”she told PEOPLE. “We work at it. It’s work. 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,” she said. “But it’s the basic love that we have for each other.”Below, check out these sweet throwback photos of Denzel and Pauletta through the years, as the actor turns 70 on Dec. 28.

Denzel Washingtonis 70!

And while the actor is one of the best to ever grace the small screen, big screen and the stage, he credits his wifePauletta— a trained classical pianist and thespian in her own right — for sacrificing her dream for the sake of their family.

“You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home,” Denzel told PEOPLE in 2018. “And not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, andraised these beautiful kidsand protected them and sacrificed for them, she did the heavy lifting.”

Denzel and Pauletta were married in 1983. The couple share four children —John David, 40, Katia, 38 and twins Malcolm and Olivia, 33. With 41 years under their belt, Pauletta says there isn’t one secret to ensure a successful union.

“There is no secret,”she told PEOPLE. “We work at it. It’s work. 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,” she said. “But it’s the basic love that we have for each other.”

Below, check out these sweet throwback photos of Denzel and Pauletta through the years, as the actor turns 70 on Dec. 28.

01of 12Early DaysDenzel Washington and wife Pauletta Washington.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyDenzel and Pauletta first met on the set of his first film,Wilma, back in 1977. The two didn’t actually start talking until they ran into each other at a mutual friend’s party a few months later.

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Early Days

Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta Washington.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Denzel and Pauletta first met on the set of his first film,Wilma, back in 1977. The two didn’t actually start talking until they ran into each other at a mutual friend’s party a few months later.

02of 12Showing Up in StyleDenzel and Pauletta Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyOver the years, the couple has often joked about the fact that Pauletta was the one who paid for their cab ride on the first date.As the story goes, the couple went to a party for their first night out together 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 toldE! News.“He turned to me and says, ‘I have no money,'” Pauletta chimed in before revealing she paid the entire bill.“And I have been paying ever since,” theEqualizeractor joked.

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Showing Up in Style

Denzel and Pauletta Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Over the years, the couple has often joked about the fact that Pauletta was the one who paid for their cab ride on the first date.

As the story goes, the couple went to a party for their first night out together 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 toldE! News.

“He turned to me and says, ‘I have no money,'” Pauletta chimed in before revealing she paid the entire bill.

“And I have been paying ever since,” theEqualizeractor joked.

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Denzel and Pauletta Washington.Laura Luongo/Liaison/Getty

Laura Luongo/Liaison/Getty

The first date hiccup clearly didn’t dissuade Pauletta. The couple got married in 1983 and welcomed their first child, John David Washington the following year.

They added to their family with three more kids: daughter Katia, born in 1986 and twins Malcolm and Olivia born in 1991.

04of 12Golden DaysDenzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty"My wife is the backbone of our family and I’m wise enough to admit that,” Denzelonce 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 simply said, “Well, we’ve gone through ups and downs and we’re still together, and we’re best friends.”

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Golden Days

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

“My wife is the backbone of our family and I’m wise enough to admit that,” Denzelonce 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 simply said, “Well, we’ve gone through ups and downs and we’re still together, and we’re best friends.”

05of 12Party of ThreePauletta Washington, Denzel Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyThe couple was snapped while out and about with their daughter Katia in 1990.

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Party of Three

Pauletta Washington, Denzel Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

The couple was snapped while out and about with their daughter Katia in 1990.

06of 12Date NightDenzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyThe happy couple showed up to the 67th Annual Academy Awards looking picture-perfect in 1995.

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Date Night

The happy couple showed up to the 67th Annual Academy Awards looking picture-perfect in 1995.

07of 12Hollywood RoyaltyDenzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Kevin Winter/GettyMr. and Mrs. Washington looked regal as they strutted down the red carpet for the 75th Annual Academy Awards in 2003.

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Hollywood Royalty

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Mr. and Mrs. Washington looked regal as they strutted down the red carpet for the 75th Annual Academy Awards in 2003.

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Family Outing

Denzel Washington, Pauletta Washington and famil.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

09of 12Keeping it LightPauletta Washington and Denzel Washington.Noel Vasquez/WireImageThe Washingtons cracked some jokes as Pauletta appeared next to her husband at the 30th Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball in 2008.

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Keeping it Light

Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington.Noel Vasquez/WireImage

Noel Vasquez/WireImage

The Washingtons cracked some jokes as Pauletta appeared next to her husband at the 30th Anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball in 2008.

10of 12Happily Ever AfterDenzel Washington and wife Pauletta Washington.Kevork Djansezian/GettyIt seems Pauletta got a kick out of Denzel’s theatrics before the pair smooched for the kiss cam at the Lakers vs. Nuggets game in 2009.

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Happily Ever After

Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta Washington.Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Kevork Djansezian/Getty

It seems Pauletta got a kick out of Denzel’s theatrics before the pair smooched for the kiss cam at the Lakers vs. Nuggets game in 2009.

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All in the Family

John David Washington, Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

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Next Generation

The Washington Family.Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

source: people.com