You’d think that if you’ve been married to the same person for almost four decades, there must be some kind of a mystery between you two.
Denzel Washington, who first met his wife Pauletta in 1977 while working on the set of a television movie, is quoted as saying, “There is no secret to the perfect marriage.”
Denzel Washington, a multi-talented actor who has won numerous awards, is considered a legend in the film industry.
On December 28, 1954, he was born in Mount Vernon, New York, and he is also a doting father to four children whom he shares with his wife of nearly four decades, Pauletta. He has been married to Pauletta for nearly four decades.
Denzel’s upbringing was not at all like the happy, close-knit family life he now enjoys with his wife and children. Despite this, Denzel places the utmost importance on his family.
“My parents were like night and day. She’s urban, raised in Harlem. My father was just this spirit-filled man until the day he died, a country boy raised on a farm in Virginia,” Denzel shared.
Denzel, who is a devoted follower of Christianity, has shared the “secrets” to the success of his long-lasting marriage.
“Everybody has their ups and downs; we’ve had ours. It’s hard work, you know. But we made a commitment. A spiritual foundation helps everything – marriage, work, peace of mind.”
The first time Denzel and Pauletta met was in 1977, while they were both working on the set of Wilma.
“The first movie I ever did — TV movie — was about Wilma Rudolph and I played Wilma Rudolph’s boyfriend,” the celebrated actor said on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2018. “Pauletta was one of the track stars,” he said. “I met her then, but I didn’t meet her then. I saw her then.”
It wouldn’t be until a few months later that the two upcoming actors would finally get the chance to meet one another in person.
Denzel and Pauletta met at the same event, and despite the fact that their respective stories of how they came to be in the same place at the same time differ, the fact remains that they did end up there together, and they got along famously.
The couple’s relationship flourished in tandem with both of their successful professional endeavors.
Eventually, Denzel expressed interest in moving their relationship with Pauletta to the next level, but she gave the impression of being reluctant. Pauletta had to say yes to Denzel’s proposal three times before he finally succeeded.
“It was three times. I know with age sometimes things [go], the mind,” she told Access Hollywood in 2013. “I turned you down twice and the third time we did it.”
“You heard it here first: She turned me down, she said no. And since it was three times, that means she turned me down twice,” Denzel responded.
In 1983, the couple tied the knot in Pauletta’s hometown of Newton, in the state of South Carolina.
The first of Denzel and Pauletta’s children, John David, was born not long after the couple tied the knot. This was followed by the birth of Katia in 1987, and then Olivia and Malcolm, who were born as twins, in 1991.
“I used to think that what I did for a living – acting – was my life, but when we had that first child, acting became making a living. The child was life,” Denzel said.
Denzel stated that “moral instruction is important,” despite the fact that their children initially thought that their parents were overly strict.
“My children are good people. They are not perfect but they are generous and humble and kind. My wife did that.”
Denzel and Pauletta’s marriage, like every other marriage, has had its share of ups and downs, but the couple has managed to persevere through them all.
“Everybody has their ups and downs; we’ve had ours. It’s hard work, you know. But we made a commitment. A spiritual foundation helps everything – marriage, work, peace of mind.”
In response to rumors of infidelity and divorce, which Denzel categorically denied, the couple came forward and admitted that marriage is difficult, but that they intend to work together to make it through to the end.
“I live with this man. I see the down part. I see the sad part. I see every part. He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife,” Pauletta told Ebony magazine.
I have a lot of respect for Denzel Washington, and I believe that he and his wife have a novel perspective on the institution of marriage.
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