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Denzel Washington Once Played Malcolm X Before He Joined Spike Lee's Biopic
SlashFilmStory by staff@slashfilm.com (Jeremy Smith)
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Before his iconic big-screen turn, Denzel Washington portrayed Malcolm X on stage, paving the way for his award-winning collaboration with Spike Lee.
beat sheet
- Washington first embodied Malcolm X in a 1981 Off-Broadway production, honing the role years before his acclaimed film performance.
- The stage role gave Washington invaluable insights into the civil rights leader's life and legacy, which he channeled into his Oscar-nominated turn in Spike Lee's 1992 biopic.
call sheet
Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Malcolm X