Denzel Washington Shares the Unique Way He Keeps Tabs on His Kids' Careers: 'Do I Sound Like a Proud Father?'

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington (left), Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington, John David Washington and Malcolm Washington.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Denzel Washingtonhas a unique way of seeing what his four kids have been up to.

“I check in. I check in every day. You know why I’m checking in more now than ever before? Because it’s my children. You know?" the dad of four shared. “I’m like, ‘Oh, he’s moving up.’ Ok. Ok. Oh,Piano Lesson. All right. All right.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Malcolm has studied film history at the University of Pennsylvania and then filmmaking at the American Film Institute. And John David is working his way up the line as an actor and getting better and better,” he continued. “And his sister, Olivia, is a theater actor. Do I sound like a proud father? She just starred inSlave Playhere in London.”

“You know, I’m just proud of my children. We’re proud of our children,” Washington admitted.

This isn’t the first time the star has publicly shared how proud he is of his family. While speaking withEsquirefor their cover story this month, Washington opened up about his proudest accomplishment in life — and it had nothing to do with his long list of successful roles.

“When I think of what I’m proudest of, anything I’ve accomplished doesn’t even come to mind,” Washington said. “It’s our children: They’re good people. They know right from wrong. What else can you ask for, you know?”

“That alone: All four of them, healthy and in their right mind. Enough said,” he shared proudly. “Pauletta did a brilliant job with them. She taught them the right way.”

Denzel Washington and his family at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 10, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif.Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty

In August, Washington’s sonMalcolmdebuted his first studio feature film,The Piano Lesson, alongside brotherJohn David, who stars in the film, and sister Katia, who produced. When discussing the milestone, the actor toldEsquirethat he was “supposed to be one of the producers,” but his kids didn’t need his guidance.

“When we were shooting, I’m supposed to be one of the producers, and I’m also their dad, but about two weeks in, I went home!” he shared, adding there was “nothing really for me to do.”

“You know when you say something to the group and they give you a polite answer, like, ‘Yeah, thanks, we’re a little busy here. Thanks for the — okay, so where were we?’ " he recalled of his time working on the movie.

“Even at the party after the screening and the Q&A, Pauletta and I were in the corner, just hanging out, watching Malcolm and John David and Katia just float around that room. Just soaring,” he added.

source: people.com