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John David Washington, the son of famed actor Denzel Washington, refused to use his family name to get roles in Hollywood when he was starting out.
In an interview with Mr Porter, it was revealed that the younger Washington, 36, made several attempts to distance himself from his father when auditioning.
“I saw how people changed when they found out who my father was,” John David Washington said, Complex reported. “I used to lie, saying he was a construction worker or in jail, just to have some sense of normalcy.”
“I felt like there was no way people would take me seriously, even if I was good,” he continued. “They would always judge me. So I hid who my father was. I guess I was protecting myself.”
In his own right, John David Washington is slowly becoming a household name. He starred in HBO’s Ballers and played the lead role of Detective Ron Stallworth in the Spike Lee‘s Oscar-winning film, BlacKkKlansman. Washington was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance.
READ MORE: Denzel Washington helps homeless man in distress amid incoming traffic
Washington has many upcoming movies this year, including Malcolm & Marie. The film was shot and completed during the pandemic and will star Washington and Zendaya.
Before he made his mark in films, John David Washington was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He eventually made it onto the team’s practice squad.
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