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

12/28/2024 08:30 AM

The two-time Oscar winner has been married to his wife Pauletta since 1982

Denzel Washington is 70!

And while the actor is one of the best to ever grace the small screen, big screen and the stage, he credits his wife Pauletta — 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, and raised these beautiful kids and 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.

Early Days

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.

Showing Up in Style

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 told E! 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," the Equalizer actor joked.

Baby on Board

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.

Golden Days

"My wife is the backbone of our family and I'm wise enough to admit that," Denzel once 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."

Party of Three

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

Date Night

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

Hollywood Royalty

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

Family Outing

Denzel and Pauletta were joined by their family — including his mother and four kids — at his Footprint Ceremony at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1998.

Keeping it Light

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

Happily Ever After

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.

All in the Family

A family that laughs together stays together. Pauletta, Denzel and their son John David were clearly amused by something or someone off camera.

Next Generation

Denzel and Pauletta were joined by their daughter Katia to support John David and Malcolm for the premiere of The Piano Lesson in November. John David was one of the stars of the film, which was Malcolm's directorial debut.