Denzel Washington & Mahershala Ali Share An Oscars Record – But It Could Be Broken Next Year

Speculation about the potential Oscar nominees for the 2025 ceremony has begun, and it might break Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali’s shared Oscars record. 2024 has seen a wide variety of successful movies that have won over critics and general audiences for different reasons. 2024 has also seen some strong and memorable performances from many well-known actors and a couple of surprises, so there’s some interesting competition regarding Oscar nominees for next year, so much so that some records could be broken.

In over 90 years, the Oscars have awarded the best in the film industry every year, though what’s the “best” is often divisive and controversial. The Academy Awards have also made history on various occasions and for good and bad reasons – from historic wins to infamous moments like Will Smith’s slap. Falling into the first category are Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali, who share a big Oscars record, but it could be broken in 2025 thanks to one of them starring in one of 2024’s biggest movies.

Denzel Washington & Mahershala Ali Are The Only Black Actors With Multiple Oscar Wins

Both Have Two Oscars To Their Names

The first Black actor to be nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Actor in a Leading Role was Sidney Poitier, in 1958, for the drama The Defiant Ones. Poitier was also the first Black man to win in this category, in 1963 with the comedy-drama Lilies of the Field. The next Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role was Denzel Washington in 2001 for Training Day, but this was Washington’s second Oscar. Washington first won in 1989 in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Glory.

Other Black actors have won in both categories since Washington made history with his two wins, such as Morgan Freeman and Forest Whitaker, but in 2018, Mahershala Ali matched Washington’s Oscar record. Ali won his first Oscar in 2016 in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in Moonlight and won his second Oscar in 2018 for his role in the controversial biographical drama Green Book. This makes Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali the only Black actors with multiple Oscar wins, but the former might be on his way to breaking this.

Denzel Washington Can Become The First Black Actor With Three Oscars After Gladiator 2

Denzel Washington Is One Of Gladiator 2’s Best Parts

Denzel Washington is part of one of 2024’s biggest movies: Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Gladiator II. Washington plays Macrinus, a former slave who mentors Lucius (Paul Mescal) but has plans to control Rome. Gladiator II has been praised by critics, with most pointing out Washington’s performance as a “scene stealer” and thus the best one in the movie. Because of this, many critics and viewers have argued Washington should be nominated for an Oscar in the upcoming ceremony, and he has become a strong contender for the Best Supporting Actor category.

Depending on whom the other nominees are, Washington is a big favorite to win 2025’s Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, with which he would be breaking his tie with Mahershala Ali. Of course, this would give Washington an even bigger Oscar record with three awards and will continue his record of the most nominations for a Black actor. Surely, Mahershala Ali could tie Denzel Washington’s record again in the near future, but for now, the latter would get to enjoy a new one.

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  Denzel Washington

  Birthplace

  Mount Vernon, New York, USA

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  Mahershala Ali

  Birthplace

  Oakland, California, United States