Denzel Washington has praised Samuel L. Jackson for being like an “uncle” to his children, while at the same time hailing him as a “bad motherfucker”.
The double-Oscar winner was presenting an honour to Jackson at the Museum of Modern Art’s Film Benefit in New York City on Wednesday (October 23) when he shared his thanks for the decades of friendship and support he has received from the Pulp Fiction star.
“Lord forgive me, Samuel Jackson is a bad motherfucker,” he said, before adding that he was a “great actor, great friend”.
“More importantly, he’s family to me. He’s my children’s uncle,” he said, adding that Jackson’s daughter Zoe is also like a “daughter” to Washington.
The two actors have appeared on screen together once, in the 1990 Spike Lee film Mo’ Better Blues, but as Washington explained, they met several years before that in an off-Broadway production of Mighty Gents.
“I was an understudy, so I watched him,” Washington explained. “They fired the guy I was understudying after opening night, I took over. I remember him giving me confidence to do the job. He doesn’t know that until tonight.”
“Nothing but love for you, brother, respect for you,” the Training Day star concluded. “I’m here for you. I’m glad that I’m here for you. I look forward to seeing you and working with you. God bless you.”
Jackson, who is currently the highest-grossing film actor of all time, is set to star in The Piano Lesson, the first film to be directed by Malcolm Washington, the son of Denzel. Malcolm’s brother John David Washington stars alongside Jackson in a cast that also includes Erykah Badu, Corey Hawkins and Danielle Deadwyler.
The Great Depression-set film, an adaptation of the play by August Wilson, has a limited theatrical release on November 8, before landing on Netflix on November 22.
In other Jackson news, he recently touch on the role Pulp Fiction played in his career, on the event of the film’s 30th anniversary.
“This movie launched like a rocket out of Cannes and changed my life,” he wrote. “It debuted in theaters on this day in 1994 and I’ll always remember the audience reaction. I knew this film was something special after that,” he added. “AND 30 YEARS LATER, IT STILL IS.”
Denzel Washington, meanwhile, is about to star in Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s sequel to his 2000 original. Washington has said his character Macrinus is “in bed with the devil” and would “use his mother, he’d use his own children, he’s already used up his soul, so he didn’t have any left”.
The film, led by Paul Mescal, is released on November 15 in the UK and November 22 in the US.
