Members of the Fordham University community, including current students, faculty, and President Tania Tetlow, had the opportunity to attend a special performance of Shakespeare’s “Othello” in early May, starring the university’s famous and “beloved” alum, Denzel Washington, FCLC ’77, in the title role. University officials said it was followed by an exclusive sit-down conversation with the two-time Oscar winner and other cast members.

 

In addition to his two Academy Awards, according to Wikipedia, Washington has won three Golden Globes, a Tony award, was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, an American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

The New Yorker won his first Oscar in 1990 in the Best Supporting Actor category for the film “Glory” (1989), and won his second, this time in the Best Actor category, for “Training Day” (2001), opposite Ethan Hawke, becoming the second African-American actor to win in the latter category after Sydney Potier won in 1963.

 

“Once a Ram, always a Ram!” college officials later wrote on social media of the Fordham-organized “Othello” event. Also starring in the production, which is currently showing on Broadway, is actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

The latest iteration of the Shakespearean tragedy stars Washington as Othello opposite Gyllenhaal as Iago with direction by Tony winner Kenny Leon. Othello is playing a limited engagement of 15 weeks only at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Performances began on Feb. 24.

 

During a recent interview with British Vogue, alongside up and coming actor, Paul Mescal, with whom Washington, 70, starred last year in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” movie, the acclaimed actor spoke about the negative impact of social media on the younger generation.

“I pray for your generation because we did not have to deal with what you’ve had to deal with, and it’s our fault for putting it in your hands” Washington tells the 29-year-old Irish actor. “There were no 9 millions of opinions at any moment in my day of people that like you and then suddenly they hate you, and you don’t understand why.”

 

“No, totally,” Mescal concurs. “No documentation of it; it’s gross.” Washington continues, “I never had.. I don’t even know what you call it…an Instagram account….never had one, or Link…  What’s the other one? Linked? Linkedin? I don’t have any of those things.”

@britishvogue

Don’t expect to find #PaulMescal and #DenzelWashington on LinkedIn.

♬ original sound – British Vogue

 

Looking a little surprised, Mescal innocently asks, “You don’t have a LinkedIn?” With a smile, Washington replies, saying, “No, no… I have a cadillac!” before the two burst into laughter.

 

The Mount Vernon native has previously rejected the label of “Hollywood actor.” During an interview with Bill Whitaker on CBS Sunday Morning, Washington said that while he does shoot movies, his roots are in the theater. “The curtain goes up, and you’re on and nobody can help you,” he said.

 

Tickets for Othello can be purchased via Ticketmaster or on other platforms.