Is Ukee Washington Related to Denzel? The Surprising Truth About the Famous Cousins

You may know Ukee Washington as the charismatic news co-anchor on KYW-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You may also know Denzel Washington as the Oscar-winning actor, producer and director who has starred in countless movies and plays. But did you know that these two successful men are actually related? That’s right, Ukee and Denzel are second cousins, and they share a bond that goes beyond their last name. Here’s the surprising truth about the famous cousins and their family history.

How Ukee and Denzel Discovered Their Connection

Ukee and Denzel first met in 1991, when Ukee was covering the shooting of Denzel’s film “Philadelphia” in the city. Ukee introduced himself to Denzel and mentioned that his father’s name was also Denzel Washington. Denzel was intrigued and asked him more about his family background. They soon realized that they had a common ancestor in Buckingham County, Virginia, where the Washington family had settled in the 1800s. According to CBS Philadelphia, Jack Myers, an expert in genealogy and family trees, traced the Washington name back and confirmed that Ukee and Denzel are second cousins.

How Ukee and Denzel Grew Up in Different Environments

Ukee and Denzel may share a bloodline, but they grew up in very different environments. Ukee was born in 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his childhood. His father, Ulysses S. Washington, was a professor and former football coach at Delaware State University. His mother, Lennis “Lynne”, was a beauty parlor owner and operator born in Georgia and partly raised in Harlem, New York. Ukee attended Pennington-Grimes Elementary School in Mount Vernon until 1968. When he was 14, his parents divorced and his mother sent him to the private preparatory school Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York. Ukee later said, “That decision changed my life, because I wouldn’t have survived in the direction I was going. The guys I was hanging out with at the time, my running buddies, have now done maybe 40 years combined in the penitentiary. They were nice guys, but the streets got them.” Ukee graduated from the University of Richmond and pursued a career in journalism.

Denzel was born in 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York, where he lived with his mother, Lennis “Lynne”, who was also Ukee’s aunt. His father, Denzel Hayes Washington Sr., was an ordained Pentecostal minister who worked at a local department store and a water department. After his parents divorced when he was 14, Denzel would visit his father near Dillwyn, Virginia, during the summer. He said, “I would go down there and chase pigs and chickens and go back to New York.”Denzel attended Fordham University, where he discovered his passion for acting. He later enrolled at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and began his acting career in theatre.

How Ukee and Denzel Support Each Other’s Careers

Ukee and Denzel have maintained a close relationship over the years, supporting each other’s careers and achievements. Ukee has covered several of Denzel’s movies since they first met, including “Malcolm X”, “The Hurricane”, “Training Day”, “American Gangster”, “Flight” and “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”. He has also interviewed Denzel on several occasions, sharing their childhood memories and love for Philly. In 2004, Denzel gave Ukee a part in the remake of his film “The Manchurian Candidate”, where Ukee played a reporter. Ukee said that working with Denzel was “a dream come true”.

Ukee and Denzel are not only cousins, but also friends and fans of each other. They have shown admiration and respect for each other’s work and accomplishments. They have also inspired many people with their talent, charisma and professionalism. Ukee and Denzel are proof that family ties can be strong even across different states and careers.

Doms Desk

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