Leslie Odom Jr. is a talented actor and singer who has won acclaim for his roles in Broadway musicals, television shows, and movies. He is best known for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the smash hit Hamilton, which earned him a Tony Award and a Grammy Award in 2016. He also received two Oscar nominations for his performance as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami… (2020), one for best supporting actor and one for best original song for “Speak Now”.
But is Leslie Odom Jr. related to another famous actor, Denzel Washington? The rumor has been circulating online for a while, especially after Odom Jr. starred in The Many Saints of Newark (2021), a prequel to the popular TV series The Sopranos, where he played an inner-city gangster named Harold McBrayer. Some fans have noticed a resemblance between Odom Jr. and Washington, and wondered if they share a family connection.
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The Short Answer: No
The short answer is no, Leslie Odom Jr. is not related to Denzel Washington. They are both African American actors who have achieved success in Hollywood, but they do not have any blood ties or common ancestors.
According to Wikipedia, Leslie Odom Jr. was born in Queens, New York City, to Leslie Lloyd Odom and Pauline Alice Odom. His father worked in sales, and his mother was a homemaker. He has one sister, Lauren Odom. One of his maternal great-grandfathers was from South Africa, and a maternal great-great-grandfather was from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Denzel Washington, on the other hand, was born in Mount Vernon, New York, to Denzel Hayes Washington Sr. and Lennis Lynne Washington. His father was a Pentecostal minister and a civil rights activist, and his mother was a beauty parlor owner and operator. He has two siblings, David Washington and Lorice Washington. His paternal grandfather was from Virginia, and his paternal grandmother was from Georgia.
The Long Answer: They Have Worked Together
The long answer is that Leslie Odom Jr. and Denzel Washington are not related by blood, but they have worked together professionally and have a mutual respect for each other.
In 2010, Odom Jr. starred in the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Fences, which was directed by Washington and also featured him as the lead actor. The play won three Tony Awards, including best revival of a play. Odom Jr. played Cory Maxson, the son of Washington’s character Troy Maxson.
In an interview with Esquire, Odom Jr. recalled working with Washington on Fences and how he learned from him as a mentor. He said:
> “He taught me so much about being an artist at that level—how you treat people on set or backstage; how you prepare; how you take care of yourself physically; how you balance family life; how you deal with success; how you deal with failure.”
Odom Jr. also revealed that he auditioned for Washington again for the role of Malcolm X in One Night in Miami…, but he did not get the part. However, he impressed Washington enough to be offered the role of Sam Cooke instead.
Odom Jr. said:
> “I didn’t get Malcolm X because I wasn’t right for Malcolm X—I wasn’t good enough for Malcolm X—but I got Sam Cooke because I was right for Sam Cooke.”
Washington praised Odom Jr.’s performance as Sam Cooke and said he was proud of him. He told Variety:
> “He did an excellent job as Sam Cooke—excellent job singing those songs himself.”
The Conclusion: They Are Not Related But They Are Friends
To sum up, Leslie Odom Jr. is not related to Denzel Washington by blood or by marriage. They are both successful African American actors who have worked together on Broadway and have a friendly relationship based on admiration and respect.
They may look alike in some ways, but they have different backgrounds and histories. They are both stars in their own right, and they have both made their mark on the entertainment industry with their talent and charisma.
