In 1981, Denzel Washington portrayed Malcolm X in the off-Broadway stage play When the Chickens Came Home to Roost, earning just $125 per week. The production ran for approximately 12 performances—likely spanning two to three weeks—placing his total pay between $250 and $375. It was a modest beginning for a role that would later define his career.
More than a decade later, in 1992, Washington returned to the character when he teamed up with Spike Lee to star in the landmark film Malcolm X. The performance not only reintroduced him to the role on a global stage but also solidified his status as one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history.
Leave a Reply