John David Washington

John David Washington – HBO’s Post 2016 Golden Globe Awards Party – Arrivals – Circa 55 Restaurant at The Beverly Hilton – Beverly Hills, CA, USA – Photo Credit: Izumi Hasegawa / PRPhotos.com

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: July 28, 1984

Ethnicity: African-American

John David Washington is an American actor and professional football player. His roles include the films Love Beats Rhymes, Monsters and Men, Monster (2018), BlacKkKlansman, The Old Man & the Gun, Tenet, Malcolm & Marie, Beckett (2021), Amsterdam, The Creator (2023), and The Piano Lesson (2024), the show Ballers; as well as stage performances. In football, he was a running back, signed with the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL), the Rhein Fire, and the Sacramento Mountain Lions.

He is the son of actress and singer Pauletta Pearson Washington (born Pauletta Rachelle Pearson) and actor, filmmaker, director, and producer Denzel Washington. His full first name is John David. His parents are both black, his father from New York and his mother from North Carolina. He is the brother of twins, director, writer, and producer Malcolm Washington, and actress Olivia Washington. His aunt is actress Rita Pearson.

John David’s paternal grandfather is The Rev. Denzel H. Washington (the son of William Washington and Virginia Page). The Rev. Denzel was born in Virginia, and is a Pentecostal preacher. William was the son of William Washington, Sr. and Margaret Johnson. John David’s great-grandmother Virginia was the daughter of Herod “Harry” Page and Lucia “Louise”/”Louesa”/Louisa Rain/Rayn/Rayne.

John David’s paternal grandmother is Lennis Lowe (the daughter of Tillman/Tilman Lowe/Low and Eliza Jackson). Lennis was born in Georgia. Eliza was the daughter of William Jackson and Rachel.

John David’s maternal grandfather was Phairlever Pearson (the son of Frank Pearson and Laura Barrier). Phairlever was born in Opa Locka, Florida. Laura was the daughter of Lewis Barrier and Matilda Shankle.

John David’s maternal grandmother was Arletta DuBois Smallwood (the daughter of John R. Smallwood and Kate/Katie Hairston). Arletta was born in Leaksville, North Carolina. John David’s great-grandfather John was the son of John Woodson Smallwood and Mary Ester/Esther Galloway.

Sources: Article about John David’s father’s family history – http://archive.is

Genealogy of John David Washington (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

John David’s paternal grandfather, Denzel H. Washington, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John David’s paternal great-great-grandparents, William Washington, Sr. and Margaret Johnson, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John David’s paternal great-grandmother, Virginia Page, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

John David’s paternal grandmother, Lennis Lowe, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of John David’s maternal grandparents, Phairlever Pearson and Arletta DuBois Smallwood – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituaries of John David’s maternal grandparents, Phairlever Pearson and Arletta DuBois (Smallwood) Pearson – https://www.findagrave.com

John David’s maternal grandmother, Arletta DuBois Smallwood, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Arletta DuBois Smallwood on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of John David’s maternal great-grandfather, John R. Smallwood – https://www.familysearch.org