Isaiah Washington biography

Isaiah Washington

Date of Birth: August 3, 1963

Born in Houston, Texas, Isaiah graduated from Willowridge High School before entering the Air Force. After four years of flying, he returned to his studies and attended Howard University in Washington D.C.

Following college, Washington put his drama studies to good use landing a number of roles in plays like Police Boys, Distant Fires, Generations of the Dead, Spell 7 and Song of the Sad Young Man. During his stay in New York, he would also help create CityKids Repertory.

After some small gigs in soap operas, Washington started getting guest roles in police shows such as NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. In 1994, he made his feature film debut in Spike Lee's Crooklyn. The working relationship between these two proved to be fruitful as they went on to work together three more times (Clockers, Girl 6 and Get on the Bus).

Although Washington was well on his way in a feature career, he didn't stray too far from the small screen, making appearances in telefilms like Soul of the Game, Mr. & Mrs. Loving and Always Outnumbered. He also continued to keep up guest appearances in series like New York Undercover, Ally McBeal and Soul Food.

In 1999, Washington starred in the film True Crime, playing Frank Beachum, a man falsely accused of a murder and faced with the death penalty. The strong performance led to other lead roles in films like Romeo Must Die (2000) and Exit Wounds (2001).

Back on television, Washington achieved TV stardom when he landed the role of Dr. Preston Burke in the hit medical series Grey's Anatomy in 2005, for which he won a 2006 Image Award.

He and his wife, Jenisa Marie, have three children together.

Filmography:

The Moguls (2005)
Dead Birds (2004)
This Girl's Life (2003)
Hollywood Homicide (2003)
Ghost Ship (2002)
Welcome To Collinwood (2002)
Exit Wounds (2001)
Love Come Down (2000)
Kin (2000)
Romeo Must Die (2000)
Dancing in September (2000)
A Texas Funeral (1999)
True Crime (1999)
Out Of Sight (1998)
Rituals (1998)
Bulworth (1998)
Mixing Nia (1998)
Love Jones (1997)
Get on the Bus (1996)
Girl 6 (1996)
Clockers (1995)
Stonewall (1995)
Alma's Rainbow (1994)
Crooklyn (1994)