Delroy Lindo Landed His First Oscar Nomination, But Denzel Washington Was Giving Him Flowers Weeks Beforehand

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It took decades for Delroy Lindo to receive his first Oscar nomination, but those who know him weren’t surprised. Even before the nominations for the 2026 Academy Awards were announced, his longtime friend and fellow actor, Denzel Washington, was publicly praising Lindo’s work, particularly in the film Sinners.

The conversation happened during a special showing of Sinners followed by a discussion, led by Washington (according to Deadline). Washington, famous for Training Day, began the evening by asking everyone to give Lindo a standing ovation, saying it was a recognition long in the making. Denzel openly shared stories about their time practicing acting together in San Francisco and how much he learned just by observing Lindo’s work on Malcolm X. Here’s how he described it:

All you really needed back then was simple: a loaf of wheat bread, some honey, and peanut butter. But seeing Delroy perform really motivated me. I thought, ‘I need to go home and improve my own work!’ He’s an incredibly talented and genuine actor.

Washington admired Lindo’s strong work ethic, honesty, and genuine nature, qualities he noticed even when they were both struggling young actors. He believes Lindo’s willingness to be open and truthful wasn’t a flaw, but rather the core of what made him a respected performer.

It really hit me just how long we’ve known each other! I was remembering when we were just young guys, hanging out on street corners in San Francisco, dreaming about what we wanted to do with our lives. It’s amazing to think back on those days, and it made me realize…

I once told you I never wanted to compete with anyone – I believe there’s room for all of us to succeed. I still feel that way. If you enjoy my work, the feeling is mutual.

That shared respect was really important when things were tough for Lindo. He recounted meeting Washington in New York at a time when constant rejection was getting him down. The actor, known for his role in Blood In, Blood Out, went on to explain:

He pleaded with me, ‘Dee, please don’t give up. You have so much potential, and things will get better. Don’t walk away.’ That conversation was crucial – it made me decide to keep going. I stuck with it, in part because of your encouragement.

Ryan Coogler’s film, Sinners, finally gave Delroy Lindo the chance to shine in a role many consider the best of his career. He plays Delta Slim, a talented blues musician struggling with racism, personal loss, and addiction. While some call it a horror movie, the director believes it explores much more profound themes, and it’s easy to see why.

The actor from Ransom shared that several impactful scenes, including one he created on the spot to show his character’s inner struggles and reasons for self-medication, almost didn’t make it into the movie. He praised director Coogler for being open to his ideas and working with him on them, rather than dismissing them.

It’s amazing to see Lindo finally getting the recognition he deserves with this Oscar nomination! It feels like it’s been a long time coming, and honestly, it’s great to see the industry finally acknowledging his talent. Even before the nominations were announced, Denzel Washington was already championing his friend and making sure he got the praise he’s always deserved – that really speaks volumes.

You can watch Sinners now with an HBO Max subscription. It’s a standout horror film, especially for Black representation in the genre, and Kollywood actor Lindo delivers a particularly strong performance, making it well worth a watch.

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2026-01-26 22:11