Biography

His mother was the first African American woman to be licensed as a barber in the state of Texas.

Was in the Air Force prior to acting. His dream was to be the second "General Washington"

Following a confrontation with fellow cast member Patrick Dempsey on the set of Grey's Anatomy (2005), it was reported that the altercation was related to Washington's use of the epithet "faggot" towards their co-star T.R. Knight. In response to press queries about the incident, he denied that accusation in the backstage area at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards. However, Knight and other cast members later stated that he did use the word (January 2007).

In 2005, he discovered he was genetically linked to the Mende and Temne peoples of Sierra Leone and has since become one of the African nation's most visible supporters, Washington was given the title of village chief and the name Gondobay Manga II. Has also started a foundation to help build a school in Sierra Leone, and also worked to bring wells, medical supplies and foreign investment there.

Took a DNA test to determine his heritage. The results concluded that his father's side is Angolan and his mother's side is from Sierra Leone.

You don't have the time to "make the time" to do anything. You have to do it now!

Even if I'm playing a bad guy, I work hard to make him multi-leveled and interesting.

I'm no longer going to play thugs or debauched cops that I can't possibly make complex characters. I'm bigger than that. I owe too much to too many good people at the Goodman, Arena and Playwrights Horizons.

[on being fired from Grey's Anatomy (2005)]: I apologized and showed my remorse for what I said and for the pain I caused anyone. If a black man can't get forgiveness in this country, when so many other people like Robert Downey Jr. and the governor of California get second and third chances... I think that says a lot about race and this country where we stand.

[re his reaction to real-life serial killings behind The Washington Snipers (2013) ] I was thoroughly embarrassed, because in my community, whenever you hear some really foul [crime], we're holding our breath to see whether the person is black or white. He's always either a crazy white man or a brother.