Raised as the second son of Academy-Award-winning Denzel Washington, Malcolm Washington was born on April 10, 1991. He grew up with three siblings, among them his twin sister, Olivia Rashelle Washington.
Malcolm made his mark early as a notable basketball player through high school and into college, earning attention for his play on the court.
In time he redirected his energy toward the entertainment world, moving into film and television work and occasionally taking on roles behind the camera as a director and producer. Read on for a closer look at his path.
Malcolm Washington’s basketball background
Malcolm played collegiate basketball at the University of Pennsylvania. Across his time there he appeared in 19 games, making one start, and averaged 4.0 minutes per contest while totaling 11 points and 5 rebounds.
He converted just 15.4% of his field goal attempts and did not record a made three-point basket.
In the 2009–10 season Washington saw action in 19 games, 10 of which were Ivy League matchups. His lone start came in the Ivy opener at Yale on January 29, and he scored his first collegiate points at Villanova on November 16. He put up three points in games against Delaware and Davidson and handed out two assists in the Davidson contest. His most minutes in a single game that season was nine, logged versus Delaware, Davidson, and Saint Joseph’s.
Washington was a four-year letterman at Windward School in high school. As a senior captain he helped lead Windward to a CIF Division V state title with a 29–6 record. He earned first-team all-league honors twice, was named a 2009 Academic All-America, and was the MVP of the 2009 Windward Winter Classic Tournament. He also received the Head of School Award and was regularly on the honor roll.
In a March 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times, he credited his father for shaping his approach: “My dad kind of instilled that in me. We’re Army and they’re my troops and I just have to calm everyone down. Even if I’m not scoring points, I have to keep everyone’s heads together.”
He added, “I’m blessed to have a family that cares so much to come across the country to see me play. I really appreciate it. It really does a lot for me. More than they, or anybody else, might really understand.”
Though he described his school life as “low-key” to ESPN in February 2010, his situation changed at Penn, where attention grew quickly. “I was thrown into an environment where everybody knew everything about me. There were 10,000 people who knew who I was before I even got here. It’s crazy. I’m adjusting to it,” he said.
He Built a Career Behind the Camera
Malcolm Washington, though he was known for his high school basketball, decided not to pursue the sport after finishing college and instead moved into the entertainment world.
His first credited behind-the-scenes role was as assistant director on the 2016 short video Trouble Man. In 2017 he expanded his creative work, appearing in The Last Bookstore and writing Benny Got Shot.
He also shifted into production, contributing to TV projects such as North Hollywood, The Dispute, and Summer of 17. His profile rose notably after serving as an assistant on the 2017 TV series “She’s Gotta Have It,” which starred talents like DeWanda Wise and Lyriq Bent, among others.
His Twin Olivia Washington Works as an Actress
Olivia, Malcolm’s twin, has carved out her own path in acting. She drew attention for portraying Flora in I’m a Virgo, a performance that led to an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 2024. Her credits also include appearances in The Butler (2013), The Comedian (2016), and Great Performances (2019).
In addition to Olivia, two other Washington siblings work in entertainment. Katia, born November 27, 1987, has been seen in projects such as The Equalizer (2014) and Fences (2016). Their older brother, John David Washington, born July 28, 1984, is also a well-established actor.
Pauletta Washington Has an Occasional Acting Career
While Malcolm’s father, Denzel, is widely known for performances in films such as Glory (1989) and Training Day (2001), his mother, Pauletta Washington, has also worked as an actress. She first drew attention for playing a teacher on the television series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child from 1995 to 1997, and she later appeared as Terri Angelou on the TV series The Parkers.
Outside of their professional accomplishments, Malcolm’s parents have enjoyed a long marriage; they have been married since 1983.
Additional Quick Facts About Malcolm Washington
- He is not dating anyone at the moment.
- His net worth is estimated at $500k; his father, Denzel, has a reported fortune of $280 million.
- He stands 5ft 9in tall.
- He lives in California.
- He practices Christianity.
- He is African-American.
