
09/15/2025
During the 1993 Academy Awards, Denzel Washington lost the Best Actor Oscar to Al Pacino.
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Why Denzel Washington felt bitter about losing 2 Oscars
Key details of the event:
Year: The Oscars ceremony was held in 1993, celebrating films from 1992.
Denzel's nomination: Washington was nominated for his powerful lead performance as the civil rights activist in Spike Lee's Malcolm X.
Al Pacino's win: Pacino won the award for his role as a blind retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel in Scent of a Woman.
Context of Pacino's win: Some critics believe Pacino's win was a "legacy award," acknowledging his long and distinguished career rather than his single best performance, which many considered to be in earlier films like The Godfather.
Aftermath: Director Spike Lee has voiced his opinion that Washington was snubbed for the role. However, Washington would go on to win the Best Actor Oscar in 2002 for his performance in Training Day, which some have referred to as a "makeup call" for the Malcolm X loss.
Graeme O'Neil takes a look at Denzel Washington discussing his Best Actor Oscar loss for "Malcolm X" to Al Pacino in "Scent Of A Woman".