John David Washington leaves football behind with a breakout role in Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman'
CANNES, France - John David Washington was so intent on making a name for himself that he suffered five concussions, a torn meniscus and broken ribs while trying to distance himself from his father's celebrity.
As a kid, Washington - who goes by J.D., because John David is his actual first name - knew he wanted to be an actor. But because his father was Denzel Washington he rebelled, deciding to put his energy toward a professional football career instead of one in Hollywood. He played running back at Morehouse College, was drafted by the St. Louis Rams and moved on to the United Football League after
