<em>The Equalizer</em>: The Ultimate Denzel Washington Role

In the golden years of Hollywood, stars used to be referred to either as “rug actors” or “dust actors.” Rug actors played indoor parts—those requiring love scenes and speechifying—while their dust counterparts were good for action and shoot-’em-ups.

In the golden years of Denzel Washington, however, he’s amply proven he can play both dust and rug. The 60-year-old actor has spent the latter part of his career perfecting two seemingly incongruous character types—the bookish teacher and the merciless vigilante killer. He’s made a convincing professor, coach, and life mentor: , , , and had him speaking inspirational quotes in place of, , , and he cut an equally believable criminal, indulging in violence and other vices while plastered with a grim Bogart-like grin.