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Denzel Washington played the real-life character of Herman Boone, the football coach of the earlier T. C. Williams High School, in the 2000 film,Remember the Titans. While Boone had one of the best performances of his career, Washington did not impress the man himself when he first met him.The Equalizeractor was told to his face that he was not handsome enough to play the role.
The film explores Boone’s attempts to bring together the high school football team amidst the rising racial tensions. Initially hesitant to take on another biographical role, the script and meeting with Boone changed Washington’s mind.
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Real Life Herman Boone Told Denzel Washington That He Was Not Handsome Enough
Denzel Washington’s Herman Boone in the film replaces Will Patton’s Bill Yoast as a black head coach. As portrayed in the film, Boone is a no-nonsense guy and quickly gains the respect of his team and fellow coach, Yoast. Washington was still fresh from his Oscar-nominated role inThe Hurricanewhere he played another real-life character when he was approached for the role.
The producer of the film,Jerry Bruckheimer, urged Washington to visit Herman Boone. TheTraining Dayactor recalled the meeting with Boone in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, stating that Boone was a real piece of work. TheMalcolm Xactor shared that the high school football coach did not like him and told him to his face that he was wrong for the role. Washington told theTampa Bay Times:
“The first thing he tells me is that I’m all wrong for the part. Mostly because I’m not handsome enough. I think he’s kidding me, then I realize he’s dead serious. He’s a real old-school, football-coach piece of work.”
However,The Little Thingsactor got to know from Boone’s wife that he had mellowed down in his old age. The meeting influenced Denzel Washington to join the project, as he now had a clear picture of the character he had to play in the film. Apart from looks, Washington did make Boone very proud with his portrayal.
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Denzel Washington Didn’t Just Play Coach, He Was The Coach
Denzel Washington had no difficulties stepping into the shoes of a football coach, as he had previously coached his son’s football team. Bruckheimer revealed that theAmerican Gangsteractor was the only one in his mind to play this character. As Bruckheimer recalled, Washington didn’t just play coach, rather, he was the coach on set.
TheMan on Fireactor took it upon himself to maintain discipline on set throughout filming, even carrying around his own whistle. The film was made on a tight budget, which put considerable pressure on the cast and crew. Speaking like a true coach, Washington shared with Tampa Bay Times:
“I never acted like anything but the coach and never wanted to. I wasn’t there to make friends or waste time. I was there to help turn some guys who didn’t know each other into a team in a short time, just like Boone had to. I mean, we had some fun. Making movies ought to be as enjoyable as you can make it, but we were under pressure.”
Also Read:“No he couldn’t beat me, I would knock him out”: Denzel Washington Claimed Sylvester Stallone Could Never Beat Him in a Boxing Match
Remember the Titanswas made on a budget of $30 million, with Washington’s salary cut down to a fraction of his usual pay. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $136.8 million at the box office.Remember the Titansis now available for streaming on Disney+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
