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Denzel Washington Pays Tribute to James Earl Jones: ‘He Was Who I Wanted to Be’

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Denzel Washington Pays Tribute to James Earl Jones: ‘He Was Who I Wanted to Be’


Denzel Washington is paying homage to the late actor James Earl Jones, who died this week at 93.

“He’s my hero,” Washington tells Variety. “My college theater career started because of ‘The Emperor Jones’ and ‘Othello’ with James Earl Jones.”

Jones starred in the stage adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s play “The Emperor Jones” in 1971 and played the titular “Othello” in Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival and later Off-Broadway production in 1964.

A larger-than-life titan in film, TV, and theater, Jones was most recognizable for his unmistakable baritone voice, which he used to portray the villainous Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise and King Mufasa in the animated classic “The Lion King.”

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Washington continues, “I wasn’t going to be as big as him. I wanted to sound like him. He was everything to me as a budding actor. He was who I wanted to be.”

In a 1998 interview, Washington said, “There weren’t a lot of serious Black actors for us to emulate, to follow, to admire. There was Sidney [Poitier]; it was James Earl Jones on stage. That’s what I remember.”

With Jones’ death, two of the performers who inspired the most decorated Black actor in Oscars history are gone.

Although Jones and Washington never worked together in film or television, their artistic legacies were spiritually adjacent. One of Jones’ career highlights was his Tony Award-winning performance as Troy Maxson in the 1987 Broadway production of August Wilson’s “Fences.” In 2016, Washington directed, produced, and starred in the film adaptation, which earned him Oscar nominations for best picture and actor, making him the first Black person to be nominated in both categories in the same year.

Washington is currently at the Toronto Film Festival promoting the new August Wilson film adaptation, “The Piano Lesson,” which he produced with Todd Black. It screens on Tuesday evening. The film, co-written and directed by Malcolm Washington, generated Oscar buzz after its premiere at Telluride. It stars John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts and Samuel L. Jackson.

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Capitals Acquire a Conditional First-Round Pick in Either 2026 or 2027 and a 2027 Third-Round Pick from Anaheim for John Carlson | Washington Capitals

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Capitals Acquire a Conditional First-Round Pick in Either 2026 or 2027 and a 2027 Third-Round Pick from Anaheim for John Carlson | Washington Capitals


The Washington Capitals have acquired a conditional first-round pick in either the 2026 NHL Draft or the 2027 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman John Carlson, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. Should Anaheim qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim will transfer its 2026 first-round pick to Washington. If Anaheim fails to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim has the option to retain its 2026 first-round pick and transfer its 2027 first-round pick to Washington instead.

“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capital every day,” said Patrick. “John’s determination, leadership, persistence and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and cemented him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history. His contributions to our organization and the Washington, D.C., community both on and off the ice have been immeasurable. We are incredibly grateful for everything John has given to our team and wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward with Anaheim.”

The Capitals own 22 total picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections and nine picks in the first three rounds. Washington also acquired a 2029 second-round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5.

Carlson, 36, recorded 46 points (10g, 36a) in 55 games with the Capitals this season and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Carlson has played his entire 17-season career with the Capitals and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605) and points (771) among defensemen. The Natick, Massachusetts native helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, and led all defensemen in playoff scoring with 20 points (5g, 15a) in 24 games played. Carlson was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.

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Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey

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Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey


WASHINGTON TWP., N.J. — Officers in Washington Township, said they finished a DoorDash food delivery after arresting the driver who had warrants out for his arrest.

Body camera video shows officers stepping in to deliver the food themselves, a move the department in southern New Jersey later shared on its Facebook page.

“I thought something happened. Oh my God, I got so scared,” said the customer when she answered the door.

The DoorDash customer, seen on police body cam video, was instantly relieved and appreciative upon learning why officers were at her door.

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“Arrested your driver, but, yeah, we delivered your food,” one of the officers said.

It turns out a Washington Township police officer stopped the DoorDash driver during routine patrols in front of a high school over the weekend.

“He made a stop on it for a violation,” said Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik.

But then, Chief Gurcsik said the officer learned the driver had warrants out for his arrest in another county.

“He made the officers aware that he had two DoorDash meals in the car that he was in the middle of delivering,” Gurcsik said.

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The officers went from cuffing the driver to ringing a doorbell to finish his delivery.

“I never heard of anything like that in the South Jersey area. It’s sort of a first for us here in Washington Township, definitely,” Gurcsik said.

Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey

It’s happened in other places, too, including in New Mexico last summer, when a motorcycle cop delivered someone’s Chick-fil-A order after arresting the driver.

“Hello, sir, got your DoorDash. Oh, thank you,” the officer said. “He’s a good kid, give him five stars. He just didn’t take care of a simple insurance ticket.”

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And officers over in Arizona made a similar arrest during a traffic stop and were seen on body camera finishing the delivery.

“Your GrubHub, still delivered your pizza,” the officer said.

“We definitely serve the community in more ways than one,” Gurcsik said.

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Holdout Democrats leave WA House support for income tax in doubt

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Holdout Democrats leave WA House support for income tax in doubt


The votes weren’t there yet late Wednesday for Democrats’ income tax bill in the Washington state House.Democratic members are withholding support for the proposed income tax on millionaires, saying they want to see if a new version of the controversial legislation, possibly due out Thursday, will satisfy their concerns.



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