---
name: "Isaiah Washington"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/isaiah-washington"
fi1m_id: "isaiah-washington"
imdb_id: "nm0913460"
tmdb_id: 21353
wikidata_id: "Q40048"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 August 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-19T08:25:51.340105+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Isaiah Washington

## Identity

Isaiah Washington

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/isaiah-washington
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** isaiah-washington
- **IMDb ID:** nm0913460
- **TMDB ID:** 21353
- **Wikidata ID:** Q40048
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Washington, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21353

Actor. Born 3 August 1963 in Houston, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 August 1963, Houston, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 1995–2005
- **Also known as:** Isaiah Washington IV 
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 80 (2), 2000s 68 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Comedy 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $91m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Washington, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40048, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21353

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Clockers*](https://film.one/film/clockers.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Isaiah Washington

> Isaiah Washington plays men who have made up their minds before the scene begins. It made him a dependable supporting actor for Spike Lee in the 1990s and, later, a television surgeon who brought him the attention the films never had.

In *Clockers* (1995) a man who works two jobs and has never been in trouble walks into a police station and says he shot somebody. Isaiah Washington plays Victor Dunham without fuss: he says it, and he does not take it back. Harvey Keitel's detective does not believe a word, and Spike Lee's film spends most of its length with the brother on the benches instead. That is how Washington has usually been used. He plays the man who has already decided, and the scene is about everyone else catching up.

He came to acting after the US Air Force and Howard University, and Lee put him in four films in three years: *Crooklyn* (1994), *Clockers*, *Girl 6* (1996) and *Get on the Bus* (1996). They were intense, mostly urban, mostly crime-adjacent supporting parts, and they set the type. Steven Soderbergh cast him as Kenneth in *Out of Sight* (1998), in an ensemble deep enough to waste people, and he is one of the ones who does not get wasted. *True Crime* (1999) gave him a larger part than usual, Frank Louis Beechum, a man wrongly convicted, and critics noticed the feeling in it.

Television did what the films had not. As Dr Preston Burke, a cardiothoracic surgeon on *Grey's Anatomy* from 2005 to 2007, with a return in 2014, he got the recognition, and the part fit him: composed, professional, certain he is right, and at his best opposite Sandra Oh, who gave him somebody to be certain at. *The 100* (2014–2018) made him Thelonious Jaha, another man in charge, this time of a ruined world. Alongside it the film work has been smaller and independent, *Blue Caprice* (2013) among it, and in 2022 he directed for the first time, a Western called *Corsicana*.

What works is the refusal to plead. Victor in *Clockers* moved us more than the part's size should allow, because Washington never asks for it; he stands in that station with his clean record and lets Keitel do the disbelieving, and we understood what the confession costs a man like that without a line spent explaining it. What works less is that the same stillness, in a thinner script, looks like a man waiting for his cue. He needs somebody pushing back, Keitel across the table, Oh on the ward; when nobody pushes, not much happens. Start with *Clockers*, then *Out of Sight*, and notice how little time he needs in either. *Corsicana* suggests he would now rather decide where the camera goes than wait for it to find him.

## Biography

Isaiah Washington is an American actor. Born on 3 August 1963 in Houston, Texas, he trained at Howard University and began his career in the early 1990s.

He appeared in several films directed by Spike Lee, including *Crooklyn* (1994), *Clockers* (1995), *Girl 6* (1996) and *Get on the Bus* (1996). Other early film roles include *Love Jones* (1997), *Bulworth* (1998), *Out of Sight* (1998) as Kenneth, *True Crime* (1999), *Romeo Must Die* (2000), *Exit Wounds* (2001), *Ghost Ship* (2002) and *Hollywood Homicide* (2003).

Washington gained prominence as Dr Preston Burke in the first three seasons of *Grey's Anatomy* (2005–2007), returning for a guest appearance in 2014. He later played Thelonious Jaha in *The 100* (2014–2018). He made his directorial debut with the Western *Corsicana* (2022).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Fi1m 68, as Preston Burke — [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Out of Sight* (1998), Fi1m 86, as Kenneth — [page](https://film.one/film/out-of-sight.md)
- *Clockers* (1995), Fi1m 74, as Victor Dunham — [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)

## Complete filmography (72)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Oscar Shaw* (2026), as Ernie
- *Dashing Through the Snow* (2025), as Deputy Director Winters
- *James the Second* (2025), as Dr. Ramesh
- *God's Not Dead: In God We Trust* (2024), as Daryl Smith · Producer
- *Corsicana* (2022), as Bass Reeves · Director, Writer
- *God's Not Dead: We The People* (2021), as Daryl Smith
- *Cut Throat City* (2020), as Sinclair Stewart
- *P-Valley* (2020), series, as Mayor Tydell Ruffin
- *WriterBoy's Dream* (2020), as Brian
- *Keys to the City* (2019), as August King
- *Behind the Movement* (2018), as E.D.Nixon
- *Dead Trigger* (2017), as Rockstock
- *Tales* (2017), series, as Malcolm
- *The Sin Seer* (2015), as Grant Summit
- *Yefon* (2015), as Boma
- *The 100* (2014), series, as Thelonious Jaha
- *Blackbird* (2014), as Lance Rousseau
- *Not 4 Sale* (2013), Actor
- *The Trials of Cate McCall* (2013), as Wilson George
- *Go for Sisters* (2013), as Vernell
- *They Die by Dawn* (2013), as Ben Hodges
- *Blue Caprice* (2013), as John Allen Muhammad
- *Doctor Bello* (2013), as Doctor Michael Durant
- *Suddenly Single* (2012), as Sylvester Stone
- *Area Q.* (2012), as Thomas Mathews · Producer
- *The Undershepherd* (2012), as L.C.
- *The Least of These* (2011), as Father Andre James
- *Law & Order: LA* (2010), series, as Roland Davidson
- *Hurricane Season* (2010), as Coach Simmons
- *Bionic Woman* (2007), series, as Antonio Pope
- *The Amateurs* (2006), as Homer
- *Dead Birds* (2005), as Todd
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Preston Burke — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Trois 3: The Escort* (2004), as Bernard Grier
- *This Girl's Life* (2004), as Shane
- *Wild Things 2* (2004), as Terence Bridge
- *Hollywood Homicide* (2003), as Antoine Sartain
- *Ghost Ship* (2002), as Greer
- *Welcome to Collinwood* (2002), as Leon
- *Hood Rat* (2001), as Max
- *Exit Wounds* (2001), as George Clark
- *Dancing in September* (2001), as George Washington
- *Kin* (2000), as Stone
- *Soul Food* (2000), series, as Miles
- *Romeo Must Die* (2000), as Mac
- *True Crime* (1999), as Frank Louis Beechum
- *A Texas Funeral* (1999), as Walter
- *Out of Sight* (1998), as Kenneth — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/out-of-sight.md)
- *Bulworth* (1998), as Darnell
- *Mixing Nia* (1998), as Lewis
- *Always Outnumbered* (1998), as Wilfred
- *Rituals* (1998), as Wendal
- *Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way* (1997), as Dwight Gooden
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Michael Rivers — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Love Jones* (1997), as Savon Garrison
- *Get on the Bus* (1996), as Kyle
- *Soul of the Game* (1996), as Adult Willie Mays
- *Girl 6* (1996), as Shoplifter
- *Mr. and Mrs. Loving* (1996), as Blue
- *Stonewall* (1995), as Uniformed Cop
- *Dead Presidents* (1995), as Andrew Curtis
- *Clockers* (1995), as Victor Dunham — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Rev. Austin Davis
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, Actor
- *Alma's Rainbow* (1994), as Miles
- *Crooklyn* (1994), as Vic Powell
- *Strapped* (1993), as Willie
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Lane Staley — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Strictly Business* (1991), as Hustler
- *Land Where My Fathers Died* (1991), as Malcolm
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Derek Hardy — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Uniformed Cop

## Gallery

- ![Visit of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and [actor] Isaiah Washington, to HUD Headquarters for meeting with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-954da40533f2.jpg) Visit of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and [actor] Isaiah Washington, to HUD Headquarters for meeting with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. (2008) — Ronald T. Bennett, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Alphonso_Jackson_and_Isaiah_Washington_207-DP-9586-IW3834.jpg/1280px-Alphonso_Jackson_and_Isaiah_Washington_207-DP-9586-IW3834.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaiah Washington](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-3bfd71000d7d.jpg) Isaiah Washington — Original uploader was Biznus1 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Isaiah_Washington.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Isaiah Washington at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-2101462bb9ea.jpg) Isaiah Washington at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Isaiah_Washington_-_2013_Comic-Con.jpg/1280px-Isaiah_Washington_-_2013_Comic-Con.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Visit of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and [actor] Isaiah Washington, to HUD Headquarters for meeting with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-27061d655ed2.jpg) Visit of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and [actor] Isaiah Washington, to HUD Headquarters for meeting with HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. (2008) — Ronald T. Bennett, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Isaiah_Washington_207-DP-9586-IW3834_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Isaiah Washington](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-9123b1ad8695.jpg) Isaiah Washington — Image via TMDB
- ![Isaiah Washington](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-128576e610ee.jpg) Isaiah Washington — Image via TMDB
- ![Isaiah Washington at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con.](https://film.one/media/person/9877/gallery-94e2c87ffb8b.jpg) Isaiah Washington at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con. — vagueonthehow, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Isaiah_Washington_SDCC_2013.jpg/1280px-Isaiah_Washington_SDCC_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 2007: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (won), for *Grey's Anatomy*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/isaiah-washington