Mentors, friends, and actors. Will Smith’s acting career has often been compared to Denzel Washington since he shot to popularity in the 1990s.

Over the years, I would consistently give Denzel a call. In November 2021, the King Richard star told GQ, “He’s a real sage.”

In the course of the interview, Smith recalled a moment when, feeling uncertain about the direction his work and personal lives should take him, he turned to the more experienced actor for guidance. “I called Denzel when I was probably 48 or something like that,” he remembered. “Listen,” he said. It’s important to consider it the funky 40. Everyone is funky in their 40s. “But just wait till you hit the f–k-it 50s,” he continued.

Smith went on: “He told me to just get by with my 40s. When I finally stopped, I thought, “The funky 40s and the f–k-it 50s.” And that’s precisely what took place. I allowed myself to do anything I wanted, and it turned into the f–k-it 50s.

The decades-long connection between the two became public in March 2022 when Smith smacked Chris Rock at the Oscars, and the Training Day star consoled him. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum stormed the stage after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith — who has alopecia — starring in G.I. Jane 2, referring to her shaved head. Smith gave the comic a face-slap before yelling at Rock to “keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth” from his front row seat.

Following the altercation, Washington was seen talking with his pal during a commercial break.”No way I could have sat in my seat,” the Fences director said during a panel at the T.D. Jakes Leadership Summit on Saturday, April 2, about his reaction to the incident. That simply isn’t my personality. Fortunately, there were people there, not just me but others, [like] Tyler Perry, came immediately right over there with me.”

While accepting the Best Actor trophy for his performance in King Richard, Smith mentioned that Washington had offered him some advice in the moments after his fight with Rock. “Denzel said a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,’” the Bad Boys star tearfully revealed. “I feel like I want to be a loving vessel. That is my desired outcome. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern.”

Washington explained the moment during the panel later that week: “There’s a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong. The devil goes, ‘Oh no leave him alone, he’s my favorite.’ Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because he’s trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of him that night.”

Keep scrolling to learn more about Washington and Smith’s decades-long friendship:

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Role Model

Washington served as Smith’s “mentor” when he wanted to go into acting after he became well-known in the 1990s for his lead role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Smith for Ali and Washington for Training Day were the two actors who were nominated for Best Actor at the 2002 Academy Awards; nonetheless, Smith won. Washington said of Smith’s third attempt to win the trophy in March 2022, “It’s his turn,” on ETalk.

Sage Advice

The Pursuit of Happyness actor disclosed in a November 2021 interview with GQ that he had looked to Washington for counsel and direction throughout his career. “I would always call Denzel over the years. He’s quite wise,” Smith said.

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No Comparison

Many started contrasting the two movie stars and their extensive portfolios of work when Smith and Washington received nominations for Best Actor at the 2022 Academy Awards (the latter for The Tragic of Macbeth). The Glory star, however, accepted everything with a smile, saying to Two Bees TV in December 2021 that “he has a whole lot more money than me” is their biggest difference.

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About Time

Washington was ecstatic to watch Smith’s winning streak, even though they were in competition with one another for the Best Actor prize during the 2022 awards season. “A lot of emotions are involved. On the red carpet at the Oscars, the New York native said to Entertainment Tonight, “I think this has been a long time coming for him.”

In an interview with ETalk that evening, he repeated same feelings, saying, “Will is already a winner. In the past 30 years, he has most likely been the biggest star. He has received more nominations, accolades, and box office success than anybody else. He’s simply enormous.” Later, Washington cracked a joke, saying, “I’m rooting for me, but it’s his turn [to win].”

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A Moment of Prayer

Washington prayed with his companion a few minutes after Smith and Rock got into an argument. He stated at the T.D. Jakes Leadership Summit in April 2022, “I don’t know all the ins and outs of this situation, but I know the only solution was prayer, the way I saw it, the way I see it.”

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Speak of the Devil

Washington gave Smith some advise, which Smith mentioned in his emotional Oscar winning speech. “Denzel said a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,’” he was saying at the time.

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Speaking Out

Washington spoke out about the Oscars incident one week later, stating that he wasn’t sure what caused Smith’s reaction, but that “for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of him that night. … Who are we to condemn?”