Denzel Washington’s Wife Pauletta Washington Turned Down His Marriage Proposal Twice — Forget Those Divorce Rumors

Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta boast one of the longest-running marriages in Hollywood – 30 years – but Denzel had to propose three times to get her to say yes.

The couple, married June 25, 1983, discussed Denzel’s proposals at the New York premiere of his new film, 2 Guns. After confirming that her husband had proposed three times, Denzel interrupted the conversation. “Twice!” he told Access Hollywood. “It was three times?” Pauletta, 62, joked that with age he must have forgotten.

“Why was it twice… Why would I have to ask again?” Denzel, 58, pressed. “Because I said no,” Pauletta answered.

“You heard it here first,” Denzel said. “She turned me down, she said no. And since it was three times, that means she turned me down twice.”

Despite getting Pauletta to accept his proposal in the end, there have been difficult times in their marriage. In 2003, Denzel was accused of having an affair with his Out Of Time costar Sanaa Lathan. Both Denzel and Lathan have denied the affair. Last month, it was reported that the couple was divorcing. However, this report was dismissed as false. “They are not divorcing, not separating,” a rep for Denzel said.

Denzel and Pauletta met on the set of the television movie Wilma. They renewed their vows in 1995 in South Africa, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating. Denzel and Pauletta have four grown children – John David, Katia, and twins Olivia and Malcolm.