Isaiah Washington
An intense and gifted actor whose portrayal of a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon brought him fame, followed by a complex career navigating controversy and independent film.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American actor·Birthday: August 3·Baby Boomers
Biography
Isaiah Washington's career is a study in dramatic highs and public challenges. After years of supporting roles in films like 'Clockers' and 'Romeo Must Die,' he landed the part that would define him: the fiercely competitive, impeccably dressed Dr. Preston Burke on 'Grey's Anatomy.' His chemistry with co-star Sandra Oh was electric, making 'Burke and Yang' a central romance of the show's early, stratospheric success. His abrupt departure from the series in 2007, following a controversy involving a homophobic slur, sent his career on a different path. Washington has since worked steadily, often in independent films and television, while also becoming an outspoken advocate for Sierra Leone, a country he connected with through DNA testing. His journey reflects the precarious nature of Hollywood fame, where immense talent can be overshadowed by a single moment, leading to a long, determined road of personal and professional recalibration.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Isaiah was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Isaiah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Isaiah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the groundbreaking role of Dr. Preston Burke on the hit television series 'Grey's Anatomy' for its first three seasons.
- Won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his work on 'Grey's Anatomy' in 2007.
- Founded the Gondobay Manga Foundation, a nonprofit focused on development projects in Sierra Leone.
- Starred in films such as 'Exit Wounds,' 'Ghost Ship,' and Spike Lee's 'Clockers.'
Did You Know?
He discovered through genetic testing that his ancestry is primarily from the Mende people of Sierra Leone.
He was granted Sierra Leonean citizenship in 2010 for his humanitarian work.
He is a trained martial artist and holds a black belt in Tang Soo Do.
He briefly returned to 'Grey's Anatomy' for a guest appearance in 2014 to provide closure for his character.
“I'm not a homophobic person. But I've said the word. I used it out of ignorance.”
