The cult 1985 martial arts musical Denzel Washington couldn’t get cast in: “I was stiff as a board”

A newly resurfaced anecdote reveals that Denzel Washington auditioned for, but failed to land, the lead role in the 1985 cult martial arts musical The Last Dragon. At the time Washington had only one film credit, the 1981 comedy Carbon Copy, and was primarily known for the television drama St Elsewhere; he later went on to become a two-time Academy Award winner, but a martial arts musical remains a notably absent genre from his filmography. The revelation matters chiefly as a curious footnote in the career trajectory of one of Hollywood's most acclaimed actors, illustrating how differently his path might have unfolded had the audition gone the other way.

The role of aspiring martial artist Bruce "Leroy" Green ultimately went to Taimak, a real-life black belt making his acting debut, who admitted he performed poorly in acting terms but excelled physically, unlike the trained actors competing against him. According to Taimak, Washington was among a host of contenders including Laurence Fishburne, Mario Van Peebles and Wesley Snipes, but casting directors were prioritising acting ability over martial arts skill ("katas"), and Taimak recalled that Washington was "stiff as a board" in his audition. Directed by Michael Schultz, The Last Dragon went on to become a commercially successful and enduring cult favourite despite its unconventional, campy premise combining kung fu with music-video culture.