Fordham’s Pope Auditorium saw the return of a living legend on Sept. 10, as Denzel Washington ’77 appeared alongside his close friend and one-time Fordham roommate Anthony “Doc” Carter ’76. The pair reunited to celebrate the publication of Carter’s new memoir and the bonds of friendship they formed on campus more than 50 years ago.
In a wide-ranging conversation moderated by Fordham President Tania Tetlow, they spoke to a packed house of Fordham students—theatre and visual arts majors as well as members of CSTEP, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program.
It was a night of reminiscing and reflection, with Carter’s memoir—This I Know: Principles for a Life of Faith and Optimism—serving as a springboard for deep discussion about career paths and how to find a calling that allows you to uplift others and do good in the world.
It was also a night of laughs.
“This is trippy,” Washington said to the delight of the crowd as he peeked behind the curtains of the stage he once knew so well.
An Enduring Friendship
It’s a story often told: Denzel Washington’s journey to stardom began as a Fordham premed student who quickly realized he needed to find another path.
“I was cool with biology,” he told students. “Chemistry got me.”
Less known is that Carter was on a similar journey, right by his side. He gained the nickname Doc after a less-than-stellar attempt at dissecting a fruit fly in a biology lab.
“‘Doc’ stayed with me, but the MD degree was never achieved,” Carter joked.
By sticking together and “looking out for each other,” the pair built a deep, supportive friendship that carried them to new interests—acting and journalism, respectively—and fulfilling careers.
“We started exploring how we could impact people,” said Carter, who hosted a show on WFUV, Fordham’s public media station, and wrote for both The Fordham Ram and the paper. “It erased this concept of failure. … I got really confident in who I was, and I felt I wasn’t chasing a dream. I was chasing what I was supposed to be.”
“Finding yourself is not a moment,” Washington added when asked about his most memorable times on campus. “Finding out what you’re going to do the rest of your life is not a moment—and that’s OK.”
A Life of Purpose
Washington and Carter spoke at length about how their faith has guided them and influenced their daily work.
“My faith is first. Work and everything else is secondary,” said Washington, who served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees in the late 1990s and later established an endowed chair and a scholarship for Fordham Theatre students. “On the last day of your life, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Who you’ve helped is what matters. Who you lift up.”
Carter drew a straight line between his spirituality and his long-held commitment to equity in business, a passion of his, especially during his tenure as vice president and chief diversity officer of Johnson & Johnson.
“Diversity is who we are. It’s the purest creation of what God did,” said Carter, who retired in 2015, served on Fordham’s Board of Trustees from 2018 to 2026, and has been a longtime mentor to students. “Bringing that into corporate America, I wasn’t afraid. I’m a Fordham dude. I push.”
The theme of steadfastness—and always striving to lift up others—was a constant throughout the evening. Washington summed it up succinctly.
“What you do for others is what gives your life purpose.”
An Unforgettable Opportunity
As the conversation drew to a close, Washington wanted to hear from the students in the audience. They responded with questions for the pair, touching on everything from public speaking to careers in the arts. The chance to speak face-to-face with an icon, one who walked the halls they do, was one they said they won’t forget.
“It was so inspiring,” said Lynn Cheng, a Fordham Theatre senior. “We saw Othello on Broadway last year, so we got to see Mr. Washington act, but to see him with his friend was amazing. I nudged my best friend and said, ‘That’s going to be us!’”
Students who had yet to see him in person described the experience as surreal.
“It’s crazy,” said first-year acting student Isabella Torres, who recently arrived on campus from Colombia. “We live in New York, but you don’t imagine Denzel Washington is going to be here your first week. A lot of people don’t get this opportunity.”
Watch the full event:
