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Ethan Hawke Lost the Oscar for ‘Training Day’ and Denzel Washington Whispered in His Ear That Losing Was Better: ‘You Don’t Want an Award to Improve Your Status’

Ethan Hawke lost the Oscar in 2002 for "Training Day," but co-star Denzel Washington told him that was better for his career.

Ethan Hawke was nominated at the 2002 Oscars for best supporting actor thanks to his performance in Antoine Fuqua’s crime thriller “Training Day.” He lost the prize to Jim Broadbent (“Iris”), but he immediately got some much-needed perspective from his “Training Day” co-star Denzel Washington, who happened to win the Oscar that same night for best actor. Earlier in the interview, compared Washington to baseball icon Babe Ruth because “I think when all is said and done he’s the greatest actor of our generation.” Hawke has been nominated for four Oscars during his career, two for acting in the supporting category (“Training Day” and “Boyhood”) and two for adapted screenplay (“Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight”).

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