Denzel Washington Plays Good Samaritan To Homeless Man

LOS ANGELES, CA — Oscar winning actor Denzel Washington is being hailed as a Good Samaritan today for stopping to help a homeless man from a busy Los Angeles thoroughfare, staying with him to make sure he was ok, and providing him with masks to stay safe during the pandemic.

The incident was captured on camera and shared on Twitter by former NBA star Rex Chapman.

According to Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Tony Im, Washington spotted a homeless man in the street in the 800 block of busy La Cienega Boulevard. Washington pulled over, helped the man out of the road, and called police to come and evaluate the man. When officers arrived and evaluated the man for a possible psychiatric hold, Washington remained to assist, according to Im.

On the video, he could be seen placing masks in the man’s pocket to help keep him safe during the pandemic.

The star’s kindness caught the attention of officers and fans on social media.

“Most people wouldn’t do something like that," said Im.

Seeing someone like Washington go out of his way for a stranger in need and working with police patiently helping a homeless man, struck a chord with many on social media. The act of kindness stood in contrast to the division reflected in the violent protests wreaking havoc across the nation after George Floyd was killed in custody of a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck until he lost consciousness.

“Now why can't this happen more often? Why couldn't George Floyd be given the same treatment?” wrote one person on Twitter.

"Denzel Washington saw a commotion in West Hollywood with cops and an unarmed distressed homeless man," Chapman wrote in posting the video. "He got out of his car and served as a barrier between the man and the police — helping to diffuse a tense situation."