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Isaiah Washington

Isaiah Washington

Actor, also producer, director and writer · Born August 3, 1963 (63) · Houston, Texas, USA

Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American actor and internet personality. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence for portraying Dr. Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the series Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2007. Washington began his career collaborating with director Spike Lee on the films Crooklyn (1994), Clockers (1995), Girl 6 (1996), and Get on the Bus (1996). He also appeared in the films Love Jones (1997), Bulworth (1998), True Crime (1999), Romeo Must Die (2000), Exit Wounds (2001), Ghost Ship (2002), and Hollywood Homicide (2003). In 2005, Washington landed his breakthrough role as Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy. He was dismissed after the third season over allegations that he used homophobic slurs, although he would return for a guest appearance in 2014. From 2014 to 2018, Washington portrayed Thelonious Jaha on The CW's science fiction television series The 100. In 2020, Washington became the host of a travel cooking show on Fox Nation. Description above from the Wikipedia article Isaiah Washington, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 3, 1963 (63)
From
Houston, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer, director and writer
Titles
60 on MovieCove · 74 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Up 22% in 30 days

What are Isaiah Washington's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Bonds
19%
Self
17%
Survival
15%
Society
12%
Power
9%
Ideas
5%
Survival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 39 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 12 · Dark 12

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 24 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 23 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

25 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 25 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 25
Hero
6 of 25
Ally
4 of 25
Threshold guardian
2 of 25
Mentor
2 of 25
Shapeshifter
2 of 25
Herald
1 of 25
Trickster
1 of 25
Show the 25 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
31
Melancholic
16
Warm
9
Hopeful
10
Dread
6
Other
34

How their films linger

Hopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Isaiah Washington's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Isaiah Washington's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

74 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Oscar Shaw(2026)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Dashing Through the Snow(2025)

    as Deputy Director Winters

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • James the Second(2025)

    as Dr. Ramesh

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • God's Not Dead: In God We Trust(2024)

    Producer · as Daryl Smith

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Corsicana(2022)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bass Reeves

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • God's Not Dead: We the People(2021)

    Producer · as Daryl Smith

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Cut Throat City(2020)

    as Sinclair Stewart

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • P-Valley(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mayor Tydell Ruffin

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • WriterBoy's Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Brian

  • Keys to the City(2019)

    as August King

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Behind the Movement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as E.D.Nixon

  • Dead Trigger(2017)

    as Rockstock

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Tales(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Secret Summer(2016)

    as Gus

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Sin Seer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Grant Summit

  • Yefon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Boma

  • The 100(2014)

    Show 71 episodes · as Thelonious Jaha

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Blackbird(2014)

    Producer · as Lance Rousseau

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Bound: Africans versus African Americans(2014)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Not 4 Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • The Trials of Cate McCall(2013)

    as Wilson George

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Go for Sisters(2013)

    as Vernell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • They Die by Dawn(2013)

    as Ben Hodges

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Blue Caprice(2013)

    Producer · as John Allen Muhammad

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Bello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Doctor Michael Durant

  • Suddenly Single (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Sylvester Stone

  • Area Q.(2011)

    Producer · as Thomas Mathews

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Undershepherd(2012)

    as L.C.

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Least of These(2008)

    as Father Andre James

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: LA(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Roland Davidson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Hurricane Season(2009)

    as Coach Simmons

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Bionic Woman(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · as Antonio Pope

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • The Amateurs(2005)

    as Homer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Dead Birds(2004)

    Producer · as Todd

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 62 episodes · as Preston Burke

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Trois 3: The Escort(2004)

    as Bernard Grier

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • This Girl's Life(2003)

    as Shane

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Wild Things 2(2004)

    as Terence Bridge

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Homicide(2003)

    as Antoine Sartain

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Ship(2002)

    as Greer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Collinwood(2002)

    as Leon

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tara(2001)

    as Max

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Exit Wounds(2001)

    as George Clark

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Dancing in September (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as George Washington

  • Kin(2000)

    as Stone

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Miles

  • Romeo Must Die(2000)

    as Mac

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • True Crime(1999)

    as Frank Louis Beechum

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • A Texas Funeral(1999)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Out of Sight(1998)

    as Kenneth

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Bulworth(1998)

    as Darnell

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Mixing Nia(1998)

    Producer · as Lewis

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Always Outnumbered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Wilfred

  • Rituals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Wendal

  • Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way(1997)

    as Dwight Gooden

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Michael Rivers

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Love Jones(1997)

    as Savon Garrison

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Get on the Bus(1996)

    as Kyle

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Soul of the Game(1996)

    as Adult Willie Mays

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Girl 6(1996)

    as Shoplifter

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Mr. and Mrs. Loving(1996)

    as Blue

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Stonewall(1995)

    as Uniformed Cop

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Dead Presidents(1995)

    as Andrew Curtis

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Clockers(1995)

    as Victor Dunham

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Austin Davis

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Alma's Rainbow(1994)

    as Miles

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Crooklyn(1994)

    as Vic Powell

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Strapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Willie

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lane Staley

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Strictly Business(1991)

    as Hustler

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Land Where My Fathers Died (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Malcolm

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Derek Hardy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Uniformed Cop

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Romeo Must Die (2000)

$91M worldwide

Highest rated

Love Jones (1997)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

The 100 (2014)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19852026

Peak 2001 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 72: 69 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score43rdDirecting1 of 72: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 72: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 72: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

72 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s20 · 20 acting · 1 crew2020s9 · 9 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 4% of 27 roles
910106

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Isaiah Washington's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 49; across their 39 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 36th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Midcredits score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 60 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Loved with Detractors2
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed22

Most divisive · actor, producer

God's Not Dead: In God We Trust (2024)

99th percentile spread · 57% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Love Jones (1997)

Midcredits 91st · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Isaiah Washington's work okay for kids?

Across up to 14 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles54–92 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity14 titles28–58 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles47–85 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles33–52 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles42–81 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Isaiah Washington work with?

People who share at least 2 of Isaiah Washington's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Spike Lee shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles