On June 25, 1983, Washington married Pauletta Pearson, whom he met on the set of his first screen work, the television film "Wilma". They have four children: John David (born July 28, 1984), also an actor and a former football player, Katia (born November 27, 1986) who graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in 2010, and twins Olivia and Malcolm (born April 10, 1991). Malcolm graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in film studies, and Olivia played a role in Lee Daniels's film "The Butler". In 1995, Washington and his wife renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Desmond Tutu officiating.