Denzel Washington recently shared that he and Ludacris’ father, Wayne Bridges, grew up together and learned their distinctive walks from a teacher.

In a recent interview, Gayle King mentioned Denzel’s notable walk, saying, “You google Denzel Washington walk because Denzel I don’t know if you know but you have a very specific glide stride.”

Denzel responded by reminiscing about his childhood, saying, “Donald Fletcher, a man from our Boyz Club (as it was called back then), influenced our walks. Wayne Bridges, whose son is Ludacris, and I used to mimic Donald’s walk. We even practiced it.”

He humorously added, “I borrowed a bit from Donald, so if he’s out there, I owe him money.”

Recently, Denzel Washington missed the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House due to contracting COVID-19. He was among 17 honorees but was unable to attend. A representative confirmed that Denzel “feels fine” despite testing positive for the virus.

During the ceremony, President Joe Biden acknowledged Washington’s absence, saying, “a man who couldn’t be here today but wanted to be.” The President noted that Denzel would be honored at a later date.

Beyond his illustrious acting career, Washington has served as the national spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years. Reflecting on his upbringing in Mount Vernon, N.Y., he credited the Boys & Girls Club for helping shape his life.

“Many of my childhood friends lacked structure or guidance and ended up in trouble. That could have been me,” he said in 2018. “My father, a Pentecostal preacher, and my mother, a beautician who prioritized my education, along with the Boys & Girls Club, gave me the confidence to aim higher.”