Terry Crews Reveals The Story Behind How Being An Extra In Denzel Washington’s Training Day Launched His Career

As a movie critic, I’ve come to realize that in any career on this planet, you can never predict where your next opportunity will lead. Despite Terry Crews not having a film scheduled for 2025, he is set to star in the 2026 animated adventure, “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.” Looking back at Crews’ journey to fame, it all started with a pivotal role in the Denzel Washington cop drama, “Training Day,” which remains one of the standout films from the 2000s.

If you’re not immediately recalling the minor role of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 Oscar-winning film, that’s alright. As Terry Crews shared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, landing a small but crucial part was quite significant. However, before the industry recognized its importance, a unique viewer underscored its significance: a very special spectator.

In my past, I had a small role as an extra on the movie “Training Day.” However, one particular scene stood out – it was a significant moment between me and Denzel Washington. Remarkably, footage of this scene was played during the Academy Awards, featuring both Denzel and myself. Despite my minor role, my mother excitedly declared that I had won an Oscar. I had to correct her, explaining that I was just an extra, not a nominee or winner.

Discovering later on that you were an extra or even a minor character in a well-known franchise can be quite surprising. (For instance, Elijah Wood’s role in Back to the Future: Part II is a good example.) However, realizing that you played an extra in one of the most memorable scenes from a movie like Training Day, it carries a unique impact.

Keeping that thought in your head, let’s explore some additional performances by Terry Crews, as well as the memorable style of Denzel Washington, right here:

Or simply:

With that consideration, have a look at more work from Terry Crews and iconic performances by Denzel Washington below:

Both versions convey the same meaning but with slightly different styles. The first version is more formal and structured, while the second one is a bit more casual and conversational.

The individual who placed Terry Crews in the “King Kong” scene of “The Running Day” clearly deserves an Oscar for their brilliant casting choice. Although you might not have recognized him as the star he is today, his powerful presence alongside Mr. Washington was hard to miss. As the story unfolded, Terry Crews himself agreed, highlighting a series of opportunities everyone should be aware of that led up to this notable role.

As a fortunate breakthrough, I can’t help but remember the moment Ice Cube spotted me in that film, leading to my casting in Friday After Next, which later opened doors for White Chicks and The Longest Yard. This snowballed effect started taking shape. You might recall Sofia Vergara and I worked together on Soul Plane way back when, but it was actually due to my background role in Training Day that caught the attention of the producers. It’s truly astonishing how these opportunities unfolded before me.

Ponder this: If Terry Crews hadn’t been involved in Detective Alonzo Harris’ fall from grace, he might not have found himself singing to a Wayans Brother disguised as an undercover prosthetic character. It’s intriguing to speculate that these very roles could have paved the way for him to join the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Although we can never know for certain, in a world full of surprises, possibilities are limitless. So, who knows, the proposed White Chicks 2, which the Wayans are still considering, might just take flight after all.

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2025-06-25 05:37