Denzel Washington watches son graduate

Denzel Washington’s son is ready to follow in his footsteps with a degree in film studies.

The 58-year-old actor was a proud father on Monday as he joined his wife, Pauletta, and other family members to watch their son graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, USA Today reports.

Malcolm Washington joined hundreds of other students at the Ivy League school’s 257th commencement ceremony.

The 22-year-old was also on the university’s basketball team.

The outlet reveals Denzel could often be seen on campus watching his son play.

He was also a noted speaker at UPenn’s commencement ceremony in 2011.

“There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that’s less than the one you’re capable of living,” he said, quoting Nelson Mandela.

“I’m sure in your experiences—in school, in applying to college, in picking your major, in deciding what you want to do with life—people have told you to make sure you have something to ‘fall back on.’ But I’ve never understood that concept, having something to fall back on.

“If I’m going to fall, I don’t want to fall back on anything, except my faith. I want to fall… forward,” he told the graduating class.

Denzel and Pauletta share four children. In addition to Malcolm, the couple have a 28-year-old son, John, now a professional football player, a 25-year-old daughter, Katia, who graduated from Yale University in 2010, and Malcolm’s twin sister, Olivia.