John David Washington creates own lane with Oscar buzz

John David Washington comes from a strong acting lineage, but he has carved out his own identity as a powerful actor, earning a Golden Globe nomination and generating Oscar buzz for his standout role in Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman."

In his first starring role, Washington played a black police officer in Colorado who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the late 1970s. The actor received praise for his portrayal of the gigantic Afro-wearing undercover officer, who notably used a "white voice" during his racist exchanges in scenes with a KKK grand wizard over the phone.

Washington credits Lee for choosing him for his acting abilities, and not because he's the son of Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington, his actress-mom.

In this Nov. 14, 2018 photo, actor John David Washington, star of "BlacKkKlansman," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Washington has been named as a Breakthrough Entertainer of the Year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Rebecca CabageInvisionAP)

"It's just a compliment that (Spike Lee) believed in my ability," said the actor, who is the eldest of the couple's four children. "I didn't feel pressured. I felt encouraged. (Lee) exemplified the true meaning of trusting your teammate. ... It was so liberating as an artist. It gave me the confidence I didn't realize I needed."

Along with "BlacKkKlansman," Washington made a few other big screen appearances in 2018, starring in "Monsters and Men," a film where he played a conflicted police officer who witnesses racism among his colleagues. He also appeared in the drama "Monster" and "The Old Man & the Gun," featuring Robert Redford, Casey Affleck and Danny Glover.

Washington's success on the big screen comes while he continues to star as Ricky Jerret on HBO's TV series "Ballers." The 34-year-old actor said he is living out his "childhood dream," but says the hard work must continue.

In this Nov. 14, 2018 photo, actor John David Washington, star of "BlacKkKlansman," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Washington has been named as a Breakthrough Entertainer of the Year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Rebecca CabageInvisionAP)

"(It's) like go back to the gym and work on different aspects of your game. It's like I'm on the right career path. This is what I should be doing for the long run," he said. "I can't wait to keep growing as an artist."

He's also proud to keep up the strong reputation of the Washington family name in Hollywood while striking out on his own.

"As their first born, my biggest fear was to disappoint them. I make mistakes, but I never wanted to disappoint them. I wanted to be a good son," he said. "I have great parents, and great grandparents. It makes me emotional thinking about it. They were so proud of me. They're happy for me because I'm trying to be my own man."

In this Nov. 14, 2018 photo, actor John David Washington, star of "BlacKkKlansman," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Washington has been named as a Breakthrough Entertainer of the Year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Rebecca CabageInvisionAP)

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31

In this Nov. 14, 2018 photo, actor John David Washington, star of "BlacKkKlansman," poses for a portrait at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Washington has been named as a Breakthrough Entertainer of the Year by the Associated Press. (Photo by Rebecca CabageInvisionAP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has moved some troops onto an airbase in Niger where a small number of U.S. forces remain, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he doesn't see it as a significant issue. Most American troops left that base in the nation's capital, Niamey, a U.S. official said.

The arrival of Russian trainers in the West African country about three weeks ago came in the wake of Niger’s decision to order out all U.S. troops. The order dealt a blow to U.S. military operations in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.

The Pentagon has said the U.S. troops will depart but has not provided a timeline.

When Russian troops arrived last month, it was unclear where they were staying. The Niamey base, Austin said late Thursday, is located at the capital city's Diori Hamani International Airport, and “the Russians are in a separate compound and don’t have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment.”

He said the U.S. will continue to watch the situation but he doesn't see it as a significant force protection issue.

A U.S. official said the Russian forces are on the other side of the Niamey facility, known as Airbase 101, and that other international forces — such as the Germans and Italians — also reside. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements. It's unclear how many U.S. troops remain at the Niamey base.

The Russian presence on the base comes as tensions remain high between Washington and Moscow over the ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine's military.

About 1,000 U.S. troops are still in Niger, but the bulk of them moved to what's called Airbase 201 near Agadez, some 920 kilometers (550 miles) away from the capital, not long after mutinous soldiers ousted the country’s democratically elected president last July.

A few months later, the ruling junta asked French forces to leave and turned to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for security assistance.

In October, Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup, which triggered U.S. laws restricting the military support and aid that it can provide to Niger. Since then, diplomatic efforts to restore ties with Niger have been unsuccessful.

Until recently, Washington considered Niger a key partner and ally in a region swept by coups in recent years, investing millions of dollars in the Agadez base, which has been critical to U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Sahel. The U.S. also has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in training Niger’s military since it began operations there in 2013.

The Pentagon also has said the U.S. will relocate most of the approximately 100 forces it has deployed in neighboring Chad for now. Chad is also considering whether to continue its security agreement with the U.S.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters that the departure from Chad "is a temporary step as part of the ongoing review of our security cooperation, which will resume after Chad’s May 6th presidential election.”

FILE - Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather for a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference, in Niamey, Niger, Aug. 3, 2023. Russia has moved some troops onto an airbase in Niger where a small number of U.S. forces remain after most American troops left the base in Niamey, the nation's capital, a U.S. official said Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File)