New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- enzel Washington, 70, star of Highest 2 Lowest, revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 2 that most people have been mispronouncing his name. The actor, whose full name is Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr., explained how his mother, Lennis Washington, influenced the pronunciation that stuck.

Washington recounted how the need to differentiate him from his father, Denzel Washington Sr., led to the current pronunciation.

"So she said, 'From now on, you're Denzel (den-zelle),' " he said, using the longer "e" vowel sound.

"She said [to me], 'You're Denzel (den-zelle).' [And to my father,] 'You're Denzel (den-zil).,' " Washington added.

He emphasised the distinction while pointing out that the shorter pronunciation "den...