The star sat down recently with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker and discussed diversity in the industry.
The six-time Academy Award nominee is highly favored to nab a seventh nomination for his new film "Fences," which he also directed.
Washington said he doesn't have to think about #OscarsSoWhite as he has lived it.
"I've been the guy at the Oscars without my name being called," he said. "I've been the guy at the Oscars when my name is called. I've been the guy at the Oscars when everybody thought they was going to call my name and they didn't."