Deaf Actor Troy Kotsur Makes Himself Heard with Oscar Win

Troy Kotsur (L) accepts his best supporting actor Oscar as South-Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung holds his statuette. Robyn Beck AFP
Troy Kotsur (L) accepts his best supporting actor Oscar as South-Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung holds his statuette. Robyn Beck AFP
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Deaf Actor Troy Kotsur Makes Himself Heard with Oscar Win

Troy Kotsur (L) accepts his best supporting actor Oscar as South-Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung holds his statuette. Robyn Beck AFP
Troy Kotsur (L) accepts his best supporting actor Oscar as South-Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung holds his statuette. Robyn Beck AFP

Troy Kotsur made history Sunday as the first deaf male actor to earn an Oscar, winning over voters with a funny, assured and authentic turn as the father of a loving family in the heartfelt indie drama "CODA."

Deaf since birth, the 53-year-old has been an established stage actor for decades, with a lead role on Broadway on his resume, and was previously best known on the big screen for a supporting role in Jim Carrey thriller "The Number 23."

But his performance in "CODA" alongside Marlee Matlin -- the only other deaf actor to win an Oscar, in 1987 for "Children of a Lesser God" -- has catapulted him to a historic Academy Award win, AFP said.

"This is dedicated to the deaf community, the CODA community and the disabled community. This is our moment," Kotsur said as he accepted his award.

Kotsur beat rival nominees Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee (both "The Power of the Dog"), Ciaran Hinds ("Belfast") and J.K. Simmons ("Being the Ricardos").

In "CODA" -- an acronym for child of deaf adult -- Kotsur plays Frank Rossi, whose family fishing business is struggling under the weight of bureaucracy and the changing climate.

The family faces the added challenge of being deaf in a tough blue-collar world, where authorities are unwilling to make allowances for their lack of hearing.

They rely on hearing daughter Ruby (played by breakout young actress Emilia Jones), who struggles to balance the demands of translating for the family with her own ambitions to sing.

"CODA" also triumphed on Sunday for best picture and best adapted screenplay.

- 'Finally part of the family' -
The film became an instant phenomenon following the Sundance film festival in January 2021, where its premiere sparked a frenzied bidding war eventually won by Apple TV+ for a record $25 million.

The relative newcomer to the streaming wars released the film worldwide last summer, and Kotsur -- a regular performer at Los Angeles' Deaf West Theater known to television viewers for turns in "The Mandalorian" and "CSI: NY" -- has collected multiple accolades since.

His Oscar charge began in earnest last month when he won best supporting actor honors from the Screen Actors Guild.

"Now I feel like I'm finally part of the family," he told the Hollywood-based actors union.

"I know what you all know -- what it's like to be a starving actor. Back then I used to sleep in my car. I slept in my dressing room backstage. I couch surfed, and all of that. You feel me, right?"

Kotsur also thanked Apple for "believing in us deaf actors and casting us authentically as actors who happen to be deaf," before the film went on to win the night's top prize for best cast.

He followed that honor up with a Bafta and a Spirit award.

Kotsur -- who is married and has a daughter, Kyra -- went one better on Sunday, winning the Oscar from an industry that has been slow to listen to the deaf community.



Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena and Other Celebrities Make Their Way to Wimbledon’s Royal Box

Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
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Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena and Other Celebrities Make Their Way to Wimbledon’s Royal Box

Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, left, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley, center, and wrestler John Cena sit in the Royal Box at Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP)

Olivia Rodrigo. John Cena. Dave Grohl. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. There was as much star power - or maybe even more? - in the Royal Box at Wimbledon as there was down below on the Centre Court grass on Wednesday.

And that was on an afternoon that featured two-time defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz, No. 1-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka, and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain all winning matches at the grasscourt Grand Slam tournament's main stadium to reach the third round.

"It's so special in the Royal Box to have those kind of people in there. It definitely adds a bit of pressure, I guess, if you look up and you kind of recognize (them)," Raducanu said. "That's why I try and stay with my eyes on the court as much as possible. Only after, you kind of look up and take it all in, if they're still there."

The seats in the Royal Box behind one of the baselines are by invitation only, and there was quite a list of celebrities on hand for Day 3 of competition.

"I was trying not to look today," Sabalenka said about the collection of boldfaced names, explaining that she might be distracted while competing. "I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on, I'm going to open the social media (and ask), 'OK, who was there?'"

Well, Aryna, here's a rundown:

Rodrigo, fresh off headlining at music festival Glastonbury while on tour for her GUTS album, sat next to Cena, the professional wrestler and movie star. Rodrigo chatted at one point with former England soccer coach Roy Hodgson (the current person in that job, Thomas Tuchel, also was in attendance).

Grohl, a member of the rock bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana, made an appearance, too, as did the married couple Chopra and Jonas. Hollywood's Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, who also are married, were on the Royal Box list, along with actor Dominic Cooper.

Others taking in a day of tennis at the most famous court in the world included British athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists Sophie Bray (field hockey) and Tom Daley (diving), and Paralympic gold medalist William Ellard (swimming).

Oh, and there was actual British royalty there Wednesday: Princess Michael of Kent.