It’s only been a week since Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to earn an Oscar nomination for acting, but for the 53-year-old performer, it already feels like the start of something new.
“I’m finally more confident,” Kotsur said during a video call this week, where he spoke energetically through a sign language interpreter. “And this is just the beginning for me, even at this stage, so I’m really looking forward to starting my new journey.”
Kotsur’s breakout role came in “CODA,” the Apple+ dramedy nominated for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, along with Kotsur’s supporting role playing Frank Rossi, a deaf fisherman who struggles to connect with his teenage daughter Ruby ( Emily Jones). Ruby is the only hearing member of her family, which includes her mother, Jackie (Marlee Matlin) and brother, Leo (Daniel Durant). Because Ruby is a child of deaf adults – the CODA of the film’s title – her parents expect her to translate for them and connect with the hearing world.
But Ruby is ready to leave the nest and pursue a secret singing talent at Berklee College of Music, a calling that puts her at odds with Frank, who expected his daughter to join the family business after high school. Their conflict culminates in one of the most poignant movie scenes of the year, when Frank sits in the back of his pickup truck with his daughter and puts his hand to her throat as she sings a tender ballad. With that simple gesture, this stubborn but loving father learns to understand his daughter in a whole new way.
Kotsur hopes that with “CODA,” which arrived along with other films featuring deaf characters like “Sound of Metal” and “Eternals,” Hollywood will also be able to better understand deaf actors. Kotsur is a prolific actor in deaf theater productions (he has often played opposite Paul Raci, himself a CODA who was Oscar-nominated last year for “Sound of Metal”) and appeared in “Criminal Minds”, “The Mandalorian” and other TV series. But he knows that movies like “CODA,” which offer a well-rounded take on the deaf experience, are still scarce.
“I really hope Hollywood has learned patience, because I’ve been patiently trying to work with hearing people for the past few years,” said Kotsur, who lives in Mesa, Ariz. lives with his wife and daughter. “And to see that fear fade, that’s why it’s so important not to think about deaf actors from a perspective of limitations, because as a deaf person I can drive, I can cook, I can have sex, I can do all of these things. The only thing where there’s a barrier is a communication barrier, and that’s it.”
Here are edited excerpts from our conversation.
Now that you’ve had some time to process your Oscar nomination, what does this mean to you?
I feel like all this dust covered my back, and with the nomination it started to evaporate. I’ve been through so much: financial struggles and oppression, people not ready to work with a deaf actor. With all that struggle and trauma, I feel like I had cuts all over my body that have finally healed. I didn’t realize what a big step forward this would be – even bigger than I thought – and it really is a blessing.
What kept you going when you had to deal with those struggles and all the auditions that didn’t work out?
In auditions, I would generally never get the part because they would usually ask, “Can you speak?” And of course, another actor could talk better than me, as I’m completely deaf and that can be a challenge. So I really got used to that rejection, and that was actually good training for me to learn to accept it and move on.
I did it the old fashioned way in the ’90s: I had to buy $300 worth of envelopes and stamps and send these headshots to 300 different casting directors, and maybe I’ll get one audition. And then I wouldn’t be cast for that one audition! It was extremely demanding and it involved a lot of sacrifice. That’s what I meant by all that dust on my back from this trip. I had to keep moving forward, just to prove it to myself.
You auditioned for “CODA” and then waited a year and a half to even get a call back, right?
They argued behind the scenes with the producers over who would play Frank Rossi. They wanted to use A-listers first.
Paul Racic experienced the same with “Sound of Metal”. The producers wanted a name like Forest Whitaker or Robert Duvall, and then Paul got an Oscar nomination for it.
By the way, I also auditioned for “Sound of Metal”. I didn’t get the part, but Paul was perfect for it. For me “Sound of Metal” was a step forward, and then it was my turn, and in that way it was an amazing journey. I was so used to failure that I didn’t realize I was going to exceed even my own expectations of what could happen.
How long have you known Marlee Matlin, who plays your wife in “CODA”?
When I was 17 I saw ‘Children of a Lesser God’ [the 1986 drama for which Matlin won the best-actress Oscar], and that was the first time I saw an authentic deaf performance on the big screen. I said to myself, “I hope one day I can work with her.” After many years I was at Deaf West Theater, and it just so happened that Marlee came to almost every production I was in and we got to know each other a little bit over the years.
What was it like meeting her? Did you play it cool?
I was moved that she came to see our productions. When “CODA” happened, she told me, “I always hoped one day to work with you. I put your name on my bucket list of actors.” And that’s how she got her wish. She’s had a tough journey herself and it’s nice to have this shared experience. But really, it’s great for everyone in the deaf and hard of hearing community, especially younger children who have hope and having dreams because I’m proof that these dreams can come true So many people say “Follow your dreams” and I’m like, “Yeah, okay.” And then it really happened, so now I’m the one who has to shut up because they were right.
Even before “CODA” sold at the Sundance Film Festival for a record $25 million and was nominated for all those Oscars, what did the experience of filming mean to you?
When we finished shooting, I walked to the dock and watched all the boats go by – just wanted to thank God for everything that had happened. It took me so long to let go of Frank Rossi and even shave my beard. I really missed him as a character and I struggled with that for about half a year. My wife complained, “Troy, will you shave please? I can’t even kiss you.”
Since so much of the movie depends on a father-daughter relationship, what was it like seeing it with your daughter for the first time?
She was very proud, but when she saw the sex scene she was ashamed and covered her eyes. She said, “Daddy, what are you doing?” I said to her, “Hey, it’s really important to learn about safe sex.”
How was your own relationship with your parents? Did they support your interest in acting?
My parents thought it was only temporary and after a few years they started to get nervous. They said, ‘Hey, Troy, why don’t you get your degree? Maybe you can become an engineer or a teacher.” I was stubborn and I kept going, and they were extremely nervous, but they would always see my plays, and they enjoyed it. Both my parents are deceased, but I will visit them in the cemetery if I win a prize. I’m going to show them and say, “Hey, look at me now.”
You’ve already won a supporting actor award from the Gothams. What other moments stand out to you in this award season?
We were at an event at the Academy Museum and the cast was all there, and Lady Gaga was performing. I set there and looked at her on the podium, and I thought, “You know what I’m thinking? Shall I go up to the podium and put my hand on Lady Gaga’s throat?” And everyone started to die of laughter The police would surely have tackled me to the ground.
Have any of the major fashion houses contacted you to dress for the Oscars?
People send me the names of these stores and companies that I’ve never heard of. I don’t recognize any of these brands – I know Walmart, I know Kmart. But my wife is so excited. She started to ask me, “What color dress should I wear? I want to suit you.” And I’m like, “I have no idea.” Women are very excited about these kinds of formal dresses, but have you noticed that many men only have one black suit and one tie?
It’s usually the uniform.
I’ve seen some people curious, “What is a deaf person going to wear?” Oh, the same as people hear. Do you expect me to dress differently? Like I have to wear Christmas lights or neon everywhere, something like that? It would be too much. I have to keep it modest.
Were you an avid viewer of the Oscars before?
I will never forget that when Marlee won, I jumped for joy because a deaf person had finally won. I actually never missed an Oscar growing up because I’m a movie freak. I love Steven Spielberg, and of course he had so many nominations over the years. I’m so excited to meet these people and say to Steven Spielberg, “Thank you for your work.” I don’t want to tan, I just feel like I’ve proven myself as a nominee and now they see me for who I am.
You’re not a brown nose, you’re their peer. You are an Oscar nominee.
And it doesn’t matter if I win or not, my name is in the history books. By the time I leave this planet, it will remain so.