‘CODA’ Star Troy Kotsur Becomes First Deaf Actor To Win Individual SAG Award

Deaf actor Troy Kotsur just picked up a major achievement for the Deaf community.

In January, he became the first Deaf actor to be nominated for an individual Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role. At the end of February, the “CODA” star became the first Deaf actor to win an individual SAG award.

Kotsur picked up the win against stiff competition from Ben Affleck (“The Tender Bar”), Bradley Cooper (“Licorice Pizza”), Jared Leto (“House of Gucci”), and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”). Many considered Smit-McPhee a favorite to win, but Kotsur’s achievement, which was followed by “CODA” picking up the big win of the night for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, showed that Deaf actors have come a long way since Marlee Matlin first picked up her Oscar win for “Children in a Lesser God” in 1987 – 35 years ago.

While accepting his award for Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role at Sunday’s star-studded awards ceremony, Troy Kotsur said that he felt like he is “finally part of the family” in his signed acceptance speech. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter was present to render his ASL into English for viewers unfamiliar with sign language.

“Wow. Thank you so much to all the members of SAG,” the ASL interpreter voiced. “ I am so proud to be a member. I’ve been a member since 2001, and so now I feel like I’m finally part of the family.”

“I know you all are artists, and I know 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?” he asked. “So, thank you so much. I’m so grateful to SAG [for protecting] us actors.”

He added, “I’m so grateful to Apple TV+ for all their support and access, like burned-in closed captioning, providing ASL interpreting services and believing in us deaf actors and casting us authentically as actors who happen to be deaf.”

Backstage, Kotsur said that he was “excited” and “overwhelmed” by the big win.

“I didn’t realize how heavy this [statuette] is,” he continued. “It’s my first time holding something like this, and I think I’m going to sleep with it in bed tonight.”

He said that his father had always thought of him as a “risk-taker” and said that his historical achievement tonight was proof that his risks paid off.  “I’m so proud, and it just shows that dreams can come true,” he added. “You never know when, just to throw that out there. But [this shows the importance of] trusting your gut.”

Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin, who starred opposite of Troy Kotsur in “CODA,” gave the acceptance speech for “CODA”’s big win at the end of the night.

During her acceptance speech, she thanked the SAG Award committee and Apple TV+ for “trusting us, for believing in us, our movie… you bought it for $25 million dollars at Sundance. Only $25 million.” The record-setting purchase came on the heels of “CODA” snapping up the Grand Jury Prize, as well as its Audience Award, Directing Award, and U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

She also thanked writer-director Sian Heder: “Thank you for writing the words that included Deaf culture. We love you.” She also issued her thanks to ASL interpreters and CODAs all over the world. CODA is an acronym for Children of Deaf Adults or Child of a Deaf Adult. Matlin also thanked her four children, who are all CODAs.

“You are all our peers. We Deaf actors have come a long way,” Matlin signed through her interpreter. “Thirty-five years… I have been seeing so much work out there all this time. I’ve watched all of your films, and I pay the deepest respect to all of you.”

“This validates the fact that we Deaf actors work just like everyone else,” she continued. “We look forward to more opportunities for Deaf actors and Deaf culture.”