First deaf-mute Oscar winner-Troy Kotsur
At 9 months old, he was discovered to be deaf, but that didn't stop him from realizing his dream. Troy Kotsur became the first deaf-mute Oscar winner.
American actor, Troy Kotsur made Hollywood history at the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The 53-year-old Troy is the star of 'CODA' and he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, making him the first deaf-mute winner of this prestigious award. As he climbed onto the stage to pick up an Oscar, a number of colleagues addressed the actor in sign language. Troy touched many with his speech.
‘I would like to thank you for the beautiful deaf-mute scenes in which I was given the opportunity to show myself as an actor. I dedicate the Oscars to the Deaf and Dumb community and the CODA film community. This is our moment, ' said Kotsur. He also thanked his greatest hero.
'My father was the head of the family. After the car accident, he was left paralyzed, but despite that, he was a great support to us all. Dad, I learned a lot from you. I will always love you, ' said Troy.
Kotsur grew up in Arizona, and when he was nine months old his parents realized he was deaf. He was encouraged to play with other street children, and some of them learned sign language because of him.
He discovered acting in a high school for the deaf and dumb and that became his life goal. He also wanted to be a director, and his first experiences were not encouraging.
'My dream of directing films disappeared when I realized that I live in a world where only a few people really understand my language,' he commented on one occasion. When he received a call from the American National Theater of the Deaf and Dumb, everything changed. He acted in several plays, some of which he directed, and there he managed to realize his dream.
He later appeared in several films and series and thus became increasingly famous in Hollywood. He accepted the role in the film 'CODA' as an opportunity of a lifetime, and it was she who won him an Oscar at this year's awards.
Troy is married to actress Deanne Bray, but the couple doesn’t like to talk too much about their relationship. They have been married since 2001, and she was his biggest support at the Oscars. He revealed that he is currently preparing for new film victories, and he will soon appear in the project 'Flash before the bang', in which many of his deaf-mute colleagues play.
