Troy Kotsur, “CODA” cast win historic SAG Awards
Sunday was a big, historic night for deaf actor Troy Kotsur and the cast of “CODA” during the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. The show was broadcast on live TV on TNT and TBS.
Troy Kotsur won the SAG Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role” for his performance as a father and fisherman in the film, “CODA.” He is the first deaf actor to win an individual SAG award.
Kotsur said in his speech that he struggled as a starving actor just like others in the audience, saying, “You feel me, right?” He thanked Apple TV for their support and providing accessibility by burning in subtitles in the film. Kotsur thanked his wife Deanne Bray for being his “backbone.” Bray was in the audience and flashed an ILY back to him.
He closed his speech with humor, thanking his wife for remaining him to close his fly before he accepted the award.
The cast of “CODA” won the “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. This award is considered the top SAG award. Deaf actors Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durant, and Kotsur came onstage along with hearing actors Eugenio Derbez and Emilia Jones to accept their award.
Matlin gave a speech. She pointed to the microphone and said, “I don’t need this, that’s what I pay my interpreter for.”
She thanked Apple TV for believing in them and director Sian Heder, who was seen flashing an ILY handshape back at them. Matlin said deaf actors have come a long way. She said this is proof that deaf actors can work just as good as anyone else.
She closed her speech by teaching the audience how to say ILY. For Matlin, she can now add a SAG Award with her Oscar award.
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The SAG Awards is one of the most prestigious awards that an actor can receive. The winners are chosen from votes of about 124,000 SAG-AFTRA members.
Now many are looking to the Oscars, which will take place on March 27. Kotsur is nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award and the film is nominated for Best Picture. Also nominated is director Sian Heder for “Best Adapted Screenplay.”