Colman Domingo

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Colman Domingo
Domingo at SXSW in 2024
Born
Colman Jason Domingo

(1969-11-28) November 28, 1969 (age 54)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationTemple University (BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • playwright
  • director
Years active1995–present
WorksPerformances
Spouse
Raúl Domingo
​
(m. 2014)​
AwardsFull list

Colman Jason Domingo (born November 28, 1969) is an American actor, playwright and director. Prominent on both screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and nominations for an Academy Award and two Tony Awards (Triple Crown of Acting).

Domingo's early Broadway roles include the 2005 play Well and the 2008 musical Passing Strange. He gained acclaim for his role as Mr. Bones in the Broadway musical The Scottsboro Boys (2011), for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He reprised the role in the 2014 West End production, being nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. In 2018, he wrote the book for the Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

After early roles in various incarnations of the Law & Order series and as part of the main cast for The Big Gay Sketch Show, he had his breakthrough playing Victor Strand in the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2023).[1] He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as the recovering drug addict Ali on the HBO series Euphoria (2019–present).

Domingo's film appearances include supporting roles in Lincoln (2012), Selma (2014), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), and The Color Purple (2023). For his role as a ruthless pimp in Janicza Bravo's Zola (2021), he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. His portrayal of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the Netflix film Rustin (2023) earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Early life and education[edit]

Domingo was born and raised as the third of four children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] Domingo was raised by his mother Edith Bowles and her husband[3][4] in a working-class household.[2] His mother was a homemaker and worked in a bank,[5] his stepfather Clarence[6] sanded floors for a living.[2] Edith passed away in 2006, the day after Domingo's audition for the theater musical Passing Strange.[3][7] His stepfather had died a few months earlier.[7]

Domingo's biological father was from Belize with relatives from Guatemala.[8] He left the family when Domingo was nine years old.[2]

Domingo had a speech impediment, a lisp,[9] as a child and was sent to speech therapy classes by his mother.[7]

Domingo attended Overbrook High School and later Temple University,[10][11] where he majored in journalism. Soon thereafter he moved to San Francisco, California, where he started acting, mainly in theatre productions.[11][12]

Career[edit]

1994–2010: Early roles[edit]

Domingo starred as Mr. Franklin Jones, Joop, and Mr. Venus in the critically acclaimed rock musical Passing Strange,[13] which, after a successful 2007 run at The Public Theater, opened on Broadway on February 28, 2008. He received an Obie Award[14] in spring 2008 as part of the ensemble of Passing Strange Off-Broadway and reprised his roles in the film version of Passing Strange, directed by Spike Lee, which made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. In 2010, Domingo's self-penned, one-man autobiographical play A Boy and His Soul premiered Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, for which he won a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show.[15] He was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award[16] and a Drama League Award.[17] Domingo starred as a replacement role as Billy Flynn in Chicago, the longest running revival on Broadway.[18]

During this time Domingo also acted in numerous television series. He made his television debut in the police procedural Nash Bridges in 1997 and made numerous appearances on the series. He took a small role in Clint Eastwood's True Crime (1999) and acted in the independent films Desi's Looking for a New Girl (2000), Kung Phooey (2003), and the crime drama Freedomland (2006). He also took minor roles in Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. He also acted in the sketch series The Big Gay Sketch Show from 2008 to 2010.

2011–2017: Rise to prominence[edit]

Domingo earned acclaim in the final collaboration by Kander and Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys,[19] directed by Susan Stroman on Broadway in Fall 2010. For that role he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in May 2011.[20] When The Scottsboro Boys[21] opened in London in Fall 2013, Domingo was nominated[22] for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical in April 2014. He was nominated for the Fred Astaire Award for Best Principal Dancer on Broadway in 2011.

Domingo collaborated with Spike Lee appearing in his films Miracle at St. Anna (2008) and Red Hook Summer (2012). He appeared as Private Harold Green in Steven Spielberg's historical epic Lincoln (2012). The following year he appeared in the civil rights films 42 (2013) playing Lawson Bowman and The Butler (2013) as Freddie Fallows. In 2014 he appeared in Ava DuVernay's civil rights film Selma portraying activist and Baptist minister Ralph Abernathy.

In 2015, Domingo began appearing in a recurring role on AMC's post-apocalyptic, zombie series Fear the Walking Dead, as a character named Victor Strand. In December 2015, it was announced that Domingo was promoted to series regular for Season 2 of the series.[23] That same year he had a recurring role as Dr. Russell Daniels in the Cinemax series The Knick. The following year he made appearances on Lucifer and Louis C.K.'s self-streaming show Horace and Pete. In 2017, Domingo joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a member of the Actors' Branch.[24] In 2018, Domingo joined the Directors Guild of America[25] as a director of episode 12 of season 4 of Fear The Walking Dead.[26] He is the first ever actor in The Walking Dead universe to helm an episode.[27] In 2020, Domingo signed a first-look deal with AMC Networks.[28]

2018–present: Established actor[edit]

In 2018 he appeared in Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk, a film adaptation of the James Baldwin 1974 novel of the same name. In the film he plays Tish's father, Joseph Rivers. His on-screen wife is played by Regina King who received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. That same year he collaborated with Sam Levinson, acting in the black comedy film Assassination Nation playing Principal Turrell. The following year Levinson cast Domingo in a recurring role as Ali, a recovering drug addict in the HBO drama series Euphoria. In 2020 he received acclaim for his role as Cutler in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson's play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. He also received attention for his role as X, a ruthless pimp in the crime film Zola directed by Janicza Bravo. For his role as X he received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. In 2022 he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Euphoria.

Domingo starred as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the 2023 Netflix film Rustin directed by George C. Wolfe. Upon the announcement of his being cast in the lead role, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, an LGBTQIA safe-space, community activist center, and educational bridge dedicated to honoring Bayard Rustin through their mission and good works, voiced their approval directly to Domingo, espousing that "Your powerful voice helps amplify Bayard Rustin, Godfather of Intersectionality, Planned the March, Brought non-violence to the Movement, Inspired the Freedom Riders, Lost to history because of who he loved, Who he was. Angelic Troublemakers unite!"[29] For his performance he received nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.

Also in 2023, he appeared as Mister in the movie musical adaptation of The Color Purple directed by Blitz the Ambassador. The film received positive reviews along with a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He also voiced the DC Comics superhero Batman in the Spotify scripted podcast The Riddler: Secrets in the Dark.[30] Domingo portrayed John "Divine G" Whitfield in the film Sing Sing which premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and which was picked up by A24 for distribution in 2024.

Upcoming projects[edit]

In 2024 it was announced that Domingo was cast to play Joe Jackson in the musical biopic Michael (2025) about the life of singer Michael Jackson.[31] It was also announced Domingo is set to direct and star in the leading role of a untitled Nat King Cole biopic from a script he co-wrote.[32]

Teaching[edit]

Domingo has taught at the O'Neill National Theater Institute,[33] University of Texas at Austin,[34] and University of Wisconsin-Madison.[35]

Personal life[edit]

Domingo is gay. He met his husband, Raúl Domingo, in 2005 and they married almost 10 years later, in 2014.[36][37]

Filmography[edit]

Main article: Colman Domingo on screen and stage

Awards and nominations[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Colman Domingo

Domingo has received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as a drug addict in the HBO series Euphoria (2022). Domingo also received Tony Award and Laurence Olivier Award nominations for his supporting performance in the musical The Scottsboro Boys. For his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom he received Screen Actors Guild Award and Independent Spirit Award nominations. He received the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance as an abusive pimp in Zola (2022).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (December 3, 2015). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Promotes Colman Domingo to Series Regular for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Rose, Steve (November 24, 2023). "'Are the Secret Service gonna come get me?': Colman Domingo on Rustin, Zendaya and touching Obama". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "How Colman Domingo's Late Mother Helped Him Bond with Oprah Winfrey: 'It's Magically Eerie' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Colman Domingo's time is now". The Seattle Times. November 20, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Schulman, Michael (August 16, 2021). "Colman Domingo Honors a Fabulous Friend". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Kuchwara, Michael; Press, The Associated (September 24, 2009). "Colman Domingo defines life by music of his youth". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c McGee, Celia (September 2, 2009). "Heartfelt Loss Pervades His Triumphs". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Thompson, Tessa (March 20, 2016). "Colman Domingo". Interview Magazine.
  9. ^ Davids, Brian (August 27, 2021). "'Candyman' Star Colman Domingo on Jordan Peele's "Beautiful Invitation" and His Key 'Zola' Scene". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Roberts, Kimberly C. (October 14, 2011). "'A Boy and His Soul' defies stereotypes". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Elkin, Michael (May 7, 2013). "Celebrating Success: From 'hood to Hollywood with actor Colman Domingo". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  12. ^ Katz, Leslie (March 11, 2021). "Colman Domingo recalls inspirational years in The City". The San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Passing Strange". Negroproblem.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  14. ^ "The 2008 Obie Award Winners". Village Voice. May 20, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  15. ^ "2010 Nominations and Recipients". www.lortelaward.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced; Ragtime and Scottsboro Top List". Playbill. May 3, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  17. ^ "Drama League Nominees Include Addams Family, American Idiot, Enron, Next Fall, Night Music". Playbill. April 20, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 14, 2010). "Domingo Is in Like Flynn in Broadway's Chicago Beginning June 14". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013.
  19. ^ "The Scottsboro Boys". Scottsboromusical.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  20. ^ "Just the List: 2011 Tony Award Nominees". Playbill. May 3, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Scottsboro Boys London". Scottsboromusicallondon.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (December 3, 2015). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Promotes Colman Domingo to Series Regular for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  24. ^ Thompson, Anne (June 28, 2017). "Barry Jenkins and Jordan Peele Among the 774 Invited to Join the Academy As It Pushes for Inclusion". Indiewire.
  25. ^ "Directors Guild of America Members Directory". Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  26. ^ Davis, Brandon (May 14, 2018). "'Colman Domingo Directs Upcoming 'Fear The Walking Dead' Episode". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  27. ^ Pollock, Sarabeth (April 14, 2017). "'Colman Domingo is back in the director's chair for Fear TWD 603". Fansided.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 24, 2020). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Co-Star Colman Domingo Inks First-Look Deal With AMC Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  29. ^ Genai, Shanelle (October 6, 2021). "Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Audra McDonald, Glynn Turman All Tapped for Upcoming Bayard Rustin Biopic". The Root. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  30. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 23, 2023). "Colman Domingo to Voice Batman Opposite Hasan Minhaj's Riddler in Spotify Series". The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. ^ "Colman Domingo To Play Patriarch Joe Jackson In Lionsgate & Universal's Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  32. ^ "Colman Domingo to Direct and Star in Nat King Cole Biopic (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  33. ^ "NTI Semester" Archived January 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.
  34. ^ "Performance Lecture by Colman Domingo", The University of Texas at Austin.
  35. ^ "UOWM Schedule". Artsextract.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  36. ^ Wolf, Cam (February 23, 2021). "How Euphoria's Colman Domingo Found True Love... on Craigslist". gq.com. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  37. ^ "Candyman Star Colman Domingo on Being Out and Ready for His Close-Up". www.advocate.com. September 15, 2021.

External links[edit]

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