Rustin Star Colman Domingo Makes Oscars History as First Afro Latino Nominated for Best Actor

Colman Domingo has made history with his nomination for the upcoming Oscars 2024.

The Rustin star, who is of Belizean and Guatemalan descent, is the first Afro-Latino to ever be nominated for Best Actor. He is joined in the category by fellow black contender Jeffrey Wright, who is competing for his lead performance in the American fiction.

And according to The New York Times, Domingo is only the second openly gay man to earn an Oscar nomination for playing a gay character. The last to do it was Ian McKellen, who was nominated in 1999 for his performance in Gods and monsters.

The 96th ceremony also marks only the second time that more than one black actor other than Denzel Washington or Will Smith has been nominated for best actor at the Oscars, per Diversity. (First time in 2004, when Jamie Foxx [who won for Ray] and Don Cheadle were nominated.)

Domingo, 54, and Wright, 58, are nominated alongside Bradley Cooper Maestro, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers and Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer.

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Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in Rustin (2023).

NETFLIX

Oscars 2024: All first-time acting nominees

On Netflix RustinDomingo plays the titular Bayard Rustin, a man who worked as one of the main organizers of the August 1963 March on Washington.

He was previously nominated for the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards earlier this month for his role in the film, and is also up for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA Award.

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Domingo, who won an Emmy in 2022 for his performance as recovering addict Ali on HBO Euphoriais getting more attention due to his acclaimed performances Rustin and Purplethe latter as the charismatic but abusive Mister.

“I realize I’m having a moment,” Domingo, who could potentially be the first gay black man to take home an acting Oscar, told PEOPLE earlier this month.

Colman Domingo for the January 2024 issue of People magazine. Taken on 12/01/2023

Colman Domingo for PEOPLE December 1, 2023

Allison Michael Orenstein

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Oscars

If he wins at the Oscars or any other event, his trophies will probably sit next to the Emmy he keeps in his office.

“I like it indoors,” the actor said. “I can’t walk into my house and feel like, ‘Oh, I’m Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo.’ ”

“I look up from my desk and think, ‘Oh, that’s beautiful,'” he continued. The only thing keeping him company is his recent Tribute International Film Festival award in Toronto.

“There is a lot of room for one or two Oscars. I’m in two movies. I’ll make room for two Oscars. Why not?” Domingo joked.

The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be broadcast live on Sunday, March 10, from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education

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