At the 94th Academy Awards, Troy Kotsur won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'CODA,' available on Apple TV+. He is first deaf man, and second deaf performer after Marlee Matlin, to win an Academy Award.
However, long before this historic accomplishment, Kotsur already had a successful career on stage, particularly in Deaf West Theatre productions. He also has appeared in movies and on TV, including joining George Lucas’ Star Wars universe as a Tusken Raider in Disney’s 'The Mandalorian,' created by Jon Favreau and currently streaming on Disney+.
Kotsur visited Austin, Texas in June to collaborate with Dad Saves America on an upcoming documentary about his story, with a focus on the impact of dads on the flourishing of their children. Kotsur’s visit culminated in a live event at Texas School for the Deaf, during which he taught an acting workshop for students and, later in the evening, gave a speech that drew a packed audience.
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Outline: [0:00] Intro [1:43] The impact of “CODA” [12:35] Choosing roles as an actor [15:15] Educating the public about ASL [17:00] Troy’s dad is his hero [27:19] Rejecting victimhood [30:27] Growing up deaf [35:04] Cochlear implants aren’t for everyone [42:42] The public school experience as a deaf teenager [55:40] Troy’s dad was pillar of the community [58:38] Advice for parents of deaf children [1:01:17] Sending your children out into the world [1:07:25] Acting is a tough job [1:12:03] Bringing together deaf and hearing audiences [1:17:34] What it means to be a hero [1:20:09] The role of dad in the American story [1:24:21] Troy’s plans for the future [1:25:24] Outro
Dad Saves America is a channel dedicated to celebrating heroic fatherhood while teaching the next generation of fathers strategies they can utilize in parenting their children. We believe strong children come from a strong family. We’ve had many experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Mike Yates, Lenore Skenazy, Warren Farrell, Matt Ridley, Martin Gurri, and Michael Strong.
