Acceptance speech in sign language
Deaf Oscar winner: Troy Kotsur even moves the translator to tears
Troy Kotsur won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor
© Valerie Macon / AFP
Deaf Troy Kotsur has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. His acceptance speech in sign language became the emotional highlight of the award ceremony.
US actor Troy Kotsur has won the Oscar for best supporting actor. The 53-year-old was recognized for his role as a family man in the deaf drama “Coda,” which also won Best Picture. Being deaf himself, Kotsur gave his acceptance speech on stage in sign language.
It turned into an emotional speech, with Kotsur making the audience laugh and his interpreter on the verge of tears. “I can’t believe I’m standing here,” Kotsur said in his acceptance speech. Participating in the film “Coda” was an incredible journey that even earned him a visit to the White House. He briefly considered teaching Joe and Jill Biden a few dirty words in sign language, “but Marlee Matlin told me to behave,” Kotsur joked.
Deaf actress Marlee Matlin won the 1987 Best Actress Oscar for her role in God’s Forgotten Children. Kotsur is now the first male deaf actor to win an Oscar.
“Coda” tells the story of a teenager who works as an interpreter for her deaf family, but who also wants to pursue her own dreams. In his acceptance speech, Kotsur praised “Coda” director Sian Heder as the “best communicator” who brought the deaf and hearing world together. “You are our bridge and your name will forever be on this bridge.”
Emotional words to the father
Kotsur also offered some emotional words to his father, who was badly injured in a car accident and became paralyzed from the neck down. “Dad, I’ve learned so much from you, I will always love you. You are my hero,” Kotsur said, while the translator’s voice almost seemed to break.
He dedicates the Oscars to the deaf community, the Coda community and the disabled community, Kotsur said. “This is our moment.”