Colman Domingo facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Colman Domingo
Domingo in 2025
Born	Colman Jason Domingo (1969-11-28) November 28, 1969 (age 56) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Temple University (BA)
Occupation	Actor playwright director
Years active	1994–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Raúl Domingo (m. 2014)
Awards	Full list

Colman Jason Domingo, born on November 28, 1969, is an American actor, writer for plays, and director. He became very well-known in movies, TV shows, and theater plays starting in the 2010s. Colman has won many awards, like a Primetime Emmy Award. He was also nominated for two Academy Awards and two Tony Awards. In 2024, Time magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Domingo began his career in local theater shows. He then moved to Broadway, acting in plays like Well (2005) and Passing Strange (2008). He also appeared in Chicago from 2010 to 2011. For his role in The Scottsboro Boys, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2011 and a Laurence Olivier Award in 2014. He also helped write Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2018). He co-produced Fat Ham (2023), a modern play inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

On television, he played Victor Strand in the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2023). He also played Ali Muhammad, a character working to overcome challenges, in the HBO series Euphoria (2019–2026). For this role, he won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2022. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in the Netflix series The Four Seasons (2025).

In movies, Domingo was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor two times in a row. These nominations were for his roles as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin (2023) and a character in a prison drama in Sing Sing (2024). He has also appeared in films like Lincoln (2012), The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), and The Color Purple (2023).

Colman Domingo's Early Life and Schooling
Colman Domingo's Acting Career
Colman Domingo's Personal Life
Acting Credits and Awards
See also

Colman Domingo's Early Life and Schooling

Colman Domingo was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the third of four children in a family that worked hard. His mother, Edith Bowles, took care of their home and also worked at a bank. His stepfather, Clarence, sanded floors for a living. Colman's mother passed away in 2006. His stepfather had passed away a few months before.

Colman's biological father was from Belize, with family from Guatemala. He left the family when Colman was nine years old. As a child, Colman had a lisp, which is a way of speaking where 's' sounds like 'th'. His mother sent him to speech therapy classes to help him.

Domingo finished Overbrook High School in 1987. He then went to Temple University and studied journalism. Soon after, he moved to San Francisco, California. There, he started acting, mostly in theater plays. From 2009 to 2017, Domingo lived in an apartment building for artists called Manhattan Plaza.

Colman Domingo's Acting Career

Early Roles in Movies and TV (1994–2007)

Colman Domingo's first acting role on screen was in a movie called Timepiece in 1995. He continued to act sometimes throughout the 1990s. He made his TV debut in the police show Nash Bridges in 1997. Later, he had a small role in Clint Eastwood's True Crime (1999). He also acted in independent films like Desi's Looking for a New Girl (2000) and Freedomland (2006). He also had small parts in TV shows like Law & Order.

Success in Theater and Film Roles (2008–2014)

Domingo in 2006

On stage, Domingo played Mr. Franklin Jones and other characters in the musical Passing Strange. This show was very popular and opened on Broadway in 2008. He won an Obie Award for his work in Passing Strange. He also appeared in the movie version of Passing Strange, directed by Spike Lee. Domingo worked with Spike Lee again in the film Miracle at St. Anna (2008). He also acted in the comedy show The Big Gay Sketch Show from 2008 to 2010.

In 2010, Domingo's play about his own life, A Boy and His Soul, was shown in New York. He won a Lucille Lortel Award for this play. For his work in The Scottsboro Boys on Broadway in 2010, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2011. When The Scottsboro Boys opened in London, Domingo was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 2014. In 2012, Domingo starred in his play Wild With Happy.

Domingo worked with Spike Lee again in the film Red Hook Summer (2012). Around this time, he had a small part in Steven Spielberg's historical movie Lincoln (2012). This movie was highly praised and very successful. Domingo then appeared in other successful films like 42 (2013), The Butler (2013), and Selma (2014).

From June to July 2014, Domingo returned to theater to play Billy Flynn in the Broadway show Chicago. In 2014, Colman faced many rejections for roles and even thought about stopping acting. However, a friend helped him find a new manager. This led to changes in how he auditioned and helped him find new types of roles. These changes helped Domingo get his big role in AMC's TV series, Fear the Walking Dead. Domingo has said this role "gave me a new footing back in the industry, believing I had something to give."

Becoming Well-Known on Television (2015–2019)

Domingo in 2016

On Fear the Walking Dead, Domingo played the character of Victor Strand. His first appearance was in the fifth episode of the first season. In December of that year, it was announced that Domingo would be a regular cast member for the second season. Many people praised his performance, calling him a very memorable character in the show.

In 2015, Domingo's play Dot was first shown at the Humana Festival. Dot was later produced in New York in 2016. Another play, Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole, which Domingo co-wrote, premiered in 2017. He also directed a production of Dot in 2019.

In 2016, Domingo appeared in several TV series. He played Dr. Russell Daniels in The Knick and Father Frank in Lucifer. That year, he also starred as Hark Turner in Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation. This movie was based on the story of Nat Turner, a man who led a rebellion for freedom in 1831. Colman shared that playing this role was very powerful. He felt the deep history and emotions of the places where they filmed.

In 2017, Domingo joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This group is known for giving out the Academy Awards. He also voiced a dragonfly character in an episode of the animated series BoJack Horseman.

Domingo in 2018

In 2018, Domingo became a director for season four of Fear The Walking Dead. He was the first actor from the series to direct an episode in The Walking Dead world. He directed three episodes of Fear The Walking Dead. That year, he also wrote the story for the Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. He appeared in Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk, a movie based on a 1974 novel. He also worked with Sam Levinson for the first time in the film Assassination Nation (2018).

Levinson cast Domingo in the role of Ali Muhammad, a character working to overcome challenges, in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–2026). Domingo's performance received a lot of attention. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2022 for his work in the second season of the series.

Major Film Roles and Recognition (2020–Present)

In 2020, Domingo made a deal with AMC Networks to develop new projects. That year, he also received praise for his role as Cutler in the Netflix movie Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He starred alongside Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in this film. The next year, he gained more attention for his role as X, a challenging character, in the crime film Zola. For this role, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. That year, he also helped produce a short film called Leylak.

Domingo at the 75th Tony Awards in 2022

In 2023, Domingo starred as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the Netflix movie Rustin. This film was directed by George C. Wolfe. When it was announced he would play the lead role, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice expressed their support. They said his powerful voice helps share the story of Bayard Rustin, who was a key figure in the civil rights movement.

For his performance in Rustin, Domingo was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. His Academy Award nomination for Rustin made him the first Afro-Latino to be nominated for Best Actor. He was also the second openly gay man, and the first American openly gay man, to be nominated for an Academy Award for playing a gay character.

He received good reviews for his performance as Mister in the 2023 film The Color Purple. This movie was based on the musical, which was based on the novel and its 1985 film. Along with the other actors, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Performance by a Cast. That year, he also voiced the DC Comics superhero Batman in a podcast. In 2024, he continued this role in the second season of Batman Unburied.

Domingo played John "Divine G" Whitfield in the prison drama Sing Sing. This movie was shown at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and later released by A24 to great reviews. Domingo received nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Sing Sing. In October 2024, he appeared on a musical album called Warriors. He sang the role of Masai. In 2025, Domingo voiced Norman Osborn in the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. He has also shared his interest in playing this character in live-action movies.

Domingo co-starred in The Four Seasons, which was released on Netflix on May 1, 2025. In May 2025, Netflix announced a second season for the show. In that same year, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Danny. Domingo was a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala. He also starred as real-life radio host Fred Temple in Gus Van Sant's historical crime film Dead Man's Wire. In August 2025, Domingo starred in Sabrina Carpenter's music video for her song "Tears". In 2026, Domingo portrayed Joe Jackson, a talent manager, in the musical movie Michael. This film is about the life of singer Michael Jackson. To play Jackson, Domingo used special makeup and changed his look. Domingo shared that he focused on understanding the character. He said the movie explores how Michael became who he was. His performance received mixed reviews from critics. Domingo also co-starred in Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, alongside Emily Blunt and Colin Firth. This was Domingo's second time working with Spielberg. Domingo said the script was very moving and beautiful.

Upcoming Projects

Domingo is set to co-star with Kerry Washington, James Marsden, and Chloe East in the thriller An Innocent Girl. In the fall of 2026, Domingo will direct and star in Unforgettable, a movie about Nat King Cole that he also helped write.

Domingo is also planned to star with Sandra Hüller in True-ish, and in Strange Arrivals with Demi Moore.

Colman Domingo's Personal Life

Colman Domingo is openly gay. He met his husband, Raúl Domingo, in 2005. They got married in 2014.

Domingo taught classes and gave talks at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. He also taught at the O'Neill National Theater Institute in 2015 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016. On May 10, 2025, Domingo received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from American University. In 2026, Domingo received an honorary doctorate from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Acting Credits and Awards

Throughout his career, Domingo has received a Primetime Emmy Award. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, five Critics' Choice Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Tony Awards.