Troy Kotsur is hoping the mobster role he plays on Netflix‘s Black Rabbit will open further doors for deaf performers in Hollywood.
The In Cold Light star, who made history as the first male deaf actor to win an Oscar for his supporting role in CODA, portrays Joe Mancuso, the head of the criminal underworld. In the crime-thriller miniseries from Netflix, Jude Law’s rising restauranteur is thrust into New York City’s dark underbelly when his ne’er do well brother (Jason Bateman) returns with loan sharks on his tail.
“I’m sure folks in the audience have really never seen a mobster who happens to be deaf. It was really fun and exciting for me to create this character,” Kotsur told People in a recent interview.
He added, “It was really fun for me to develop this character, a fresh take and a new perspective. It will open up new roles in the future, I hope. We’re not just actors who use sign language, we’re characters and we can play all different types of characters.”
Black Rabbit, which had its premiere at TIFF, was created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, with a logline describing the project as a “propulsive thrill ride and character examination about the way an unbreakable bond between two brothers can shatter their world and everything in its orbit.”
Also starring in the series, currently streaming on Netflix, is Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Chris Coy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Odessa Young and Robin De Jesus, with Amir Malaklou, Don Harvey, Forrest Weber, Francis Benhamou, Gus Birney, John Ales and Steve Witting.
The post Troy Kotsur Says He Hopes His ‘Black Rabbit’ Role Opens More Doors For Deaf Actors: “We Can Play All Different Types Of Characters” appeared first on Deadline.
