'CODA' 's Troy Kotsur Says He's 'Glad' for SAG Nomination 'Not Because I'm Deaf But Because I'm Talented'

Photo: Rich Fury/Getty “Now that I feel like I’ve broken in and received these nominations, I’m so glad that they recognized me — not because I’m deaf but because I’m a talented actor,” Kotsur toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve already recognized all their work and their talent as artists, but now it’s their opportunity to see my skill as an artist. I don’t care if I win or not.” Kotsur likened his nomination to his beard, telling the publication, “Do you see my beard?

'CODA' 's Troy Kotsur Says He's 'So Blessed' to Be an Oscar Nominee: 'It Has Saved My Career'

Troy Kotsurfeels “so blessed” to land his firstAcademy Awardnomination. Although he has already taken home aBAFTA Award,SAG AwardandCritics Choice Awardfor his role inCODA, the 53-year-old actor is still beside himself at the Oscar recognition — in part because of some of the financial struggles he faced in the past. “It’s most important for me to really have my family there because I’ve been through so much as an actor over the last 35 years, and I almost lost my family because of financial reasons and other problems,” Kotsur, who’s dad to 16-year-old daughterKyra, tells PEOPLE.

'CODA' 's Troy Kotsur Shares His Top 5 Tips for Parents Raising Deaf Children: 'ASL Saved My Life'

Troy Kotsuris using his personal experience to offer advice for raising children who are deaf.The Oscar-winning actor and father, 54, appeared in anew episodeof the"Dad Saves America" podcastalongside host John Papola to provide information about how hearing parents can best raise a deaf child.Papola notes that around 11 million Americans are hard of hearing and around 1 million are functionally deaf, according to recent U.S. census data.At nine months old, Kotsur’s parents discovered he was deaf.

'CODA' Actor Troy Kotsur Makes History as First Deaf Male Oscar Nominee: I'm 'Extremely Thrilled'

Troy Kotsur.Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty For more on the 2022 Oscar nominations, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day. “I feel like it’s wonderful to be able to share this experience with the deaf community and with the hearing community,” Kotsur said via an ASL interpreter. “It’s so exciting and such a blessing.” “I just felt so touched that so many deaf people all over the community are so excited and they’re all celebrating.

'CODA' Producers Team Up with Tony-Winning Deaf West Theatre to Develop Its Musical Adaptation

CODAis coming to the stage! The producers of the Oscar-nominated film announced Wednesday that a musical adaptation is in the works in collaboration with the Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre, the company behind the Broadway revival ofSpring Awakeningthat starredCODA’sMarlee Matlinand Daniel Durant. Their past Broadway productions include the 2003 revival ofBig River, which received a Tony Award for Excellence in the Theatre, and the 2015 revival ofSpring Awakening, in which both hearing and deaf actors worked simultaneously to reimagine the coming-of-age rock musical.