Troy Kotsur

ACTOR/JAMES

Troy Kotsur has been acting and directing for over 20 years, winning multi-awards along the way.  Deaf since birth, he was raised in Mesa, Arizona. Troy graduated from Westwood High School and went to Gallaudet University, were he playing basketball from 1987 to 1989.  In 1990 he left to become a professional actor with the National Theatre of the Deaf/Deaf West Theatre and a freelance-director.

Troy’s first film project was a short that he wrote and directed called Got Matches, which premiered at the Toronto International Deaf Film Festival. His other film work includes Ray’s Potion, The Eye, and True West, a film that he starred in as well as directed.  In 2013 Troy directed his first feature length film, Super Deafy: No Ordinary Hero.  He is attached to direct an independent film called Deaf Ghost, filming next year.

As an actor, Troy has had success in both film and television.  His guest starring roles include but are not limited to, Scrubs, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, and Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, a show where he had a recurring role and was a fan favorite.  In film, Troy has had strong supporting roles in The Number 23 with Jim Carey, Father’s Day Breakfast, and Universal Signs. Troy will play the leading role in the upcoming film, Inside Track.

Troy’s stage performing credits include the Tony-Award winning Big River on Broadway. He has had starring roles in in Pippen at the Mark Taper Forum, Deaf West Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening (2015 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Nominee – Best Production), American Buffalo at Cal State University Los Angeles, Cyrano at Deaf West/Fountain Theaters, (2013 Winner of seven Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards including Best Actor), A Streetcar Named Desire, (2001 LA Weekly Award, LA Drama Critics Award), and Of Mice and Men (1994 Lenny-Best Actor, LA Weekly). Troy will next be seen on stage in Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and in a production of American Buffalo in Ohio.

Troy is currently studying writing and directing with Luca Ceccarelli of the Director’s Edge in Hollywood, California.