At 55, Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo embodies a vibrant confidence and self-assurance that he reveals he never quite possessed in his younger years. Known for standout roles in productions such as Rustin, Sing Sing and Euphoria, Domingo describes this phase of his life as a gift, a period when one finally learns to be truly comfortable in their own skin. ‘I feel sexier,’ he shared with The New York Times. ‘I didn’t feel this way in my 20s or 30s or 40s. I feel I’m getting better at being in my body and being clear about what I do.’ The actor emphasises that this confidence comes from lived experience and self-care, stating, ‘This is what 55 looks like when you take care of yourself, when you are loved, when you are joyful.’
Integral to this sense of joy and comfort is the enduring love he shares with his husband, Raúl Domingo. Their relationship began with a serendipitous ‘meet-cute’ that seems scripted for a rom-com. It all started in 2005 when Colman spotted Raúl outside a Walgreens in Berkeley, California. Despite a mutual attraction marked by locked eyes, neither exchanged contact details. Fate intervened three days later when Colman found a ‘Missed Connections’ post on Craigslist, placed by Raúl, which read: ‘I saw you outside of Walgreens in Berkeley…’ Colman responded in kind, beginning a correspondence that soon led to their first date in San Francisco. Near dawn on that night, as they lay together, Colman whispered, ‘I think I love you and you’re about to change my life,’ words Raúl thankfully heard. Their bond has endured for nearly two decades, strengthened by shared experiences such as Raúl taking a job as assistant costume designer on the same Alaska production where Colman worked, and their intimate wedding ceremony in 2014, disguised as a small house party.
Throughout his career, Domingo has been open about his sexuality, coming out in his 20s to a supportive family that embraced him wholeheartedly. His one-man show A Boy and His Soul, which explored his coming-out journey, earned acclaim and a Lucille Lortel Award, underscoring his long-standing commitment to authentic storytelling without fanfare or a dramatic ‘heroic rise.’ However, despite his artistic achievements, including being the first openly gay Black American man nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, Domingo has expressed frustration with how his sexuality is often foregrounded in media coverage. As he told The Advocate, the qualifier ‘out actor’ becomes a limiting label, one rarely applied to his straight peers like Denzel Washington, who is simply described as an actor.
Now, as he navigates the mid-50s, Domingo finds profound peace in self-acceptance and enduring love, a testament to the enriching qualities of time and experience. His story offers a refreshing challenge to ageist narratives, proving that confidence, desire, and purpose often deepen rather than diminish with age. Within the LGBTQ+ community, and beyond, his journey is a powerful example of the strength found in embracing one’s whole self over time.
[Photo: Running Man]
Source: Noah Wire Services
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