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Colman Domingo thought about Departing Acting after Losing Role

After losing out on the Boardwalk Empire role, the Euphoria actor said, “That’s when I lost my mind,”, having known the reason why the show passed on him. By: Dylan Low

Colman Domingo has revealed an experience that almost led him to leave the acting industry forever. In a latest interview, Domingo mentioned amidst the earlier days of his career, he had high expectations having made his audition for HBO drama Boardwalk Empire. Domingo desired the role of a maître d’ at a Black-owned nightclub.

“This is the one that’s going to change it up for me,” Domingo thought at the time, “This is the one that’s going to finally be my big break.”

The Emmy award winner pulled all stops for the audition, dressed in a tuxedo and showcasing his singing and tap-dancing performances for the producers. Afterwards, his agent contacted him and mentioned everyone at Boardwalk Empire enjoyed his audition, however what his agent said next did not sit right with him.

Having received a callback, the actor remembered his agent noting to him that the show’s historical researcher told producers that the maître d’s in those night clubs had light-skinned appearances. Domingo was not, hence Boardwalk Empire passed on him for the character.

“That’s when I lost my mind,” Domingo recalled his emotions back then. “I can’t take it anymore; I think this is going to kill me.”

Fast forward a decade later, Domingo has learned many insights and changed his ways of finding work, consisting of main character roles in notable films Rustin and The Color Purple.

“I became an actor that was ‘offer-only’ probably sooner than the industry thought I should have,” he acknowledged. “But I decided I have a body of work. You can go and look at it, you can ask other directors about me, and you can make me the offer or not.”

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