Colman Domingo nearly considered leaving his career behind

Colman Domingo was ready to quit. After decades of grinding through auditions and small roles, the now 55-year-old actor found himself in his 40s seriously contemplating a complete career change. The breaking point came not from a single rejection but from the累积 weight of wondering if his artistic dreams were financially sustainable.

Today, Domingo stands as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers, collecting Academy Award, SAG Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations over the past five years. But before his 2015 breakthrough in Fear the Walking Dead, he spent years questioning whether he could afford to keep pursuing acting at all.

When success felt impossible

In a recent conversation with Britain’s Esquire magazine, Domingo opened up about reaching what felt like the end of his rope. He’d done everything right according to industry wisdom. He’d trained, networked, taken the roles that came his way. Yet visibility remained elusive, and the heartache of going unseen became harder to ignore.

The lack of traditional career markers stung particularly hard. In most professions, dedication eventually translates to promotions and raises. But the arts operate differently. You can work for years with exceptional skill and still struggle to pay rent. Domingo found himself bargaining with fate, giving his career another six months, then another, hoping something would finally click.

The doubts crept in with increasing frequency. What was the point of stepping out on creative limbs when the return felt so minimal? Acting started to feel like a privilege designed for wealthy kids with Ivy League degrees and trust funds to fall back on. For someone without those safety nets, continuing seemed less like courage and more like foolishness.

Rather than let resentment poison his relationship with the craft he loved, Domingo considered walking away on his own terms. Better to leave than to become the bitter actor he never wanted to be.

Art as revolution

What kept him going was a shift in perspective about what his work actually meant. Domingo began viewing his performances not just as entertainment but as revolutionary acts. Every role became a declaration of his values, a way of showing the world what mattered to him.

His choices on screen reflect how he votes, where he invests his energy, what causes deserve amplification. This realization transformed acting from a struggling career into a form of activism. The Rustin actor now only accepts roles that align with his beliefs, understanding that each character contributes to his larger message.

The power of doing everything

Domingo has never been content doing just one thing. He acts, writes and directs, finding that each discipline strengthens the others. Directing makes him a better actor. Acting informs his directing. Writing enhances both.

He connects this multifaceted approach to his ancestors, descendants of enslaved people who survived through adaptability and fullness of life. They fought, yes, but they also loved, danced, sang and remained courageously curious. That legacy of refusing limitation courses through everything Domingo creates.

The Euphoria star brings this same expansive energy to every project. He’s not the type of actor who simply shows up and follows instructions. He walks into rooms asking directors why characters are written certain ways and whether they’re open to adding more depth.

Some might read this as cocky, but Domingo sees it as being a true worker. He wants to get under the hood of every project, to collaborate meaningfully rather than just execute someone else’s vision. His questions come from caring deeply, from wanting to make the work as rich as possible.

The reward for persistence

Domingo‘s willingness to keep going six months at a time, even when success seemed impossible, eventually positioned him for the recognition he’d always deserved. His journey proves that breakthroughs don’t follow predictable timelines and that artistic integrity paired with stubborn persistence can ultimately win out.

The roles that once felt out of reach now come to him regularly. The industry that couldn’t see his talent finally opened its eyes. And the actor who almost quit now stands as proof that sometimes the best decision is giving it just one more six months.