Nominated for Best Actor for Sing Sing at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, the Euphoria Star Lights Up the Dolby Theatre with a Red Valentino Suit, a Viral Don Julio Toast, and a Rare Red-Carpet Moment with Husband Raúl Domingo, Though Adrien Brody Takes the Prize.
Los Angeles, USA – March 4, 2025 – Colman Domingo didn’t leave the 97th Academy Awards with the Best Actor Oscar last night, but the 55-year-old dynamo walked away with something just as indelible: a cemented legacy as Hollywood’s red-carpet king and a master of joyful defiance. Nominated for his soul-stirring role as Divine G in Sing Sing—his second consecutive Best Actor nod after 2024’s Rustin—Domingo turned the Dolby Theatre into his personal dance floor on Sunday, March 2, leading a mid-show margarita toast with Don Julio 1942 that had stars like Cynthia Erivo and Ralph Fiennes grooving to Frankie Beverly’s “Before I Let Go.” Though Adrien Brody ultimately claimed the statuette for The Brutalist, Domingo’s night was a triumph of spirit, style, and storytelling.
The evening began with a sartorial bang. Domingo hit the red carpet in a custom Valentino suit by Alessandro Michele—a double-breasted, rose-red shantung silk jacket paired with black wool trousers and a tasseled belt, topped with vintage Boucheron jewelry and a diamond-encrusted Omega Speedmaster watch worth $160,000. “I’m not just at the party—I am the party,” he told PEOPLE ahead of the event, a promise he kept from carpet to curtain call. Beside him stood husband Raúl Domingo, a rare public sighting for the couple married since 2014, whose Craigslist “missed connections” love story from 2005 resurfaced to melt hearts online. “Seeing them together exudes this calm, beautiful aura,” one fan posted on X, reflecting the buzz around their 19-year romance.
Inside, Domingo’s energy was uncontainable. During a commercial break, he commandeered the stage, mini tequila bottle in hand, rallying the audience into a dance party captured by The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s the lifeblood of this room,” said host Conan O’Brien, who later quipped about Domingo’s relentless charm. The moment underscored his season-long dominance—back-to-back nominations, a first since Denzel Washington in 2017-2018, for Sing Sing, a prison drama lauded for its humanity. “It’s about our shared soul,” Domingo said of the film, available on VOD, in a February X post thanking supporters.
The Best Actor race was fierce. Brody’s win, after a five-minute-plus speech that shushed the orchestra, capped a sweep of precursors, leaving Domingo, Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) as gracious runner-ups. Sing Sing went home empty-handed despite its buzz, a snub that stung fans who’d hailed Domingo’s raw portrayal of an incarcerated man finding redemption through theater. “Quite ridiculous he’s not the front-runner,” one X user lamented weeks prior, echoing a sentiment that lingered post-ceremony.
Yet Domingo’s night transcended the loss. His red-carpet strut with Raúl—a quiet power move in a black suit—spoke volumes about representation, especially as posts on X marveled at their bond. “It’s still rare to see a star introduce their spouse so casually on this stage,” noted FandomWire, calling it a stylish middle finger to Hollywood’s old guard. At the Governors Ball, he and Raúl posed with his empty hands full of tequila and charisma, proving hardware isn’t the only measure of a win.
For Domingo, who started his day with a workout and haircut on Sunset Boulevard, the Oscars were less about the trophy and more about the moment. “I’m here to have a good time,” he’d said—a mission accomplished with every twirl, toast, and tailored thread. As Anora swept Best Picture and Mikey Madison claimed Best Actress, Domingo’s spotlight didn’t dim—it burned brighter, a testament to a man who’s rewriting the rules, one dance step at a time.
