If you’ve spent any time staring at a television or film screen in the past few years, you’ve likely encountered some of Colman Domingo’s handiwork. The 54-year-old Academy Award winner has graced the screen for such impressive projects as “Candyman,” “The Color Purple,” “Fear The Walking Dead,” and the HBO original series “Euphoria,” just to name a few. Earlier this year, he was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world due to his powerful ethos, moving performances and commitment to creative excellence. Currently, fans are awaiting Domingo’s appearance in a myriad of upcoming works, including Netflix’s forthcoming outing “The Madness,” as well as next year’s Michael Jackson biopic.
Needless to say, many fans are wondering just how much money Colman Domingo has stacked up over the course of his decades-long career. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a quick but comprehensive look at the revered actor’s financial portfolio, investment holdings and film salary. As his star continues to rise, we can rest assured we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in everything from A24 indie films to smash-hit blockbusters. Without any further preamble, let’s dive right in and see what we can learn from the life and career of one of the greatest working actors of our time.
Early Life And Career Beginnings
Long before he was earning major film and television roles, Colman Domingo was born to a working-class family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His biological father abandoned the family when the future star was only nine years old leaving him and his three siblings to be raised by their mother and step-father. Though Domingo found an early passion for performance, he was known to be quite shy in his youth. His shyness was exacerbated by a significant speech impediment, which required speech therapy courses to overcome. As a teen, he appeared in multiple stage productions while attending Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School, strengthening his love for theater and influencing his decision to move to San Francisco after finishing a degree program in journalism from Temple University.
Throughout the mid-1990s, Colman Domingo saw growing success working on stage productions and even began appearing on Broadway shows. Unfortunately, tragedy struck his family in 2006 when both his mother and step-father passed away within months of one another. The pair never got to see Colman reach his full potential, though their support surely helped him to flourish during his early days on the stage.
The actor recently opened up about his mother’s support of his work during his early years as a professional thespian, even revealing to People that she wrote letters to Oprah Winfrey hoping that the television personality could help him get ahead. Specifically he explained, “I was a very disgruntled unemployed actor working off- off-Broadway and bartending. And my mother said, ‘Well, you know, I wrote Oprah today… because I think she could help you.’ I’m like, ‘Mom, Oprah does not care about me. What are you talking about?’ And she said, ‘Oh, come on. You’ve got to play the game to win.’”
Breakthrough And Screen Acting Career
Though Colman Domingo was bereft at the loss of his parents, he continued to progress his career. In 2010, he wrote his own one-man show titled “A Boy and His Soul” which opened off-Broadway to rave reviews. From there, the actor began receiving work in numerous television ventures, including shows like “Law & Order,” “Nash Bridges” and “The Knick.” His first feature-length breakthroughs included front-and-center placements on the Spike Lee films “Miracle at St. Anna” and “Red Hook Summer” as well as the critically acclaimed biopic “Lincoln,” directed by Steven Spielberg. As the mid-2010s carried on, Domingo would grow to become a go-to performer for historical nonfiction and civil rights movies, taking on starring roles in “42,” “The Butler,” “Selma” and “The Birth of a Nation.”
As of 2024, Colman Domingo has racked up dozens of screen acting credits on IMDb, with over half a dozen upcoming projects in various stages of active production. The star performer has joined the ranks of fellow actors like Denzel Washington and Chadwick Boseman as one of the few performers whose mere involvement in any film is a tacit implication of the project’s high watermark for quality. Though we don’t have exact figures on Domingo’s per-project salary, we can surmise based on his success and laundry list of accolades that he’s bringing in a minimum of six-figures per film. Of course, his appearance in larger blockbusters titles like “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” could offer a payout of millions, especially as the actor continues to establish himself as a household name.
Directing And Other Ventures
Though his acting salary comprises the bulk of Colman Domingo’s net worth, he has also ameliorated his income with a number of other creative ventures. In 2018, Domingo officially joined the ranks of the Directors Guild of America after having helmed 3 episodes of the series “Fear The Walking Dead.” The show, which Domingo starred in alongside Kim Dickens, Frank Dillane, Lennie James and others, serves as the actor’s first collaboration with AMC Networks. This partnership turned out to be quite lucrative, as the network signed him to a first-look deal in 2020, ensuring that his future projects will have a home on television and streaming.
During a press report, AMC Networks President Sarah Barnett said of Domingo, “He has become a core character of the series and, as anyone who knows him knows, his talents go far beyond that one character in that one show. He is a writer, producer and performer who can move effortlessly between film, television and the stage and we are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with this extraordinary talent and individual through this first-look deal.”
Overall Net Worth And Future
Clearly Colman Domingo is one of the most fascinating performers working today. With so many exciting projects under his belt, and so many more to come, it may feel a bit overwhelming trying to keep up with his growing body of work. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Colman Domingo is expected to have a complete value of over $8 million. Of course, as he continues investing his money, purchasing real estate and appearing in more hit projects with auteur directors, this figure is expected to balloon exponentially.
