Oscar winner Troy Kotsur also developed the Tusken Sign Language in The Mandalorian

Troy Kotsur made history on Sunday by becoming the first male Deaf actor to win an Oscar for his powerful portrayal in CODA, though a recently re-surfaced interview revealed he has an interesting connection to the Star Wars universe.

The 53-year-old actor’s last role before CODA was as Tusken Raider Scout #1 in the fifth episode of the first season in The Mandalorian back in 2019.

His character communicated with Pedro Pascal’s title character through sign language, though he revealed in a January 2020 interview with The Daily Moth that he created a whole new sign language for the character.

Mandalorian: The 53-year-old actor’s last role before CODA was as Tusken Raider Scout #1 in the fifth episode of the first season in The Mandalorian back in 2019

The Mandalorian episode, entitled The Gunslinger, follows the title character heading to Tatooine in search of a bounty.

While there he encounters some Tusken Raiders, with a hearing member of the crew who knew American Sign Language (ASL) suggested some form of sign language for the Tusken Raiders to use.

That lead to the hiring of Kotsur, both as the actor to play the Tusken Raider Scout, and to develop the Tusken Sign Language himself.

Scout: That lead to the hiring of Kotsur, both as the actor to play the Tusken Raider Scout, and to develop the Tusken Sign Language himself

‘I did research on the culture and environment of Tusken Raiders. I researched on the desert called “sand people.” That is what Luke Skywalker calls them “sand people,”‘ Kotsur said. 

He added his goal was to ‘avoid’ using ASL, adding, ‘I made sure it became Tusken Sign Language based on their culture and environment.’

He shared the sign for the Mandalorian in the interview, which is based on the ‘M’ sign and features a cross over the face, much like The Mandalorian’s unique mask.  

Research: ‘I did research on the culture and environment of Tusken Raiders. I researched on the desert called “sand people.” That is what Luke Skywalker calls them “sand people,”‘ Kotsur said

He added it was a ‘blessing’ to land the role on the series, since he has been a Star Wars fan since he was eight years old.

‘When I was eight years old, I dreamed to be part of Star Wars. Many, many years later, almost 40 years later- it is fate,’ he said.

Kotsur was just the second Deaf actor to win an Oscar, following his CODA co-star Marlee Matlin, who won Best Actress in 1987 for Children of a Lesser God.

Blessing: He added it was a ‘blessing’ to land the role on the series, since he has been a Star Wars fan since he was eight years old

Second: Kotsur was just the second Deaf actor to win an Oscar, following his CODA co-star Marlee Matlin, who won Best Actress in 1987 for Children of a Lesser God

CODA stands for Children of Deaf Adults, with the film following a young woman (Emilia Jones) – the only one who can hear in her family.

She tries to pursue her dreams as a singer despite her family (Kotsur, Matlin, Daniel Durant) needing her for their fishing business.

Kotsur is attached to star in the TV series The Last Police, and the movie Flash Before the Bang, starring alongside his wife Deanne Bray. 

Movie: CODA stands for Children of Deaf Adults, with the film following a young woman (Emilia Jones) – the only one who can hear in her family

Family: She tries to pursue her dreams as a singer despite her family (Kotsur, Matlin, Daniel Durant) needing her for their fishing business