Delroy Lindo shares Oscar nomination news came from son after Best Supporting Actor nod

Delroy Lindo has shared how he learned of his first-ever Oscar nomination, revealing that the news was delivered by his son during a phone call early in the morning.

The actor received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the 2026 Academy Awards for his performance as blues musician Delta Slim in the 2025 film Sinners.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with E! News, Lindo said his son Damiri was the first member of the family to hear the announcement.

“I was in bed,” Lindo recalled. “My phone rang. It was my son. I picked it up and said, ‘Hey man,’ and he said, ‘Dad, dad, you got it. You got that s--t.’”

Lindo said the moment carried particular meaning because of his son’s close view of his career. “It means the world because he’s seen it all,” he said. “He’s seen it away from the red carpet. He’s seen both sides of it.”

He added that receiving the news from Damiri felt fitting, given the shared perspective he and his wife, Nashormeh N.R. Lindo, have with their son on the realities of the industry.

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, earned 16 nominations in total, setting a record for the most nods received by a single film in Oscars history. Lindo said the response to the film had been affirming.

“It’s just incredibly joyful and affirming,” he told E! News, adding that the recognition reflected how audiences had connected with the work.

The film also marked first-time Oscar nominations for several cast members, including Michael B. Jordan, nominated for Best Actor, and Wunmi Mosaku, nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Lindo has previously spoken about collaborating closely with Coogler to shape his character, including discussions about life in the Jim Crow South and changes made during development.

Sinners will compete at the 98th Academy Awards, which will air on 15 March, with Lindo facing nominees including Jacob Elordi, Stellan Skarsgård, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn.