Tag: Keivonn Woodard

‘Last of Us’ actor didn’t know he was Emmy nominee because of basketball camp

Keivonn Montreal Woodard was nominated for an Emmy for his Last of Us role, but it took some while to convey the news for a hilarious reason.

Keivonn Montreal Woodard’s Emmy nomination for his role as Sam Burrell in HBO show The Last of Us was notable for multiple reasons: he is the youngest actor to receive a nomination for outstanding guest actor in a drama series, the second-youngest Emmy nominee in history, and is the first Black deaf actor to be nominated, according to Variety.

But anyone who followed along closely for updates likely learned of this before the young actor. You see, the 10-year-old was at basketball camp, so it took some extra time to convey the news.

In an interview with Variety, co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin said he spoke to Montreal Woodard’s mother.

“(She) had no idea what was going on today. She’s like, “What? What happened?” And she’s so excited, and can’t wait to talk Keivonn — who currently has no idea because he’s in basketball camp,” Mazin said to the outlet.

Woodard is rising as an actor, but his aspirations actually lie in sports — and not in basketball, but in hockey. In February, a video of his charming interaction with Alex Ovechkin went viral.

So even though he has become better-known named, Woodard is continuing to do things kids do — like ignore news of award shows for basketball camp.

‘The Last of Us’ actor, deaf youth hockey player meets Alexander Ovechkin in heartwarming video

Keivonn Woodard, a 10-year-old actor on “The Last of Us,” met his idol Alexander Ovechkin and took the ice with the Washington Capitals.

Even actors can still get starstruck. 10-year-old Keivonn Woodard, recognizable from the hit TV show The Last of Us, practically froze when he walked into the Washington Capital’s locker room on Friday and saw his idol, legendary player Alexander Ovechkin.

Woodard, who is deaf, intends to be the first deaf Black hockey player in the NHL. He proved that you don’t need to hear a person scream or yell to know they can barely contain their excitement.

After staring for a second, he turned to the American Sign Language interpreter and signed, “Oh, you’re Ovi,” according to an NHL.com article.

Ovechkin presented Woodard with a signed hockey stick, and Woodard taught the star how to sign his name in ASL, according to USA TODAY.

Woodard also met former Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly, one of 11 Black players who has played for the Capitals. Smith-Pelly participated in the puck drop for the Capitals’ pregame event, “Celebrating Black History.”

The Capital’s Twitter page posted video and photos of Woodard at the arena and with Ovi. The young hockey player even got some time on the ice, showing off his skating skills and flicking a shot into the upper right corner of the net past the impressed goalie.

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