Euphoria’s Colman Domingo Addresses the Void Left by His Parents, and the Strange Way He Keeps Their Memory Alive
Coping with grief.
Colman Domingo just got real about the bittersweet reality of success without his parents there to witness it. In a raw moment from the latest episode of Bear Grylls Is Running Wild, the Euphoria actor opened up about carrying his late mother and stepfather with him, even two decades after their deaths. It’s a reminder that grief doesn’t just fade; it transforms into something quieter.
According to Us Weekly, Domingo’s parents passed away in 2006. In a clip from the June 9 episode, he doesn’t hold back about how their absence still lingers. “I literally got emotional,” he admits, “but I do think that they live with you. And you do it for them too.” There’s something deeply relatable about that sentiment, the way success can feel hollow when the people who rooted for you the loudest aren’t around to see it.
But Domingo flips the script. Instead of dwelling on the loss, he chooses to believe they’re still part of the journey. “I do know that they’re flying with me – at all times,” he says.
The actor’s connection to his roots shines through
“I come from inner city West Philadelphia,” he says, his voice steady but full of gratitude. “So to come here, I never want to take this for granted.” That gratitude is the kind that comes from knowing how far you’ve traveled, both literally and metaphorically. And in moments like these, standing on the edge of a literal and figurative cliff, he lets himself imagine his parents right there with him. “Mom, look at where this light continues,” he murmurs. “Look at where love can take you.”
The acclaimed actor’s appearance on Bear Grylls Is Running Wild isn’t just another celebrity adventure show gig. The series, which pairs Grylls with A-listers for 48-hour wilderness expeditions, is designed to strip away the glamour and reveal the person beneath the fame. And for Domingo, that meant confronting something far more personal than a fear of heights.
The show’s premise is simple but effective: nature doesn’t care about an Oscar nomination or HBO credits. It’s just you, the elements, and whatever baggage you brought along. For Domingo, that baggage was love, loss, and the quiet hope that his parents are still cheering him on. The episode featuring Domingo isn’t only about emotional revelations, though. It’s also about pushing limits in ways that most people would never dare.
In another clip from the season finale, Domingo and Grylls take a helicopter ride that ends with a 11,000-foot skydive over the Irish Sea. “Have you ever jumped before?” Grylls asks, to which Domingo responds with a nervous laugh and a simple, “No, no. I’ve never jumped before.” According to PEOPLE, Grylls, ever the professional, deadpans, “What can go wrong?” before quickly adding, “Let’s not go there.”
Domingo doesn’t let fear win
As the helicopter climbs higher, he jokes, “I think we’re high enough,” before stepping onto the skid. The footage of him mid-freefall, grinning like a kid on the world’s most intense rollercoaster, is proof that sometimes the scariest moments are the ones that make you feel most alive. “Those are the wilds, man,” he says, taking in the view. It’s a far cry from the controlled chaos of a film set, but maybe that’s the point. In the wild, there’s no script, no retakes, just you and the moment.
Grylls has a knack for getting his guests to drop the facade, and Domingo is no exception. The adventurer said in April that nature has a way of doing the heavy lifting for him. “It opens people up,” he said. “I think a lot of these stars – they don’t need the money, they don’t need the fame. They want the experience of what the wild can give you.”
And what the wild gives Domingo is a chance to reflect, to remember, and to leap, literally and figuratively, into the unknown. It’s a discipline, Grylls notes, one that successful people share. “They do the difficult,” he says. For Domingo, that meant jumping out of a helicopter and facing the void his parents left behind, all in the same breath.
The latest season of Bear Grylls Is Running Wild has stars like Matthew McConaughey, Uma Thurman, and Michelle Monaghan all stepping out of their comfort zones. Domingo’s episode stands out because it’s not just about the adrenaline. It’s about the quiet moments in between, the ones where you’re forced to sit with your thoughts and decide what to carry with you. For Domingo, that’s his parents’ memory, their pride, and the unshakable belief that they’re still with him.
(Featured image: LucaFazPhoto)
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