Paul Raci

Paul Raci (born April 7, 1948) is an American character actor. A veteran of stage, film and television, he has appeared in a variety of projects, including small roles in Baskets and Parks and Recreation.

Raci received critical acclaim for his performance as Joe, the deaf mentor to the main character in Sound of Metal, released in 2020. For this role, he received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor and other accolades, including a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. According to director Darius Marder, several high-profile actors were approached for the role, but for the sake of authenticity, Raci was selected because he was raised as the hearing son of deaf parents and he is fluent in American Sign Language.