Son of Bermudian celebrates Oscar glory
A film co-produced by the son of a Bermudian has picked up two Oscars - for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song.
Charles D King, 51, was one of three producers of Judas and the Black Messiah, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
The film won Best Supporting Actor for British actor Daniel Kaluuya and Best Original Song with Fight for You, by H.E.R. — whose real name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson - at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.
Mr King posted about his success on his social media pages, including Instagram, where he is pictured with Mr Kaluuya and his wife Stacey Walker King.
The film, about the life and killing by police of Fred Hampton, a prominent member of the Black Panthers, is the first Oscar-nominated film to have an all Black production team.
The other producers were Judas and the Black Messiah director Shaka King and Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther.
Mr King, 51, is the son of Dr Winton King, a paediatrician, and Frances Minus King and was brought up in Atlanta, Georgia.
He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Howard University’s law school.
Mr King moved to Hollywood and later specialised in entertainment law.
He landed a position in Hollywood in the mailroom of prestigious William Morris Agency, Hollywood’s oldest talent agency, climbed the ladder and built up an extensive list of clients that included Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry and rapper DMX.
He became the first African-American to become a partner in the agency, now William Morris Endeavor.
Mr King started his own agency Macro, with the goal of funding films by people of colour, in 2015.
He also produced the movies Fences, Harriet and Just Mercy.
Mr King’s Bermuda family is from Pembroke and his father attended Berkeley Institute.
He was named after his great-grandfather Charles Ball, who was a well-known Spanish Point commercial fisherman.
His Bermuda relatives include aunts Veronica Lowe and Carol Bascome.
The late Kenneth Richardson, a former Cabinet Secretary, was his godfather.
The Best Picture award went to Nomadland.
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