Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has added another major accolade to his illustrious career. The legendary former basketball player and coach has become the fourth person in NBA history to win an Academy Award (Oscar).
Kerr was executive producer of the short documentary All the Empty Rooms, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
The film, which lasts about 35 minutes, tells the touching stories of families who have lost their children in mass shootings in the US.
At the center of the documentary are the stories of television journalist Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp, who document how families preserve the memory of their children through rooms that have remained untouched after tragedies.
The film’s subject matter is deeply personal for Kerr. His father was shot and killed in 1984, an event that has led the Warriors coach to speak out repeatedly about the need for stronger gun regulation in the United States.
“I wasn’t directly involved in making the film, but I’m very proud to be a part of it,” Kerr said.
He showed that he did not hesitate when he was offered the role of executive producer of the project.
“They called me about a year ago and asked me if I would like to be an executive producer, which basically meant naming the film and helping to promote it. Given my passion for the subject, it was an easy decision. When I saw the film, I was amazed by how beautiful and moving it was,” he said.
Before Kerr, three other NBA stars have won Oscars: Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry and Shaquille O’Neal. /Telegraph/