We know who we are rooting for this season! A famous Duluthian has been cast on the new season of Dancing With The Stars, fresh off his awards run for the Oscar-winning movie Coda.

He got his major break starring in the film, which won the Oscar for Best Picture at the ceremony earlier this year. The movie was released in 2021 and the cast skyrocketed to fame, with the Duluthian playing Leo Rossi.

According to IMDb, the actor was born in Detroit but grew up in the Northland, calling Duluth home before moving in eighth grade to attend the Minnesota State School for the Deaf. While he doesn't call Duluth home these days, he often speaks fondly of our neck of the woods in press interviews.

Aside from his breakout role in Coda, he has been in a handful of other projects, including the hit Netflix show You and Switched At Birth. Now, he has been cast on the new season of Dancing With The Stars!

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The official cast for the season was unveiled on Thursday (September 8th). There were some rumors about who would be on the cast but nobody had guessed that Durant would be part of the cast, so it was a welcome surprise!

He expressed his excitement on social media when the cast was announced, writing that he is "proud and excited" to be on the next season of the show. The show is hosted by Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro. The show features a big group of celebrities paired with professional dancers, with only one pair standing at the end of the show, winning the Mirror Ball trophy.

The show has moved to Disney Plus this season, previously airing on ABC. The new season premieres on Monday, September 19th. I will definitely be watching and rooting for Daniel! He is paired with Britt Stewart for the season.

As always, we will keep you updated on things as the season goes along! This is one of many random but amazing celebrity connections we have in Duluth. Recently, a television actor named Joel McKinnon Miller has been spending time here!

He was spotted hanging around the UMD campus, where he is rumored to help theater students. He also went to Gordy's Hi-Hat over the fourth of July weekend with lucky fans posting photos of him out and about in the area!

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