Zinzi Evans Is a Sign Language Interpreter - Facts about the Star Who Helped Husband Ryan Coogler When He Was Broke

Zinzi Evans is a successful woman who made a name for herself by championing important causes. Evans's helpful personality is one of the reasons her husband, filmmaker and screenwriter Ryan Coogler, is thriving in Hollywood today.

Zinzi Evans, who has been married to her college sweetheart, Ryan Coogler, since 2016, has also established a name in the entertainment industry. She appeared in a few films, including "Rampage" and "Creed."

Most recently, Evans starred in the critically acclaimed film "Judas and the Black Messiah." While she enjoyed acting, she has always felt that her true calling is in a different field, one in which she has shown a great deal of energy and passion.

Zinzi Evans Was a High School Standout Who Won Multiple Cross-Country Championships

Evans, who was born in Oakland, California, on April 18, 1985, is the daughter of Maria and Zishan Evans. Evans' family is quite large, as she has six siblings: five sisters and a brother.

Growing up, Evans had a passion for athletics. She was a three-time captain of the cross-country team at San Lorenzo High School and led many victories under her direction.

She won numerous cross-country running championships. Her athletic prowess earned her recognition as one of the top cross-country runners for the Fresno Bulldogs. Evans' other interests, such as music, dancing, and volleyball.

Zinzi Evans Now Advocates for Better Communication Rights with the Hearing-Impaired Individuals

Evans has been passionate about helping people. In 2003, she took a course in communicative disorders and deaf studies at California State University, Fresno, and graduated in 2008.

Evans was the one who paved the way for Coogler to fulfill his dream of working in Hollywood.

She was a member of the support staff of the RID Region V Conference in 2009. Then, she worked as an interpreter and employment specialist at the Deaf Counseling, Advocacy, and Referral Agency (DCARA) for more than seven years.

Evans left her position at DCARA but remained a staunch supporter of the organization's mission of keeping the rights of the deaf community. She has been a freelance sign language interpreter since February 2010.

She previously worked for Apple in software training for deaf people. Evans holds a Global Career Development Facilitator certification and a National Interpreters Certification.

Zinzi Evans Once Gifted Her Husband the Tool That Catapulted Him to His Dreams

Evans was the one who paved the way for Coogler to fulfill his dream of working in Hollywood. In a 2018 radio show interview, Coogler discussed the challenges of a struggling creative dabbling college and playing football.

Coogler, a chemistry major, eyed to study medicine, but his teacher in his creative writing class encouraged him to pursue writing. He did follow his teacher's advice.

However, due to a lack of financial resources, Coogler encountered a stumbling block in pursuing his dream. The money left with him at that time was not his own because it was "scholarship money."

Evans was aware of Coogler's struggles and purchased screenwriting software. Coogler said the Microsoft Word he was using at the time was difficult as it had a particular format that interfered with the flow of his writing process. He said:

"And my wife scrapped together some cheese and bought me Final Draft, which is the software that you write your movies on. And she got me that."

Coogler was grateful to his wife for helping him achieve his goals. He has since made a name for himself as a filmmaker and screenwriter, having worked on films such as "Space Jam: A New Legacy," and "Fruitvale Station."

Ryan Coogler and Evans announced their pregnancy in 2019, but the details of their path to parenthood have remained private. Since then, they have continued basking in the glow of their recent successes in their respective fields.

Coogler rose to prominence after directing the Marvel blockbuster "Black Panther," which starred the late actor Chadwick Boseman. He is also the creator of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," a sequel to the film.