Ryan Coogler, winner of the Oscar for best original screenplay for “Sinners,” poses in the media room at the 98th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, Calif.

Long before he became an Oscar-winning filmmaker, director Ryan Coogler was clashing with another famous Oakland star — on the football field.

It was a triumphant Sunday night at the Academy Awards for Coogler and his latest film, “Sinners,” a vampiric thriller Coogler wrote that is set in 1930s Mississippi. The film earned a record 16 Oscar nominations and had wins in four categories — including Coogler winning his first Oscar in the best original screenplay category.

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It’s a momentous achievement for the East Bay’s own, as the 39-year-old was born in Oakland and raised in Richmond and went to Saint Mary’s College High School, a private Catholic school in Berkeley. 

During his time in high school, Coogler’s focus wasn’t on........

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