Colman Domingo nearly quit acting before landing his big break.

The 55-year-old actor has revealed that he nearly walked away from the industry after he was overlooked for a role in 'Boardwalk Empire' - but Colman's fortunes changed in dramatic fashion thereafter.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "I was a journeyman actor for years.

"Sometimes in the same night, I'd bow and then get a cab across town and take my bartending shift - I couldn't give it up because I was getting $400 a week. That had been going on for many years - I've been working for about 34 years now.

"I came back to New York and was really disheartened because I was still going in for under-fives [auditioning for parts of less than five minutes of screen time], and I just thought, 'My talent is not being used. And I don't want to be bitter about it.' Because you start to feel a little bitterness."

At one stage, Colman felt like he'd reached a breaking point.

However, Colman eventually landed a career-changing role in 'Fear the Walking Dead', the post-apocalyptic horror drama, and he hasn't look back since then.

He recalled: "Then there was a series of auditions and no's - like eight no's in one week - and one just broke me.

"It seemed perfect for me. The casting director and everyone said it was perfect. I went and met with the director and the producers. And then there was the most insane reason why I didn't get it.

"I pretty much collapsed in the gym [upon being told that]. I was crying and thought, 'This is going to kill me. I have to leave before it kills me.' And right when I said, 'That's enough,' a friend said, 'Hey, my managers have been wanting to meet with you.' I said, 'No, I'm good. I just dropped my manager, and I'm about to drop my agent and do something else.' He said, 'Just meet with them.'"