Contact: Dr. Karen DilkaEastern Kentucky University

Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29, 2007

To contact the author for permission to use this PowerPoint, please e-mail: Karen.Dilka@EKU.EDU

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Marlee MatlinA Famous AmericanDeaf

Actress

Lori SeekfordSED 830

Summer 2005

Marlee Matlin Marlee was born Aug. 24 1965 in Morton, Ill.

She lost her hearing at 18 mos. of age from a fever associated with roseola, a form of measles.

Marlee lost all hearing in her right ear and 80%

in her left.

Marlee learned to speak first, and then to sign by the age of 5.

Marlee was raised by a very supportive, loving family who encouraged her to achieve her dreams, despite her disability.

She attended public schools where she received an education upon her hearing peers.

Marlee was fitted with hearing aids around this time, and wears them still today.

The hearing aids help her to hear sound, but not to understand it. She relies on a combination of her eyes and ears to help hear.

“When I learned to sign and speak at the same time, the whole world

opened up to me. That’s the beauty of encouraging kids who are deaf to

use whatever it takes to communicate.”

~ Marlee Matlin

A Star is Born Marlee began her

acting career at 7 yrs. of age

Marlee’s first role on stage was as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

In 1985, Marlee made her 1st stage appearance as the supporting role of Lydia in Children of a Lesser God.

At age twenty-one she won an Oscar for Best Actress in the movie adaptation and became the youngest recipient of the award.

Marlee’s Movie Career Really BeginsShe is one of only four actresses to receive that honor for a film debut.

That same year she was honored by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine as one of the “The Ten Most Beautiful Women” and Esquaire Magazine’s “Women We Love.”

Film Career

Marlee followed her first debut with a

second feature film, “Walker.” While filming for the

movie, Marlee took time to visit hearing

impaired children throughout the world as she

continues to do today.

The Late 1980’s Marlee worked with others to make

closed captioning mandatory for all television sets.

This effort culminated in the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990.

“I can’t imagine a deaf person surviving without access to assistive technology and the Internet.” ~ Marlee Matlin

Marriage Marlee married Kevin Grandalski

on Aug. 29 1993. They now have four children,

Sarah, Brandon, Tyler and Isabelle.

Film Career Children of a Lesser God

(1986) Walker (1988) Bridge to Silence (1989)

(CBS) The Man in the Golden

Mask (1990) The Linguini Incident

(1991) The Player (1992) Hear No Evil (1993)

Against Her Will (1994) (Lifetime)

It’s My Party (1995) Sead Silence (1996)

(HBO) Freak City (1998)

(Showtime) Where the Truth Lies

(1999) (Lifetime) Kiss My Act (2001) Askari (2001) What the Bleep Do We

Know (2005)

Television Career Reasonable Doubts (1991-

1993) (NBC Seinfeld (1993) Adventures in Wonderland

(1993) Picket Fences (1993,1994-

1996) Sweet Justice (1995) People in Motion (1996) The Larry Sanders Show

(1997) Spin City (1997) ER (1998)

Judging Amy (1999) Blue’s Clues (2000-2003) The Practice (2000) Gideon’s Crossing (2001) The Division (2002) The West Wing (2000-2004) I’m With Her (2004) Law and Order: SVU (2004) Extreme Makeover: The

Home Edition (2004) Desperate Housewives

(2005)

Awards and Recognitions Cable Ace Nomination - Best Actress in a Miniseries

(1994) Academy Award for Best Actress (1987) Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama (1987) Emmy Nomination Golden Globe Nom. Best Actress (1992, 1993) People’s Choice Award Nom. Favorite Actress in Drama

(1992, 1993)

Noteworthy Achievements

Executive Producer: Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-off (2003) Disney Where the Truth Lies (1999) Lifetime

AuthorDeaf Child Crossing (2002)

DVD Baby Wordsworth (2005) DisneyBaby Einstein (2005) teaching sign language to infants

Appointed by President Clinton to the Board of Directors for the Corporation for National Service and Chairperson for National Volunteer Week

Charitable Causes National Celebrity spokesperson for The American Red

Cross VSA Arts Easter Seals The Elizabeth Glasser Pediatric Aids Foundation The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation Starlight Foundation Starkey Hearing Foundation Best Buddies Public Service Announcements for Target, Sprint, and

Toys R US

                                

“I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the

mind. I hope that through my example, such as my role on The West Wing, I can help change

attitudes on deafness and prove we can really do everything….except hear.”

~~Marlee Matlin

References www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2001/nf20010523_56

3.htm www.ftppro.com/library/Marlee_Matlin www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Oct03/1014ESAssitiveT

echPRasp www.healthyhearing.com/library/interview_content.asp?interview_

id=203 www.deafness.about.com/cs/celebfeatures/a/marleeterrylene.htm www.marleematlinsite.com