Marlee Matlin

2.1. Childhood and Hearing Loss

Marlee Beth Matlin was born on August 24, 1965, in Morton Grove, Illinois. Her parents were Libby (née Hammer, 1930-2020) and Donald Matlin (1930-2013), who worked as an automobile dealer. At the age of 18 months, Matlin lost all hearing in her right ear and 80% of the hearing in her left ear due to illness and high fevers. In her 2009 autobiography, I'll Scream Later, she suggested that her hearing loss may have been caused by a genetically malformed cochlea. She is the only member of her family who is deaf. Matlin often uses humor when discussing her deafness; for example, when people on speakerphone forget she has an interpreter, she quips, "You know what? I can hear on Wednesdays."

Matlin and her two older brothers, Eric and Marc, were raised in a Reform Jewish household, with family roots tracing back to Poland and Russia. She attended Congregation Bene Shalom, a synagogue for the Deaf, and after phonetically studying Hebrew, she was able to learn her Torah portion for her Bat Mitzvah. Her experiences were later featured in the book Mazel Tov: Celebrities' Bar and Bat Mitzvah Memories. In her autobiography, Matlin also disclosed two instances of sexual abuse she experienced: first by a babysitter at age 11, and later by a teacher during her high school years.

2.2. Education and Early Artistic Pursuits

Matlin graduated from John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights and continued her education at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. Initially, she had planned to pursue a career in criminal justice.

Her artistic journey began early, with her stage debut at the age of seven. She played Dorothy in an International Center on Deafness and the Arts (ICODA) children's theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. She continued to perform with the ICODA children's theatre group throughout her childhood, also appearing in productions such as Mary Poppins and Peter Pan. At thirteen, she won second prize in the Chicago Center's Annual International Creative Arts Festival for an essay titled "If I Was not a Movie Star." These early experiences in theater laid a strong foundation for her future career in acting.

3.1. Debut and Breakthrough

Matlin's talent was discovered by actor Henry Winkler during one of her ICODA theater performances, which ultimately led to her film debut in the romantic drama Children of a Lesser God (1986). The film received widespread critical acclaim, and Matlin's portrayal of Sarah Norman, a deaf woman who is reluctant to speak and falls in love with a hearing man, garnered immense praise.

Critics lauded her performance. Richard Schickel of Time magazine wrote that Matlin possessed "an unusual talent for concentrating her emotions-and an audience's-in her signing." He noted "something more here, an ironic intelligence, a fierce but not distancing wit, that the movies, with their famous ability to photograph thought, discover in very few performances." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times was equally impressed, stating, "She holds her own against the powerhouse she's acting with, carrying scenes with a passion and almost painful fear of being rejected and hurt, which is really what her rebellion is about." Paul Attasanio of The Washington Post observed that Matlin "acts with her eyes, her gestures," effectively communicating without speaking, much like stars of the silent era.

Children of a Lesser God earned Matlin the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama and the Academy Award for Best Actress. At just 21 years old, she became the youngest actress to receive the Oscar in the Best Actress category, a record that remains unbroken. She was also the first deaf performer to be nominated for and win an Academy Award in any category, a unique distinction she held for 36 years until deaf actor and filmmaker Troy Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor in 2022 for his role in CODA, in which Matlin also appeared.

Two years after her breakthrough, Matlin made a guest appearance on Sesame Street with Billy Joel, performing a revised version of "Just the Way You Are" using American Sign Language. She also hugged Oscar the Grouch at the song's conclusion. In 1989, Billy Joel invited her to perform in his music video for "We Didn't Start the Fire". That same year, Matlin portrayed a deaf widow in the television movie Bridge to Silence, where she used both sign language and spoken dialogue. Although People magazine did not favor the film itself, it highly praised Matlin's work, describing her as "beautiful, emotionally moving" and "too good for this well-intentioned but sentimental slop." In 1988, Matlin presented the Academy Award for Best Actor at the Oscars, signing her introduction in ASL before speaking the names of the nominees and the winner, Michael Douglas.

3.2. Film Career

While her breakthrough was in film, Matlin has made occasional film appearances, often due to a limited number of substantial roles for deaf actors. She has, however, chosen roles that contribute to the representation of deaf characters or address disability themes, challenging traditional casting norms. Her film work has been instrumental in expanding the visibility of deaf talent on the big screen.

3.3. Television Career

Matlin has had an extensive and acclaimed career in television, where she has consistently found more opportunities for deaf actors compared to film. Her roles have been diverse, ranging from dramatic leads to comedic guest appearances, and have significantly contributed to deaf representation on the small screen.

Matlin also provided the voice for Stella, Peter Griffin's coworker, in the animated sitcom Family Guy (2012-2021), a recurring character across 7 episodes. In 2019, it was announced that Matlin would star in and executive produce "Life and Deaf," a new comedy show set in the 1970s exploring the life of a child with deaf parents, aiming to bring more deaf talent to the screen.

3.4. Stage and Other Media

Beyond film and television, Matlin has expanded her artistic endeavors to include stage performances and other media projects.

Her stage debut was at the age of seven, playing Dorothy in an ICODA children's theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. She made her Broadway debut in September 2015 in the revival production of the musical Spring Awakening with the Deaf West Theater, where she played the role of Adult Woman.

In other media, Matlin has used her platform to promote deaf awareness and accessibility. On February 4, 2007, and February 7, 2016, she interpreted "The Star-Spangled Banner" in American Sign Language at Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Florida, and at Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California, respectively. In 2010, Matlin produced a pilot for a reality show titled My Deaf Family, which she presented to national network executives. Despite interest, no network purchased the rights, leading Matlin to upload the pilot to YouTube and launch a viral marketing campaign. She also provided voice acting for the character Annie Jump Cannon in the 2014 television program Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.

4.1. Advocacy for Deaf Rights

Matlin has been a steadfast and strong advocate for the rights of deaf people. She has notably accepted television roles only if producers commit to providing captions for the films, ensuring accessibility for deaf audiences. She consistently promotes open-mindedness and respect for both signed and spoken communication preferences. Furthermore, she actively supports and promotes telephone equipment specifically designed for deaf individuals.

Her advocacy extends to legislative efforts; she has testified before the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources in support of establishing the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders. As of January 2015, Matlin serves as the ACLU's celebrity ambassador for disability rights. In this role, she has discussed the critical communication barriers that deaf individuals face when interacting with law enforcement, working to bridge the gap between police and the deaf community. She is a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf, and her interpreter, Jack Jason, often accompanies her.

Matlin was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service and served as chair of National Volunteer Week. In October 2007, she was appointed to the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees. On July 26, 2010, Matlin signed a speech at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, further solidifying her commitment to disability rights.

4.2. Broader Charitable Work and Public Service

Beyond her specific focus on deaf rights, Matlin is actively involved with a wide range of charitable organizations and public service initiatives. She is an Honorary Board Member of Easter Seals and contributes to organizations such as the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, VSA arts, and the Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet. She has been active in the fight against AIDS and supports the "Victory Awards" for the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Matlin is also a lifetime member of the Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America.

She has been a frequent guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World. Matlin participated in the first-ever national television advertising campaign supporting donations to Jewish federations, a program that featured film and television personalities celebrating their Jewish heritage and promoting charitable giving to the Jewish community.

In 2011, Matlin was a finalist on the NBC show The Celebrity Apprentice, where she competed to raise money for her chosen charity, The Starkey Hearing Foundation. In one episode, "The Art of the Deal," which aired on April 3, 2011, she raised an unprecedented 986.00 K USD for charity, the highest amount ever raised in a single event on any television show at that time. Donald Trump, then host of The Celebrity Apprentice, donated an additional 14.00 K USD to bring the total contribution to an even 1.00 M USD.

In recognition of her extensive philanthropic work and her unwavering advocacy for the inclusion of people with disabilities, Matlin received the 2016 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion, an annual prize of 120.00 K USD awarded by Jay Ruderman of the Ruderman Family Foundation to individuals who excel in promoting disability inclusion. She also won the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards for disability advocacy in 2014. Additionally, Matlin received the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under in 1988, an award given annually by the Jefferson Awards. In 1991, she was honored with the Bernard Bragg Young Artists Achievement Award at the Annual International Creative Arts Festival, sponsored by the Center on Deafness in Chicago.

5.1. Family and Relationships

Marlee Matlin married Burbank police officer Kevin Grandalski on August 29, 1993, at the home of actor Henry Winkler, five days after her 28th birthday. The couple first met while Matlin was filming a scene for Reasonable Doubts outside the studio grounds, where Grandalski had been assigned by the police department to provide security and control traffic. They have four children: Sarah (born 1996), Brandon (born 2000), Tyler (born 2002), and Isabelle (born 2003).

5.2. Autobiography and Personal Struggles

On April 14, 2009, Matlin's autobiography, I'll Scream Later, was published. In the book, she openly discussed her struggles with drug abuse, which ultimately led her to check herself into the Betty Ford Center. She also detailed her tumultuous two-year relationship with her significantly older Children of a Lesser God co-star, William Hurt, alleging that he physically abused and raped her. Furthermore, Matlin addressed the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her female babysitter.

7.1. Major Acting Awards

Matlin's most significant acting awards include:

• Academy Award for Best Actress (1986) for her role as Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God. She holds the record as the youngest winner in this category (at 21 years old) and was the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award.
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (1986) for Children of a Lesser God.
• She received two additional Golden Globe nominations for her lead role in the television series Reasonable Doubts (1991-1993).
• Matlin earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her guest appearances:
  • For Seinfeld (1993) in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category.
  • For Picket Fences (1993), The Practice (2000), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2004-2005) in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category.
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (2021) as part of the ensemble cast of CODA.
• She also received a British Academy Film Award nomination and a CableACE Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the 1994 television drama Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story.

7.2. Other Honors and Recognition

Beyond her acting awards, Matlin has been honored for her broader impact and public service:

• She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 6, 2009, for her contributions to the film industry.
• In 1987, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Gallaudet University, a prominent university for deaf and hard of hearing students.
• In 1988, Matlin received the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, presented annually by the Jefferson Awards.
• She was awarded the Bernard Bragg Young Artists Achievement Award in 1991 at the Annual International Creative Arts Festival, sponsored by the Center on Deafness in Chicago.
• In 2014, Matlin received the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards for her dedicated disability advocacy.
• In recognition of her philanthropic work and her unwavering commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities, Matlin was honored with the 2016 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion, which includes a 120.00 K USD prize.

8.1. Cultural and Social Impact

Matlin's breakthrough performance in Children of a Lesser God was a watershed moment, making her the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award. This achievement not only recognized her exceptional talent but also shattered barriers for deaf individuals in the entertainment industry. She became a symbol of possibility and a powerful voice for the deaf community. Her consistent choice to accept roles only if producers committed to captioning films, and her advocacy for respectful communication practices, have significantly advanced accessibility and representation in media.

Matlin's influence as an inspirational figure is profound. She has openly shared her personal struggles, including her experiences with drug abuse and past abuse, through her autobiography I'll Scream Later. By doing so, she has fostered greater understanding and empathy, demonstrating resilience and advocating for victims of abuse. Her humor about her deafness has also helped to normalize discussions around disability.

Her active involvement with organizations like the National Association of the Deaf and her role as a celebrity ambassador for the ACLU's disability rights initiatives have directly contributed to legislative changes and increased public awareness. She has consistently championed the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, influencing the discourse on disability rights and broader social progress. Her continued presence in mainstream media, from her roles in popular TV series to her ASL interpretations at major events like the Super Bowl, ensures that deaf culture and the importance of accessibility remain visible and understood by a wide audience.

8.2. Critical Reception and Evaluation

Matlin's acting has consistently received critical praise, particularly for her ability to convey deep emotion and intelligence without relying on spoken dialogue, as noted by critics for her debut performance in Children of a Lesser God. Her work in television has also been well-received, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Even in films that were not critically acclaimed, such as Bridge to Silence, her individual performance was often singled out for praise.

Her activism and advocacy have garnered significant recognition and awards, underscoring her dual impact as both an artist and a social change agent. The 2016 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion and the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards are testaments to her leadership in promoting disability inclusion. The upcoming 2025 documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, directed by Shoshannah Stern, further highlights the lasting significance of her life and career, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer who has profoundly shaped perceptions of disability in Hollywood and beyond.