Contact: Dr. Karen Dilka
Eastern Kentucky University
Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29,
2007
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use this PowerPoint, please e-mail:
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
Marlee Matlin
A Famous AmericanDeaf Actress
Lori Seekford
SED 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.
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.
Marlee was fitted with
hearing aids around this
time, and wears them still
today.
“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
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Marlee began her
acting career at 7 yrs.
of age
Marlee’s first role on
stage was as Dorothy in
the Wizard of Oz
Marlee’s Movie Career Really Begins
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.
She 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.
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Film Career
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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)
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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
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Reasonable Doubts (19911993) (NBC
Seinfeld (1993)
Adventures in Wonderland
(1993)
Picket Fences (1993,19941996)
Sweet Justice (1995)
People in Motion (1996)
The Larry Sanders Show (1997)
Spin City (1997)
ER (1998)
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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
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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
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Executive Producer:
 Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-off (2003) Disney
 Where the Truth Lies (1999) Lifetime
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Author
Deaf Child Crossing (2002)
DVD
Baby Wordsworth (2005) Disney
Baby 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
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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
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www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2001/nf20010523_563.htm
www.ftppro.com/library/Marlee_Matlin
www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Oct03/1014ESAssitiveTechPRasp
www.healthyhearing.com/library/interview_content.asp?interview_id=203
www.deafness.about.com/cs/celebfeatures/a/marleeterrylene.htm
www.marleematlinsite.com