Famous, Historical Deaf (and Hearing) People
Here is a list of Deaf (and hearing) people, who have made their mark in:
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art
deafblind or deaf awareness
education
entertainment
leadership
media
literature
organizations
sport
technology
war
science
Find out about some of these famous deaf people and others by searching on the
Internet.
Abbe De l’Epee
This French man played an important role in the history of deaf education.
Alexander Graham Bell
Going beyond the telephone, the hearing Bell was an active member of the deaf
community.
Amy Ecklund
Amy Ecklund is a deaf actress who recently received a cochlear implant.
Thomas Edison
Famous inventor who was deaf.
Andrew Foster
The first deaf African American Gallaudet graduate and founder of schools for the
deaf in Africa.
Anthony Natle and Howie Seago
Two modern deaf actors.
C.J. Jones
A look at the career of this longtime deaf African American actor and comedian.
Curtis Pride
A contemporary baseball player who is deaf.
Douglas Tilden
Profile of a famous deaf sculptor sometimes referred to as the "Michelangelo of the
West."
Dr. Richard Orin Cornett
The developer of cued speech.
Dummy Hoy
A deaf baseball player who has yet to make it into the Hall of Fame.
Erastus Smith
The only deaf man known to have an entire county in America named after him.
Thoma Gallaudet
The hearing man for whom Gallaudet University is named. Thomas Gallaudet was
honoured on a postage stamp.
Heather Whitestone McCallum
She was the first - and maybe the only - deaf Miss America.
Helen Keller
Helen Keller is perhaps the best-known deafblind person ever.
I. King Jordan
King Jordan is the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
James “Deaf” Burke
He was a boxer in the 19th century.
Juliette Low
The founder of the Girl Scouts in America was deafened.
Julius Wiggins
Founder of Silent News
Kelby Brick
Profile of deaf leader Kelby Brick.
Kenny Walker
For awhile, he was a professional deaf football player.
Laura Bridgman and Julia Brace
Two largely-forgotten deafblind women from the 19th century.
Laurent Clerc
He was perhaps the most important deaf man in American history.
Lou Ferrigno
A bodybuilder and actor with hearing loss.
Louis Frisino
Deaf painter of realistic-looking animals.
Marlee Matlin
Well-known deaf actress and author. She has received an Oscar.
Michelle Banks
Michelle Banks is an African American deaf performer.
Phyllis French and Linda Bove
Two of the most respected deaf actresses.
Rocky Stone
SHHH Founder
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh experienced sudden deafness.
Samuel Heinicke
The father of oral deaf education.
Shoshannah Stern
Deaf actress Shoshannah Stern.
Stevie Platt
Self-publishing deaf author
Terrence Parkin
Terrence Parkin is a deaf man who not only likes to swim, but made a name for
himself doing it.
Thomas Edison
This historic inventor had a hearing loss.
Vinton Cerf
The "father of the Internet" happens to be hard of hearing.
William Castle
He was the vice president of RIT/Director of NTID in the 1980s.
Dorothy Miles
“The Shakespeare of deaf poetry.”
John Braidwood
Founder of the first Deaf School in Great Britain in 1760.
Gainsborough and El Mudo
Famous English and Spanish artists
John Bulwer
In 1644 he published a book on sign language, but believed the language to be
universal ( a belief that still persists today.)
Samuel Pepys
A diarist who wrote one of the earliest accounts of sign language communication in
1666
Queen Alexandra
Deaf, Danish wife of the king of England.
Betty Steele
First known Deaf European to reach Australia (transported for stealing a loaf of
bread.)
Martha’s Vinyard
A community in USA where everyone, hearing and deaf, used sign language.
See the book Movers and Shakers for texts about some of these people.
Adapted excerpt. Jamie Berke. Your Guide to Deafness / Hard of Hearing.