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Marlee Matlin

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Marlee Matlin is a famous American actress who changed Hollywood.

Actress Marlee Matlin at Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona, 1989. Photo by Ithaka Darin Pappas
Actress Marlee Matlin at Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona, 1989. Photo by Ithaka Darin Pappas

She has been deaf since she was only 18 months old. This happened because of illness and fevers when she was a baby. She is the only person in her family who is deaf. Today, she uses an interpreter named Jack Jason to help her communicate. Matlin uses her talent to show the world that deaf people can be stars. She works hard to make sure other deaf actors get jobs too.

Her journey into acting started very early in her life. When she was seven, she played Dorothy in a play called The Wizard of Oz. She grew up performing with a group called the International Center on Deafness and the Arts. At age thirteen, she even won a prize for writing an essay. Later, the actor Henry Winkler discovered her during one of her theater shows. This led to her first big movie role in 1986. She played a character named Sarah Norman in the film Children of a Lesser God.

Marlee Matlin 1999
Marlee Matlin 1999

That first movie made her a huge star immediately. At just 21 years old, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. This made her the youngest person ever to win in that category. She also won a Golden Globe Award for her performance. For 36 years, she was the only deaf person nominated for an Academy Award. In 2021, she appeared in the movie CODA. This film helped her win a Screen Actors Guild Award for her work.

Matlin at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards
Matlin at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards

Matlin has worked in many different places throughout her career. She has acted on Broadway in a musical called Spring Awakening. She has also been in many popular television shows. You might recognize her from shows like The West Wing or Seinfeld. She even used her voice for a character named Stella on Family Guy. In 2009, she received a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She even interpreted the national anthem at two different Super Bowls.

Marlee Matlin at Maiersdorf Conference Center in Israel June 2017
Marlee Matlin at Maiersdorf Conference Center in Israel June 2017

Beyond acting, Marlee is a very important leader for her community. She is a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf. She works with many groups like the Red Cross and Easter Seals. She uses her fame to speak up for the rights of deaf people. A documentary about her life is called Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. Her story shows how one person can open doors for many others. She continues to inspire people through her art and her activism.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Actress Marlee Matlin at Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona, 1989. Photo by Ithaka Darin Pappas.jpg
Actress Marlee Matlin at Salt River...
File:Marlee Matlin 1999.jpg
Marlee Matlin 1999.jpg
File:Matlin at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards.JPG
Matlin at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards.JPG
File:Marlee Matlin at Maiersdorf Conference Center in Israel June 2017.jpg
Marlee Matlin at Maiersdorf Conference...
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