Marlee Matlin
American actress
Born:August 24, 1965
Age:61
Zodiac Sign:Virgo
Height:1.63 m (5′4″)
Children:4
Born in:Morton Grove, United States
Languages:American English, American Sign Language, English
Famous For
Movies & TV
Awards
honorary doctorate (1987)
Academy Award for Best Actress (1987)
star on Hollywood Walk of FameMarlee Matlin
American actress
Biography
This biography uses content from the Wikipedia article “Marlee Matlin”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Quotes
“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.”
— An Interview with Marlee Matlin 5/23/2001
“I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.”
— Speaking at an interview
“For me, life or work doesn't mean having to dwell on my deafness. I'm standing here as a working actress with an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a couple of Emmy nominations to prove it.”
— Speaking after receiving an Oscar award
Quotes sourced from the Wikiquote article "Marlee Matlin", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Photos
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, the Oscar-winning Deaf Hollywood actress, spoke at the Maiersdorf Conference Center at the Mount Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The meeting was organized by the Disability Studies Center in the Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Joint Distribution Committee in Israel. In the meeting, Matlin talked about People with Disabilities in the Media.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.
Portrait of Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona in 1989 (taken by photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas). Matlin first made a name for herself in Hollywood playing Sarah Norman in the acclaimed 1986 feature film "Children Of A Lesser God" alongside actor William Hurt. The role earned her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. At the time she was the youngest actress to have received an Academy Award and until today remains the only deaf performer to have ever earned an Oscar. She has since been nominated for two additional Golden Globe Awards and four Emmy Awards. In 2009 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. In 2021, Matlin starred in Coda (Child Of Deaf Adults), playing the role of Jackie Rossi alongside of Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Eugenio Derbez. The project earned Matlin one of that year's Crystal Awards (WIF: Women In Film Honorees).
Oscar-winner actress, Marlee Matlin, in Malibu, California 1989. Photography by Ithaka Darin Pappas Marlee Matlin first made a name for herself in Hollywood playing Sarah Norman in the acclaimed 1986 feature film "Children Of A Lesser God" alongside actor William Hurt. The role earned her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. At the time she was the youngest actress to have received an Academy Award and until today remains the only deaf performer to have ever earned an Oscar. She has since been nominated for two additional Golden Globe Awards and four Emmy Awards. In 2009 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. In 2021, Matlin starred in Coda (Child Of Deaf Adults), playing the role of Jackie Rossi alongside of Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Eugenio Derbez. The project earned Matlin one of that year's Crystal Awards (WIF: Women In Film Honorees).