Marlee Matlin stands as one of the most groundbreaking figures in entertainment history, a trailblazing actress, author, and advocate whose deafness has never defined the limits of her extraordinary career. Born on August 24, 1965, in Morton Grove, Illinois, she lost her hearing at just 18 months old due to illness, yet she never allowed this to hinder her ambitions. From a young age, Matlin displayed a fierce determination and a passion for performance, appearing in children’s theater productions of The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan at the Center on Deafness in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her big break came at the age of 21 when she was cast as Sarah Norman in the romantic drama Children of a Lesser God (1986), a role that would forever alter the landscape of cinema. For her stunning screen debut, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the first deaf performer to ever receive an Oscar, the youngest winner in that category at the time, and one of only four women to win for a debut film performance. She also took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, instantly cementing her status as a Hollywood icon.

Following her historic Oscar win, Matlin primarily focused on television, where she found a more consistent stream of opportunities for deaf actors. She starred as district attorney Tess Kaufman in the police drama Reasonable Doubts (1991–1993), earning two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. Her versatility shone through with memorable guest appearances on iconic shows, including a celebrated turn as a hearing-impaired woman in Seinfeld (1993), which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She received further Emmy nominations for her dramatic work on Picket Fences (1993), The Practice (2000), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2004–2005). From 2000 to 2006, she played the recurring role of pollster Joey Lucas on the acclaimed political drama The West Wing, a character that became a fan favorite and showcased her ability to bring depth and nuance to complex roles. She later appeared in the drama series The L Word (2007–2009) and Switched at Birth (2011–2017), the latter of which featured a significant deaf cast and storylines, and she lent her voice to the character Stella in the animated sitcom Family Guy (2012–2021).

Matlin’s career reached new heights again in the 2020s with her role in the coming-of-age film CODA (2021), a heartfelt story about a hearing child of deaf parents. As Jackie Rossi, she delivered a powerful and emotionally resonant performance that earned her and the ensemble cast the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, a landmark win that celebrated the film’s authentic representation of the deaf community. In 2015, she made her Broadway debut in the revival of Spring Awakening, playing the adult female roles in a production that incorporated American Sign Language, further demonstrating her range as a performer. Beyond her acting, she is a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf and has worked alongside her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason, to advocate for greater accessibility and representation in Hollywood and beyond. She has authored four books, including her memoir I’ll Scream Later, and has received numerous accolades for her advocacy, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009. A documentary about her life and career, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, was released in 2025, offering an intimate look at her enduring legacy. Today, Matlin continues to act, write, and champion the rights of deaf individuals, remaining an inspiring and vital voice in the entertainment industry.