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Marlee Matlin

127quotes

Marlee Matlin


#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Marlee Beth Matlin is an American actress known professionally as Marlee Matlin.

#### Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 24, 1965. As of the current date, she remains alive.

#### Nationality and Profession(s)
American actress

#### Early Life and Background
Marlee Beth Matlin was born in Morristown, New Jersey, to Libby and Donald Matlin. At two years old, she contracted bacterial meningitis which left her deaf. Her early life involved adapting to this new reality through the aid of hearing aids.

Growing up, Marlee's parents enrolled her in the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), a theater group that specialized in American Sign Language (ASL) productions and performed across North America. Through NTD, she learned ASL and developed an appreciation for acting.

#### Major Accomplishments
At 21 years old, Matlin made history when she won one Academy Award, taking home the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Sarah Norman in Children of a Lesser God (1986). This marked the first time a deaf actor had received this honor. Her performance earned critical acclaim and solidified her position as a leading figure within the deaf community.

In addition to her Oscar win, Matlin has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Short Cuts, Seinfeld, The West Wing, and Reasonable Doubts. She also guest-starred on several episodes of ER in 2003-2004 as Dr. Annette Gibbons.

#### Notable Works or Actions
In the early 1990s, Marlee began advocating for deaf individuals' rights to participate in media production by creating the Deaf West Theatre company with her husband Kevin Grandalski. They aimed to promote the inclusion of ASL and deaf performers in mainstream theater productions.

She has continued this advocacy through various projects over the years. In 2016, she produced Stage Fright, a horror-comedy film about a deaf teenager who uses sign language to communicate in a haunted house.

#### Impact and Legacy
Marlee Matlin's influence extends far beyond her acting career. Her pioneering work as a deaf actress paved the way for other deaf individuals to enter the entertainment industry. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Matlin continues to act in various projects while also raising awareness about important social issues affecting the deaf community. In 2019, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award as executive producer of Switched at Birth, a drama series created by Lizzy Weiss that explores themes related to ASL and Deaf culture.

#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Marlee Matlin's enduring legacy is built on her trailblazing career, which has shattered stereotypes about deaf individuals in the entertainment industry. Her commitment to advocating for greater inclusion of ASL and deaf performers in mainstream media serves as a powerful example for generations to come. As one of the most recognizable figures within the deaf community, Marlee Matlin's influence extends far beyond her impressive acting resume.

Her dedication to promoting Deaf culture has helped to increase visibility and understanding among hearing audiences worldwide. By breaking down barriers through her work, Marlee continues to inspire those seeking representation in media, particularly within the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Quotes by Marlee Matlin

Every one of us is different in some way but for those of us who are more 'different,' we have to put more effort into convincing the less different that we can do the same thing as they can... just differently.
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Every one of us is different in some way but for those of us who are more 'different,' we have to put more effort into convincing the less different that we can do the same thing as they can... just differently.
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I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I can't compare hearing aids to normal hearing.
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I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I can't compare hearing aids to normal hearing.
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When you’re up for an award at the Oscars, try as you might, it’s hard to concentrate on the show.
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When you’re up for an award at the Oscars, try as you might, it’s hard to concentrate on the show.
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When it comes down to it, it’s about who you know, and who’s a fan. It’s about whether you’re the right age, whether you’re hot or not, whether the studio is into you or not.
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When it comes down to it, it’s about who you know, and who’s a fan. It’s about whether you’re the right age, whether you’re hot or not, whether the studio is into you or not.
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I’m gonna be unemployed when people read this. Ha.
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I’m gonna be unemployed when people read this. Ha.
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I guess not being able to hear just made me adventurous and daring. And in most cases, that didn’t make my parents very happy with me.
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I guess not being able to hear just made me adventurous and daring. And in most cases, that didn’t make my parents very happy with me.
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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.
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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.
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Hollywood embraced me in the late ’80s because there was a good project I was in and it was different. Nowadays, it’s about corporate mentality, box office, youth.
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Hollywood embraced me in the late ’80s because there was a good project I was in and it was different. Nowadays, it’s about corporate mentality, box office, youth.
MM
When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don’t let anyone stand in your way. His validation just made it all the more true. I haven’t stopped thanking him since.
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When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don’t let anyone stand in your way. His validation just made it all the more true. I haven’t stopped thanking him since.
MM
It seems we’re always in transition and that it’s more about trends than it is about what’s meaningful.
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It seems we’re always in transition and that it’s more about trends than it is about what’s meaningful.
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