Deaf Performers One Should Know

Behind the advancement of Deaf theatre and film, there are efforts by many Deaf artists. Today, I will introduce three Deaf artists who successfully demonstrated the potential of Deaf artistry through their work across various platforms. 

Marlee Matlin is the first and, to this day, the only Deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, which she received for the film “Children of a Lesser God.” At only 21, Matlin became the first Deaf performer to win an Oscar, and she continued to appear in productions such as The West Wing, Switched at Birth, and CODA. Furthermore, Matlin is also a strong advocate for Deaf representation and accessibility in the entertainment industry.

Following Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur also made history in Deaf artistry by winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film CODA. Through his natural and profound use of American Sign Language (ASL) in the movie, he shared the stories of the Deaf community and their families with a wider audience and became the first Deaf male actor to win an Oscar.

After establishing herself as a stage actress on Broadway, Lauren Ridloff rose to global prominence with her role in the Marvel film “Eternals.” By portraying Makkari, Marvel's first deaf superhero, Ridloff significantly advanced the representation of deaf individuals in cinema. Her career demonstrated that Deaf actors can play a wide variety of characters, including superheroes, rather than being limited to stories about Deafness.

Indeed, these actors did not simply gain recognition for being “Deaf actors,” but carved out their own paths through their effort and artistry. Through their work, they demonstrate that ASL is a complete language capable of complex artistic expression, helping to transform the field of Deaf entertainment.