Marlee Beth Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Children of a Lesser God (1987) and is the only deaf performer to have won the award.
Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy nominations. Deaf since she was 18 months old, due to illness and high fevers, she is also a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf. Her longtime interpreter is Jack Jason.
