Marlee Matlin

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Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an Academy Award-winning American actress who is almost completely deaf.

Matlin was born to Don and Libby Matlin, a Jewish couple from Morton Grove, Illinois and graduated from John Hersey High School in nearby Arlington Heights. She lost most of her hearing at the age of 18 months, following a bout of Roseola infantum. She lost all hearing in her right ear, and 80% of hearing in her left ear.

She made her stage debut at the age of seven, as Dorothy in a children's theatre version of The Wizard of Oz, and continued to appear with the same children's theatre group throughout her childhood.

Her film debut, 1986's Children of a Lesser God brought her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama and an Academy Award for Best Actress (at 20, the youngest ever to win in that category).

She played the lead female role in the television series Reasonable Doubts (1991 – 1993) and won an Emmy Award for an appearance in Picket Fences.

She had recurring roles in The West Wing and Blue's Clues. Other television appearances include Seinfeld, Desperate Housewives, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She won a 2004 Primetime Emmy Award for the latter.

She is actively involved with a number of charitable organisations, including the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Starlight Children's Foundation, Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet.

Matlin married Roman Catholic law enforcement officer Kevin Grandalski on August 29, 1993 (in Henry Winkler's back yard). They have four children: Sarah Rose, born 1996; Brandon, born 2000; Tyler, born 2002; and Isabella Jane, born 2003.

In 2002, she published her first novel, Deaf Child Crossing, which is loosely based on her own childhood.

In 2004, she starred in the controversial movie What the Bleep Do We Know as Amanda.

It was recently announced that she will be joining the cast of The L Word for the upcoming 4th season. She will play the love interest of Jennifer Beals' character, Bette Porter.

In 2006, Marlee Matlin was honored at AOL's Second Annual Chief Everything Officer Awards. She will also be joining the cast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a Guest Host on Sunday September 17,2006

Also in 2006 she played a deaf parent in Desperate Housewives and a public defender in My Name is Earl.

Preceded by: Geraldine Page for The Trip to Bountiful	Academy Award for Best Actress 1986 for Children of a Lesser God	Succeeded by: Cher for Moonstruck