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Marlee Matlin Biography

Birth Name:Marlee Beth Matlin

Birth Place:Morton Grove, Illinois, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

  • Actively endorses the National Association of the Deaf
  • Married Burbank police officer Kevin Grandalski after meeting on the set of "Reasonable Doubts", to which he was assigned to provide security
  • Deaf since 18 months old, she would continue to pursue her acting career since an early age, performing for the first time at age seven
  • Quote: "Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me․"
  • Following her Oscar win at 21 years old, she would go on to star in numerous television series before landing her most recognizable drama role to date, that of Joey Lucas on NBC's "The West Wing"
  • Discovered by actor Henry Winkler, he would play a pivotal role in helping her land the first feature film of her career, 1986's "Children of a Lesser God", which she would go on to accept an Oscar for
  • She is the only member of her family that is deaf
  • Asked to perform the National Anthem in sign language before Super Bowl XLI in 2007

Awards

  • 1986LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1987Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1988Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
  • 1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1992Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1993Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1995CableACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1995Q Award-Specialty Player: nominated
  • 1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Gotham Independent Film Award-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 2021IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2021SFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2021WFCC Award-Best Screen Couple: nominated
  • 2022Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2022CIC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2022HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2022HCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022Spotlight Award-: winner
  • 2022ICFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022SFBAFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2022Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated