Celebrating Deaf Awareness Week: Inspiring stories of deaf and hard-of-hearing celebrities
Millie Bobby Brown has spoken openly about how her hearing loss can make things tricky on set.
Image: Bang Showbiz
This International Week of the Deaf, we're taking a moment to celebrate some incredible people who have not only found huge success in their careers but have also broken down barriers along the way.
Their stories are a powerful reminder that passion, talent, and determination can overcome any challenge, and that experiencing the world a little differently can lead to some truly amazing achievements.
Here’s a look at some of the most famous deaf and hearing-impaired celebrities and their inspiring journeys.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is probably the most famous deaf celebrity out there.
She won over audiences everywhere with her very first movie, "Children of a Lesser God," back in 1986, and even won an Oscar for it.
To this day, she remains the only deaf female performer to have ever won that award.
Matlin lost her hearing as a toddler, but she never let it stop her from chasing her acting dreams.
She's been a tireless advocate for the deaf community in Hollywood, fighting for things like closed captioning and better representation.
She's a true legend who has used her platform to educate and inspire so many people.
Millie Bobby Brown
You know her as the powerhouse Eleven from "Stranger Things," but what you might not know is that she was born with partial hearing loss in one ear.
Over time, she completely lost her hearing in that ear.
Brown has spoken openly about how her hearing loss can make things tricky on set, especially when it's hard to hear the director's cues, but she's never let it hold her back.
Her determination sends a powerful message to young people everywhere: don't let anything get in the way of what you love.
Troy Kotsur
Troy Kotsur made history at the 2022 Oscars, becoming the first deaf male actor to win an Academy Award for his role in "CODA."
Born deaf, Kotsur fell in love with acting early on. His journey to Hollywood fame was a long one, with years spent working in theatre before he got his big break.
His moving performance in "CODA" not only showed off his immense talent but also gave a glimpse into the everyday lives of a deaf family, helping a huge audience better understand their world.
Kotsur has once again stepped into the limelight playing a deaf villain in the series "Black Rabbit."
Millicent Simmonds
Though she's still very young, Millicent Simmonds has already made a huge splash in Hollywood, especially with her roles in the "A Quiet Place" movies.
Simmonds became deaf as a baby after a medication overdose.
The director of "A Quiet Place" specifically wanted a deaf actress for the part, which brought a powerful and real layer to the film's storyline.
Simmonds is a great role model for young deaf actors and a strong voice for her community, proving that talent truly knows no limits.
Shoshannah Stern
Shoshannah Stern comes from a multi-generational deaf family and is a true pioneer in television.
She's been in shows like "Weeds" and "Jericho," and she co-created, co-wrote, and co-produced the Sundance TV series "This Close."
That show was a huge deal because it was one of the very first TV series ever created by and starring deaf people.
Her work is all about showing authentic deaf characters and stories, helping to change the game in mainstream media.
These celebrities are just a handful of the many deaf and hearing-impaired people who are absolutely killing it in their fields and inspiring the world.
This International Week of the Deaf, let's celebrate their achievements, listen to their stories, and keep working toward a world that's more welcoming and accessible for everyone.