Deaf people can do everything that hearing people can do. They have the same potential. There are many famous deaf people who have pioneered in the field of sports, literature, science, arts, and others. Some of the famous deaf people who have made the deaf community proud are discussed here.
Laurent Clerc started the first school for the deaf in USA. King Jordan became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University. Dr Richard Cornett developed cued speech to help deaf students acquire reading skills. Marie Jean Philip was a well known researcher and advocate for American Sign Language and deaf culture. Samuel Heinicke is popularly known as the father of oral education. He taught deaf students to sign language, lip-reading and feeling the throat to better their communication techniques. Charles-Michel de l’Épée was a philanthropic deaf educator of 18th century France.
Marlee Matlin is the first deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Phyllis Frelich was a respected American deaf actress who won the best actress award for her role in ‘Sara’. C.J. Jones is an internationally acclaimed deaf entertainer, actor and comedian. Terrylene played the role of Laura Williams for the famous TV series ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Lou Ferrigno is an American Actor who played ‘Hulk’ in the original series. The famous actress Halle Berry has 80% hearing loss. Holly Hunter is a famous actress who won the Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award among other awards.
Johnnie Ray was famous American singer, pianist, and songwriter in 1950’s and played a major role in rock culture. Ludwig van Beethoven was deaf for the last part of his life and yet composed some of the greatest music of all times. Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese musician and performer. Neil Young was a great musician and songwriter who got elected twice for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Phil Collins owns impressive arrays of trophies ranging from Grammy, Golden Globe and others. George Martin is producer of ‘The Beatles’ and worked with the worlds famous rock bands. Brian Wilson orchestrated the most sonically gorgeous album ‘The Beach Boys’.
Matthew Morgan is a famous magician, entertainer and comedian. Liliana Morgan is a Russian dancer. Peter Cook was an English actor, ASL story teller, writer and comedian. Sam Sandler is America’s premier deaf magician and family entertainer. Bernard Bragg is a director, writer, poet and artist.
There are many famous deaf artists and performers other than the ones mentioned. The deaf have the same capability as that of hearing people. The deaf can do everything except hear. They have progressed in every walk of life.