Marlee Matlin
A trailblazing actress who, after losing her hearing as a toddler, became the youngest and first deaf performer to win a Best Actress Oscar.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American actress·Birthday: August 24·Generation X
Biography
Marlee Matlin didn't just break into Hollywood; she shattered its preconceptions. Deaf since the age of 18 months, she landed her first film role at 21 in 'Children of a Lesser God,' delivering a performance of such raw power and intelligence that it earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. That 1986 win made her the youngest recipient in that category at the time and the only deaf actor to ever win the Oscar. Rather than be pigeonholed, Matlin built a formidable career across television, film, and theater, from 'The West Wing' to 'The L Word,' consistently portraying complex characters far beyond their deafness. Off-screen, her fierce advocacy has pushed for greater representation and accessibility in entertainment, using her platform to insist that deaf artists be heard.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Marlee was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marlee Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Marlee's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress at age 21 for her debut film, 'Children of a Lesser God.'
- Is the first and only deaf performer to win a competitive Academy Award.
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009 for her contributions to the film industry.
- Authored several novels, including a series of children's books featuring a deaf protagonist.
Did You Know?
She is a dedicated Chicago Cubs fan and threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a game in 2016.
Matlin is a skilled poker player and competed in the 2009 World Series of Poker.
She made a guest appearance on the popular children's show 'Sesame Street' to teach sign language.
Her hearing loss was caused by a genetically malformed cochlea.
““The only thing I can't do is hear. Everything else, I can.””
