--- name: "Marlee Matlin" canonical: "https://film.one/person/marlee-matlin" roles: ["Actor"] born: "24 August 1965" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-20T08:01:33.419100+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Marlee Matlin Actor. Born 24 August 1965 in Morton Grove, Illinois, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 24 August 1965, Morton Grove, Illinois, USA - **Active:** 1986–present - **Also known as:** Marlee Beth Matlin, Marlee Bethany Matlin - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 66 (1), 1990s 86 (1), 2000s 70 (1), 2020s 72 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 73 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, Romance 2, Music 1 - **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $34m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlee_Matlin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213287, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559144/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/19797 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*CODA*](https://film.one/film/coda.md) (72) - **Pluto TV:** [*Children of a Lesser God*](https://film.one/film/children-of-a-lesser-god.md) (66) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Marlee Matlin is an American actress. She made her film debut playing Sarah Norman in *Children of a Lesser God* (1986). For the role she won the Academy Award for Best Actress at the age of 21, becoming the youngest woman and the only deaf performer to receive the award in that category. Matlin has appeared in films and television series including *CODA* (2021) as Jackie Rossi, *Seinfeld*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* and *Desperate Housewives*. She produced and appeared in the documentary *Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie* (2025). She was born on 24 August 1965 in Morton Grove, Illinois, and has been deaf since the age of two. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, jwa.org.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *CODA* (2021), Fi1m 72, as Jackie Rossi — [page](https://film.one/film/coda.md) - *Nip/Tuck* (2003), Fi1m 70, as Barbara Shapiro — [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md) - *The West Wing* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Joey Lucas — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Children of a Lesser God* (1986), Fi1m 66, as Sarah Norman — [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-a-lesser-god.md) ## Complete filmography (65) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Siren: The Voices of Shelley Beattie* (2025), Producer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/siren-the-voices-of-shelley-beattie.md) - *Accused* (2023), series, Director - *Multiverse* (2021), as Dierdre - *CODA* (2021), as Jackie Rossi — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/coda.md) - *Feeling Through* (2019), Executive Producer - *Connecting the Dots: The Story of Feeling Through* (2019), Executive Producer - *This Close* (2018), series, as Annie - *Gone* (2018), series, Actor - *The Magicians* (2015), series, as Harriet - *Quantico* (2015), series, as Jocelyn Turner - *Some Kind of Beautiful* (2014), as Cindy - *Cosmos* (2014), series, as Annie Jump Cannon (voice) - *4Closed* (2013), as Ally Turner - *Excision* (2012), as Amber - *Switched at Birth* (2011), series, as Melody Bledsoe - *Glee* (2009), series, as Marlee Matlin — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md) - *Sweet Nothing in My Ear* (2008), as Laura Miller - *Dispatches from Nicaragua* (2008), Actor - *What the Bleep! Down the Rabbit Hole* (2006), as Amanda - *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Ruby Whitlow - *Baby Einstein: Baby Wordsworth - First Words Around The House* (2005), Actor - *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Alisa Stevens - *CSI: NY* (2004), series, as Gina Mitchum - *What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?* (2004), as Amanda - *The L Word* (2004), series, as Jodi Lerner - *I'm with Her* (2003), series, as Marlee Matlin - *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, as Barbara Shapiro — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md) - *Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off* (2003), Executive Producer - *Askari* (2001), as Paula McKinley - *Kiss My Act* (2001), as Casey - *The Division* (2001), series, as Ann Polton - *Gideon's Crossing* (2000), series, Actor - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Julia Holden - *Two Shades of Blue* (2000), as Beth McDaniels - *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Joey Lucas — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Dr. Amy Solwey - *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Eliza Spears - *Where the Truth Lies* (1999), as Dana Sue Lacey · Executive Producer - *When Justice Fails* (1999), as Katy Wesson - *Chicken Soup for the Soul* (1999), series, Actor - *In Her Defense* (1999), as Jane Claire - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Stella (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Freak City* (1999), as Cass - *Dead Silence* (1997), as Melanie Charrol - *The Practice* (1997), series, as Sally Berg - *Spin City* (1996), series, as Sarah - *Blue's Clues* (1996), series, Actor - *It's My Party* (1996), as Daphne Stark - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Jennifer Winter - *Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story* (1994), as Carrie Buck - *ER* (1994), series, as Sign Language Instructor — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md) - *Sweet Justice* (1994), series, as Brianna Holland - *Hear No Evil* (1993), as Jillian Shanahan - *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Mayor Laurie Bey, Laurie Bey - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Marlee Matlin — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *The Player* (1992), as Marlee Matlin — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md) - *Adventures in Wonderland* (1992), series, as April Hare - *Reasonable Doubts* (1991), series, as ADA Tess Kaufman - *The Linguini Incident* (1991), as Jeanette - *L'homme au masque d'or* (1991), as Sœur Maria - *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Laura — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md) - *Bridge to Silence* (1989), as Peggy Lawrence - *Walker* (1987), as Ellen Martin - *Children of a Lesser God* (1986), as Sarah Norman — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-a-lesser-god.md) - *Run*, as Holly ## Gallery - ![Marlee Matlin](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-022e33b55be0.jpg) Marlee Matlin — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Marlee_Matlin_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Marlee_Matlin_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-8067931f7a7c.jpg) Marlee Matlin, as herself, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. (2022) — Adam Chitayat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Marlee_Matlin_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_01.jpg/1280px-Marlee_Matlin_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Marlee Matlin as Celebrity Presenter at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards on September 27, 2014](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-07558f1ba981.jpg) Marlee Matlin as Celebrity Presenter at 2014 AHA Hero Dog Awards on September 27, 2014 — State Farm, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Matlin_at_2014_AHA_Hero_Dog_Awards.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Wash.D.C. 1999 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-432bfe9a9546.jpg) Wash.D.C. 1999 (2018) — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Marlee_Matlin_1999.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Marlee Matlin](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-38411304cfd0.jpg) Marlee Matlin — Image via TMDB - ![Marlee Matlin](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-4bbb9c25abc9.jpg) Marlee Matlin — Image via TMDB - ![Marlee Matlin](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-0c240e6e363b.jpg) Marlee Matlin — Image via TMDB - ![Marlee Matlin receiving a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-2bd91f4b492b.jpg) Marlee Matlin receiving a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/MarleeMatlinMay09.jpg/1280px-MarleeMatlinMay09.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Marlee Matlin, the Oscar-winning Deaf Hollywood actress, spoke at the Maiersdorf Conference Center at the Mount Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusa](https://film.one/media/person/94727/gallery-2d6057e08915.jpg) Marlee Matlin, the Oscar-winning Deaf Hollywood actress, spoke at the Maiersdorf Conference Center at the Mount Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusa — Yossi Zamir, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Marlee_Matlin_at_Maiersdorf_Conference_Center_in_Israel_June_2017.jpg/1280px-Marlee_Matlin_at_Maiersdorf_Conference_Center_in_Israel_June_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 1987: Best Actress (won), for *Children of a Lesser God* ### Other awards — 2 won - Crystal Award 2021: Crystal Award (won) - honorary doctorate 1987: honorary doctorate (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/marlee-matlin