Top 10 Best Portrayals of Being Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Millicent Simmonds really impressed as Regan, considering that she was only 14 years old in the first film, yet held her own against John Kraninski and Emily Blunt.

As someone who is hard of hearing and who struggles with it daily, it makes me so happy to see my disability represented in media, ESPECIALLY if they do it right :) <3

Helen Keller graduated with honors from Radcliffe college. Her degree was in foreign languages. Annie Sullivan attended every class with her, finger spelling every word of every lecture into Helen’s hand

The English dub of A Silent Voice actually hired a deaf actress in Shoko's role. She was from Glee as part of the Deaf Choir. Recently, they did an anime called Ranking of Kings, where the main character, Boji, is deaf. I'm 80% deaf in one ear due to a horrible medicine reaction, so I am happy that even anime is picking up the pace for disabilities.

While Louise Fletcher (Oscar winner for portraying one of the greatest film villains) isn't deaf, she was raised by deaf parents. She thanked them using ASL in her Oscar's speech <3

Sue Thomas was a monumental series for deaf representation, it's criminal that it's just an honourable mention. Glad to see General Amaya on the list, given the nature of animation, you'd think every character has to have a voice actor, so a deaf character eliminates the need for a voice actor since it's not easy to mimic a deaf person's speaking voice and a deaf person cannot necessarily record voice-overs (not all deaf people can speak fluently)

I love Marlee Matlin, I'm delighted that she's getting steady work in many films and shows. Both of the parents from "Coda" are now Oscar Winners! 🥇💖

The cast and crew of CODA really deserved those three Oscars. Congrats to Troy Kostur for his supporting role as well!

I remember Mr. Holands Opus as being a good introduction to ASL too

I really wish that Lauren Ridloff who plays Connie in The Walking Dead was mentioned during her segment for Eternals as well. She along with her cast mate Angel Theory were the first deaf/hard of hearing characters in the show, even teaching some sign to other survivors.

I'm hard of hearing and I always get so excited when I see Deaf or Hard of hearing actors in movies🥰

I'm disappointed this list didn't mention Linda Bove from Sesame Street, because that was the first time I remembered seeing a deaf character on a TV show. And also, as much credit as Rose should get for her appearance on SCD, why isn't Nyle DiMarco also getting love for his appearance on DWTS?

So happy that both Amaya, Shoko and Gabriella was included, 'cause it's important to show characters with disabilities in animation as well.

I can't believe they didn't include Laconia the wood elf from "The Smurfs." She is mute and communicates through sign language. She is confirmed to be deaf at her wedding in the special, "Smurfily Ever After," where she is completely unaffected by Gargamel's hypnotic music.

FYI Troy Kotsur played a recurring role on Sue Thomas. He and Deanna Bray, who played Sue Thomas, have been married for many years.

Definitely do more about disability lists

Marlee Matlin also starred in a TV show called Reasonable Doubt as a deaf lawyer. Mark Harmon also starred and used ASL with her. He later used ASL on NCIS a few times (as well as Pauly Perrette aka Abby). Agreed on Nyle DeMarco with Dancing with the Stars & America's Next Top Model Ditto with Linda Bove and Love is Never Silent- I remember that Phyllis Frelich played the mother- well known deaf actress along with Ed Waterstreet (the father). Loved Howie Seago in Star Trek TNG! Oh yes... CJ Jones was on an episode of A Different World too!

This was a great list. I’ve seen a number of the shows and movies but not all. Something I’d like to share, is that in the United States American sign language has been recognized as its own language as far back as the 60s. A gentleman named William stoke did incredible research and it went to Gallaudet University. But, from my understanding British sign language was not recognized as it’s on language until the early 2000s that’s a huge difference. While I’m sure that deaf and hard of hearing folks will say it there needs to be much improvement in the area of interpreters and release systems and video communications, I think that they have made great strides in that community in recent years. I remember hearing back in the day even in this country the United States, that people would just freak out if they saw deaf people signing in public. Nowadays, it’s no big deal. I’ve even been using sign language on the bus with a deaf person that I know. And people don’t think anything of it. There again, I myself am blind and nobody thinks anything of me getting on public transportation. By the way, in case anybody was curious I was using tactile sign language with the deaf person that I was referring to on the bus earlier. To all the deaf and hard of hearing folks hopefully it was not mistaken in any of my comments. I love your language and your culture very much.

The L Word seasons 4 & 5 - Jodie Lerner (Marlee Matlin) is a recurring character and mostly signs opposite Jennifer Beals. Great story arc and representation of a deaf principal character/actor.

Coda deserves the win for Best Picture and Troy Kotsur is the second deaf person that won an Oscar. Congratulations from last night.