Deanne Bray
{{short description|American actress}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption = https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ6upbwLEZQljZxnh0D-vdbDutRV0R4t-QJLHShQxKJ5A&s
| image_size = 150px
| name = Deanne Bray
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|05|14}}
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, United States
| years_active = 1995–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Troy Kotsur|2001}}
| children = 1
}}
Deanne Bray (born May 14, 1971){{cite book | author=Bob Ayers |location=Lincoln, NE, USA |language=English |isbn=0-595-33541-1 |title=Deaf Diaspora, The Third Wave of Deaf Ministry |date=December 2004 |page=57}} is an American actress. Bray was born deaf and is multilingual in American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and English. She is also known as Deanne Bray-Kotsur.
Early life and education
Bray was born in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California and has spent most of her life in southern California being raised by her father, though she lived in Seattle for a few years with her mother and attended Washington State School for the Deaf for grade 8. Bray's father knew some basic ASL, but her mother chose not to learn to sign at all.
Bray's parents made certain their daughter was instructed from an early age to speak and write English and learn American Sign Language as well, sending her through a variety of learning programs and centers to strengthen her language skills.{{cite web | url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2018/07/12/deaf-actors-oak-park-star-play-premiering-hollywood/751949002/ | accessdate=September 28, 2019 | title=Deaf actors from Oak Park star in play premiering in Hollywood | archive-date=July 14, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714002606/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2018/07/12/deaf-actors-oak-park-star-play-premiering-hollywood/751949002/ | url-status=live }}
A California native, Bray broke into the entertainment industry after she was discovered performing with a deaf dancing group called "Prism West" at a Deaf festival at California State University, Northridge, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology.{{cite web|url=https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/Deanne_Bray_Cover_Story_NovDec_2009HLM.pdf?pdf=2009-hlm-nd-bkelley|accessdate=September 28, 2019|title=A Hearing Loss Hero|archive-date=September 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928071338/https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/Deanne_Bray_Cover_Story_NovDec_2009HLM.pdf?pdf=2009-hlm-nd-bkelley|url-status=live}} She received a master's degree in sign language education in 2013.{{cite web |title=Oak Park High School Staff Pages: Deanne Bray Welcome. |url=https://www.oakparkusd.org/domain/866 |website=Oak Park High School |access-date=27 May 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.aslta2019.com/deanne-bray | accessdate=September 28, 2019 | title=American Sign Language Honor Society | archive-date=September 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928061334/https://www.aslta2019.com/deanne-bray | url-status=dead }}
Career
Bray is best known for her role as Sue Thomas in the show Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye and has also had a recurring role as Emma Coolidge on Heroes, as well as being a co-host with Missy Keast on the DVD Your Pregnancy: What To Expect, a comprehensive resource for pregnant deaf and hard of hearing women.{{cite book | title=Your Pregnancy What to Expect | isbn=0977097455 }}{{cite web| url=https://www.harriscomm.com/your-pregnancy-what-to-expect.html| accessdate=September 28, 2019| title=Your Pregnancy What to Expect| archive-date=September 28, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928061331/https://www.harriscomm.com/your-pregnancy-what-to-expect.html| url-status=live}}
Bray is also an advocate for improving early childhood education for deaf children and is a spokesperson for Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K).{{cite web | url=https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/4244578-seeking-sign-language-support-deaf-actress-advocates-early-asl-development | accessdate=September 28, 2019 | title=Seeking sign language support - Deaf actress advocates for early ASL development | date=3 April 2017 | archive-date=6 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406044800/https://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/4244578-seeking-sign-language-support-deaf-actress-advocates-early-asl-development | url-status=live }}
Bray taught American Sign Language (ASL) at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, California, from 2013{{cite web |title=Oak Park High School Staff Pages: Deanne Bray UC Approved ASL Classes |url=https://www.oakparkusd.org/Page/10461 |website=Oak Park High School |access-date=27 May 2024}} to 2021.{{cite web |title=2012–2022 salaries for Oak Park Unified |url=https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/school-districts/ventura/oak-park-unified/?page=28&s=name |website=Transparent California (public pay and pension database) |access-date=27 May 2024}}{{cite web |title=Mrs. Bray’s husband makes history at the Academy Awards |url=https://oakparktalon.org/14414/news/mrs-brays-husband-makes-history-at-the-academy-awards/ |website=Oak Park High School Talon |access-date=27 May 2024}}
Personal life
Bray is married to Troy Kotsur, the first deaf male actor to win an Academy Award. On September 8, 2005, they had a daughter, Kyra Monique Kotsur.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
|[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303746/ What Do Women Want] |Sharon | |
| 2005
|[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234084/ Last Mountain] |Blonde Annie | |
| 2007
|[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027039/ I See the Crowd Roar: The Story of William Dummy Hoy] |Anna |Documentary short |
| 2008
|Natalie | |
| 2013
|No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie |ASL Advocate | |
2016 Wild Prairie Rose.
=Theatre=
| class= "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2018
|Arrival and Departure |Emily |Theater |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1995
|Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning |Teddy Franklin |TV film |
| 1996
|{{sortname|The|Pretender|The Pretender (TV series)}} |Deaf Woman |Episode: "Flyer" |
| 1997
|Juliet |Episode: "Ellen's Deaf Comedy Jam" |
| 1997
|Jan Curran |Episode: "Murder, Country Style" |
| 2001
|Sonny |Episode: "Fix" |
| 2001
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |Dr. Gilbert |Episode: "Sounds of Silence" |
| 2002–2005
|Lead role (56 episodes) |
| 2003
|L.A. Sheriff's Homicide |Technician |TV film |
| 2006
|RoseMary |Episode: "Hell" |
| 2007
|Dean Price |Episode: "Silencer" |
| 2007
|Jean |Episode: "The Rat Dog" |
| 2007
|{{sortname|The|L Word}} |Amy Reed |Episodes: "Lacy Lilting Lyrics", "Little Boy Blue" |
| 2008
|{{sortname|The|L Word}} |Amy Reed |Episodes: "Lesbians Gone Wild", "Lay Down the Law" |
| 2008
|Dr. Walters |TV film |
| 2009–2010
|Recurring role (9 episodes) |
| 2013
|Joanne |Episode: "And Not-So-Sweet Charity" |
| 2014
|Nicole |Episode: "Go It Alone" |
| 2014
|Dean of Gallaudet |Episode: "It Isn't What You Think" |
| 2017
|Veep |Julie |Episode: "Qatar" |
| 2022
|Olive |TV film |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0106207|name=Deanne Bray}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bray, Deanne}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American deaf actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses