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List of deaf people

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Notable Deaf people are typically defined as those who have profound hearing loss in both ears as a result of either acquired or congenital hearing loss. Such people may be associated with Deaf culture. Deafness (little to no hearing) is distinguished from partial hearing loss or damage (such as tinnitus), which is less severe impairment in one or both sides. The definition of deafness varies across countries, cultures, and time, though the World Health Organization classes profound hearing loss as the failure to hear a sound of 90 decibels or louder in a hearing test.{{cite web|title=Deafness and hearing loss Fact sheet N°300|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/|access-date=23 May 2015|date=March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516054114/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/|archive-date=16 May 2015}}

In addition to those with profound hearing loss, people without profound hearing loss may also identify as Deaf, often where the person is active within a Deaf community and for whom sign language is their primary language.Madeleine Chapman, Jesper Dammeyer, The Significance of Deaf Identity for Psychological Well-Being, The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2017, Pages 187–194, https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enw073 Those who have mostly lived as a hearing person and acquire deafness briefly, due to a temporary illness or shortly before death, for example, are not typically classed as culturally Deaf.

Deaf educators and organizers

{{Anchor|Important historical figures in deaf history and culture}}

Actors

  • Shelley Beattie, American actress and bodybuilder
  • Sean Berdy, actor and comedian{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5587386/society-netflix-sean-berdy/|title=The Society's Sean Berdy on A.S.L. Representation, Teen Activism and His Buzzy New Netflix Drama|author=Chow|first=Andrew R.|date=2019-05-11|magazine=Time|access-date=24 May 2019}}
  • Linda Bove, actress, known particularly for the role of Linda the Librarian on the children's television program Sesame Street{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Matthew S. |last2=Panara |first2=Robert |title=Great Deaf Americans : The Second Edition |date=1996 |publisher=Rochester, N.Y. : Deaf Life Press |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/greatdeafamerica00moor/page/352/mode/2up|chapter=Chapter 54: Linda Bove|pages=352–357|isbn=9780963401663 }}
  • Deanne Bray, actress who played the lead role on Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye
  • Millie Bobby Brown, an actress from Stranger Things, totally deaf in her right ear
  • James Cavalry, American actor
  • Stephen Colbert, actor, comedian, and talk show host, totally deaf in his right ear.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/25/050725ta_talk_remnick|title=Reporter Guy|first=David|last=Remnick|magazine=The New Yorker|date=July 25, 2005|access-date=July 7, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816234030/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/25/050725ta_talk_remnick|archive-date=August 16, 2007}}
  • Aryana Engineer, actress
  • Lou Ferrigno, American actor and bodybuilder
  • Phyllis Frelich, American actress, Best Actress in a Broadway play: Children of a Lesser God 1980
  • Russell Harvard, actor whose first language is American Sign LanguageHetrick, Adam (2012-05-06). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120714203450/https://www.playbill.com/features/article/165656-Tribes-Actor-Russell-Harvard-Finds-His-Pack- Tribes Actor Russell Harvard Finds His Pack]. Playbill. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Bob Hiltermann, actor, writer, director, and musician
  • Emilio Insolera, Italian actor and director of Sign Gene
  • Troy Kotsur (Best Supporting Actor) for his role in "CODA"
  • Ryan Lane, actor and model
  • Gabriella Leon, English actress
  • Marlee Matlin, first deaf person to win an Academy Award (Best Actress) for her role in Children of a Lesser God
  • Leslie Nielsen, Canadian-American comedic actor who was legally deafBergan, Ronald (2010-11-29). [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/nov/29/leslie-nielsen-obituary Leslie Nielsen obituary ]. The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Audree Norton, American actress and educator, one of the founding members of the National Theatre of the Deaf
  • Lauren Ridloff, an American actress, played the role of Connie (a deaf character) in the ninth season of The Walking Dead. In Eternals, released in 2021, she played the deaf superhero Makkari.
  • Sandra Mae Frank, American actress, played the role of Dr. Elizabeth Wilder in the forth & fifth season of New Amsterdam
  • Emerson Romero, Cuban-American silent film actor, developed the first technique to caption sound films
  • Terrylene Sacchetti, actress
  • Howie Seago, actor and director
  • Millicent Simmonds, deaf actress
  • Shoshannah Stern, actress in Jericho and Weeds whose first language is American Sign LanguageStern, Shoshannah (2020-05-08). [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/style/modern-love-coronavirus-deaf-motherhood-in-a-quiet-world.html Mothering While Deaf in a Newly Quiet World]. New York Times. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Alexandria Wailes, deaf actress, dancer, and educator
  • Bruce Willis, American actor, producer, and singer, 70% deaf in his left ear

Artists

  • Chuck Baird, (1947–2012), American painter and performer, one of the founding members of the De'Via Deaf art movement
  • Bernard Bragg, performer, writer, director, poet, and artist
  • John Brewster Jr. (1766–1854) portraitist and miniaturist in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine in the Federalist period in America{{Cite book|title=Who Was Who in American Art, 1564–1975: 400 Years of Artists in America|publisher=Sound View Press|year=1999|isbn=0932087558|editor-last=Falk|editor-first=Peter Hastings|location=Madison, Conn.|pages=437}}
  • Edward Caledon Bruce (1825-1900), American painter, author, and publisher
  • John Carlin (1813-1891), American painter
  • Thomas Davidson, RA an English painter specializing in historical naval scenes (1842–1919)
  • Walter Geikie, Scottish painter
  • Francisco Goya (1746-1828) Spanish painter, became deaf at age 47.[https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearinginternational/2012/the-deafness-of-goya-part-i/ The Deafness of Goya – Part I] in hearinghealthmatters.org
  • David Hockney (b. 1937), British painterSwerling, Gabriella (2017-09-28). [https://www.thetimes.com/culture/art/article/david-hockney-hearing-loss-has-helped-me-paint-better-5tc5kdfp5 David Hockney: Hearing loss has helped me paint better]. The Times. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Regina Olson Hughes, American Illustrator
  • Jan (born 1939) Spanish comic artist. Deaf since age 6.Martínez, Antonio.[https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B2bIyJhk2wfvTTczMlRfeFpoZmc Interview with Jan], DifuSord number. 2 (in Spanish)
  • Betty G. Miller, American artist
  • Maurycy Minkowski, deaf Polish Jewish artist (1881/2–1930)
  • Juan Fernández Navarrete, Spanish Mannerist painter (1526–79)
  • Albert Newsam (1809–1864) lithographer, and student of Catlin{{Cite book|title=Memoir of Albert Newsam, Deaf Mute Artist|last=Pyatt|first=Joseph O.|work=Printed for the Author|year=1868|location=Philadelphia}}
  • Will J. Quinlan, American artist, etcher, painter
  • Slava Raškaj (1877–1906), Croatian painter
  • Granville Redmond, American painter, actor
  • Alfred Thomson, an English artist and Olympic Gold Medalist (1894–1979)
  • Douglas Tilden, American sculptor
  • Frederick LaMonto, American sculptor, artist. (1921-1981){{Cite book |date=2003 |title=Deaf Artists in America: Colonial to Contemporary |isbn=9781581210507 |url=https://ebin.pub/deaf-artists-in-america-colonial-to-contemporary-1581210507-9781581210507.html |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=ebin.pub |language=en |last1=Sonnenstrahl |first1=Deborah M. |publisher=DawnSignPress }}

Musicians

  • Ailís Ní Ríain, Irish composer
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer and pianist, who acquired almost complete deafness by age 44.[http://www.arquivosdeorl.org.br/conteudo/acervo_eng.asp?Id=636 Bento RF. Beethoven's Deafness, the Defiance of a Genius]. Int. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol. 2009;13(3):317-321.
  • Beethoven's Nightmare, The first and the only deaf rock band in the world cofounded by Bob Hiltermann, drummer from California, Ed Chevy, and Steve Longo from California. Founded in 1971 and still active.
  • William Boyce, a British composer who acquired deafness in his late 40sBeechey, Gwilym, William Boyce, and J. H. "Memoirs of Dr. William Boyce." The Musical Quarterly 57, no. 1 (1971): 87-106. Accessed July 10, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/740872.
  • Sean Forbes, American musician, songwriter, and rapper
  • TL Forsberg, American avant-garde rock singer who identifies as deafCatsoulis, Jeannette (2010-04-08). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/movies/09see.html Deaf, and Trying to Make It in Showbiz]. New York Times. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Evelyn Glennie, Scottish percussionist, won Grammy for Best Musician in a Recording 1989: Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion[https://www.evelyn.co.uk/im-a-grammy-award-winning-musician-and-im-deaf/ I’m a Grammy Award Winning Musician and I’m Deaf]. Evelyn Glennie (2019-05-28). Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  • Mandy Harvey, American jazz singer and a finalist of America's Got Talent (season 12)
  • Geraldine Lawhorn, musician, actress, instructor and first deaf-blind African-American person to earn a college degree
  • Signmark, Finnish rap artist
  • Bedřich Smetana, Czech composer who became completely deaf at age 50H Dominic & W Stiles (2012-01-06). [https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/library-rnid/2012/01/06/deafness-and-tinnitus-in-a-musician-bedrich-smetana/ Deafness and tinnitus in a musician – Bedřich Smetana. UCL. Retrieved 2020-07-10.]
  • Mariko Takamura, deaf Japanese musician
  • Jeshurun Vincent, Malaysian, traveling musician, author, and inspirational speaker who gained recognition for his global musical journey despite being partially deaf.{{Cite web |last=S |first=Bissme |title=The music of his heart |url=https://thesun.my/style-life/the-music-of-his-heart-CB2377316 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=thesun.my |language=en-MY}}{{Cite web |last=Christy |first=David |date=2022-12-12 |title=Malaysian who's been to 123 countries now playing in World Cup {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2022/12/860277/malaysian-whos-been-123-countries-now-playing-world-cup |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=NST Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pong |first=Alyssa |date=2020-07-08 |title=Meet The Partially Deaf Musician Who Set A Malaysian Record After Visiting 102 Countries |url=https://says.com/my/lifestyle/meet-the-partially-deaf-musician-who-set-a-malaysian-record-after-visiting-102-countries |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=SAYS |language=en}}

Scientists

  • Guillaume Amontons, French inventor and physicist{{Cite book |last=Lang |first=Harry G. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31374052 |title=Deaf persons in the arts and sciences : a biographical dictionary |date=1995 |publisher=Greenwood Press |others=Bonnie Meath-Lang |isbn=0-313-29170-5 |location=Westport, Conn. |oclc=31374052}}
  • Annie Jump Cannon, Harvard astronomer recognized for her work in stellar classification{{Cite web |title=Annie Cannon |url=https://www.sheisanastronomer.org/index.php/history/annie-cannon |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=www.sheisanastronomer.org}}
  • Thomas Edison, American businessperson and inventor{{Cite web |date=2018-10-22 |title=The medical mystery that helped make Thomas Edison an inventor |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/the-medical-mystery-that-helped-make-thomas-edison-an-inventor |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}
  • John Goodricke, (1764–1786), English astronomer{{Cite news |date=2012-12-18 |title=Disability history month: John Goodricke the deaf astronomer |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20725639 |access-date=2022-10-24}}
  • Olaf Hassel, Norwegian astronomer{{Citation |title=Olaf Hassel |date=2023-03-08 |url=https://snl.no/Olaf_Hassel |work=Store norske leksikon |access-date=2023-04-30 |language=no}}
  • Nansie S. Sharpless, American biochemist{{Cite web |title=Sharpless, Nansie {{!}} Gallaudet University Library Guide to Deaf Biographies and Index to Deaf Periodicals |url=https://liblists.wrlc.org/biographies/53239 |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=liblists.wrlc.org}}
  • Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American astronomer{{Cite book |last=Sobel |first=Dava |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/952469237 |title=The glass universe : how the ladies of the Harvard Observatory took the measure of the stars |date=2016 |isbn=978-0-670-01695-2 |location=New York, New York |oclc=952469237}}
  • Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Russian astronomer{{Cite web |title=Deaf astronomers John Goodricke and Konstantin Tsiolkowski |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/deaf-astronomers-john-goodricke-konstantin-tsiolkowski |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.rmg.co.uk |language=en}}

Sports

=American football=

  • Albert Berg, American football player, coach, and writer
  • Derrick Coleman, American fullback and Super Bowl champion
  • Gilbert O. Erickson, American college football player and photographer
  • Bonnie Sloan, American defensive tackle and first deaf person drafted to the National Football League
  • Kenny Walker, American gridiron player and first deaf player in the Canadian Football League
  • Blaise Winter, American coach and former defensive end in the NFL

=Association football=

=Athletics=

=Baseball=

  • Michael Cuddyer, American outfielder in MLB during 2001–2015; two-time MLB All-Star
  • Dummy Deegan, American pitcher for the New York Giants in 1901
  • Ed Dundon, American pitcher and first deaf player in MLB, in 1883–1884
  • Tyson Gillies, Canadian outfielder and Pan American Games gold medalist
  • Dummy Hoy, American center fielder and most accomplished deaf player in MLB, during 1888–1902
  • Yuya Ishii, Japanese pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball
  • Dummy Leitner, American pitcher in MLB during 1901–1902
  • Thomas Lynch,{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} American pitcher for the Chicago White Stockings (NL) in 1884
  • Curtis Pride, American outfielder in MLB during 1993–2006; college baseball coach
  • Dick Sipek, American outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds in 1945
  • Dummy Stephenson, American outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1892
  • Dummy Taylor, American pitcher in MLB during 1901–1908

=Basketball=

=Cricket=

  • Anjan Bhattacharjee, Indian first-class bowler for Bihar
  • Lance Cairns, New Zealand all-rounder and international test player
  • John Hodgkins, English first-class all-rounder for Nottinghamshire
  • Charlie McLeod, Australian all-rounder and international test player
  • Imran Sheikh, former captain of the deaf India national team
  • Baba Sidhaye, Indian first-class all-rounder and first national-level deaf-mute player
  • Umesh Valjee, former captain of the deaf England national team

=Swimming=

=Tennis=

=Winter sports=

Writers

Other occupations

Fictional characters

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Lang, Harry G. Fighting in the Shadows: Untold Stories of Deaf People in the Civil War (Washington: Gallaudet University Press, 2017), xv, 255 pp.
  • Sonnenstrahl, Deborah M. Deaf Artists in America, Colonial to Contemporary. San Diego: Dawnsign Press, 2002.

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