Deaf Characters in Television
Series About Deaf
2011-Now Switched at Birth
Switched at Birth has been seen as a huge leap forward as far as bringing the Deaf Community into the public eye. Reaching a broader scope of audiences than any of it's predecessors this family drama tackles numerous issues concerning audism and challenges many Deaf stereotypes. With numerous lead characters who are Deaf including Daphne, Emmett, Melody and Travis there is also a great number of supporting and reappearing Deaf characters. Having a large portion of the show set at Carlton High School for the Deaf lends itself to being rather inclusive to young Deaf actors. The series also put out an episode where the majority of it was done solely in American Sign Language. This was credited by National Association of the Deaf as "a phenomenal and groundbreaking first in television history" in their release. There are still many controversies regarding the show and it's depictions of the Deaf community for example regarding the lack of representation of those with Cochlear Implants as discussed in this article at Cochlear Implant Online. However by and large many applaud it for bringing the subject of Deaf Culture into the eyes of the public.
Switched at Birth has been seen as a huge leap forward as far as bringing the Deaf Community into the public eye. Reaching a broader scope of audiences than any of it's predecessors this family drama tackles numerous issues concerning audism and challenges many Deaf stereotypes. With numerous lead characters who are Deaf including Daphne, Emmett, Melody and Travis there is also a great number of supporting and reappearing Deaf characters. Having a large portion of the show set at Carlton High School for the Deaf lends itself to being rather inclusive to young Deaf actors. The series also put out an episode where the majority of it was done solely in American Sign Language. This was credited by National Association of the Deaf as "a phenomenal and groundbreaking first in television history" in their release. There are still many controversies regarding the show and it's depictions of the Deaf community for example regarding the lack of representation of those with Cochlear Implants as discussed in this article at Cochlear Implant Online. However by and large many applaud it for bringing the subject of Deaf Culture into the eyes of the public.
2002-2005 Sue Thomas F.B.Eye
This series is based on Silent Night an autobiographical account by Sue Thomas, the first Deaf person to work as an undercover agent for the F.B.I. Applauded for being a family friendly, feel-good television series despite being set in the Bureau, this series was very much about a Deaf person more than it was meant for Deaf people. The cute anecdotes and references to Deaf culture were designed to fill in the schema of the intended Hearing audience, but generally just scraped the surface keeping the mood light and positive.
This series is based on Silent Night an autobiographical account by Sue Thomas, the first Deaf person to work as an undercover agent for the F.B.I. Applauded for being a family friendly, feel-good television series despite being set in the Bureau, this series was very much about a Deaf person more than it was meant for Deaf people. The cute anecdotes and references to Deaf culture were designed to fill in the schema of the intended Hearing audience, but generally just scraped the surface keeping the mood light and positive.
(Outside of these two series I've been hard pressed to find a major prime-time television series that not only contains Deaf characters but is specifically about the Deaf characters and the culture. Two television series out of all the hundreds of shows out there? Seems a little light to me...)
Series Containing Long Running Deaf Characters
YEARS
2009-2010 2007-2009 2006-2008 2005-2012 2000-2006 2000-2013 1993-1996 1991-1993 |
TELEVISION SERIES
Heroes The L Word Jericho Weeds The West Wing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Picket Fences Reasonable Doubts |
CHARACTER
Dr. Emma Coolridge Jodie Lerner Bonnie Richmond Megan Joey Lucas Gil Grissom Laurie Bay Asst. Dist. Atty. Tess Kaufman |
ACTOR
Deanne Bray Marlee Matlin Shoshannah Stern Shoshannah Stern Marlee Matlin William Petersen Marlee Matlin Marlee Matlin |
Character: Gil Grissom Actor: William Petersen (Hearing)
Series: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
In this series Grissom's mother is Deaf and so Gil is fluent in American Sign Language in order to be able to communicate with her. Then during the series Grissom also suffers the same degenerative illness, otosclerosis, but seeks treatment and stops the progression. One study examines "the construction of hearing loss and deafness in CSI" by Dr. Foss, states "Through Grissom, hearing loss is presented as a lonely experience that can hinder one's work. On the other hand, multiple perspectives of deafness are presented in the first season". This series compared both the pathological and cultural definition of what it means to be Deaf and managed to do so with the series main character, not as a one episode side story.
Series: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
In this series Grissom's mother is Deaf and so Gil is fluent in American Sign Language in order to be able to communicate with her. Then during the series Grissom also suffers the same degenerative illness, otosclerosis, but seeks treatment and stops the progression. One study examines "the construction of hearing loss and deafness in CSI" by Dr. Foss, states "Through Grissom, hearing loss is presented as a lonely experience that can hinder one's work. On the other hand, multiple perspectives of deafness are presented in the first season". This series compared both the pathological and cultural definition of what it means to be Deaf and managed to do so with the series main character, not as a one episode side story.
Character: Dr. Emma Coolridge Actor: Deanne Bray (Deaf)
Series: Heroes
Heroes is a popular sci-fi drama where it's characters have super-human capabilities. In season four they made way for their first Deaf character Dr. Emma Coolridge a Deaf woman who can see sound waves as light. Shown as a proud and capable woman Coolridge joins the group of lovable outcasts who are all part of a new minority.
Series: Heroes
Heroes is a popular sci-fi drama where it's characters have super-human capabilities. In season four they made way for their first Deaf character Dr. Emma Coolridge a Deaf woman who can see sound waves as light. Shown as a proud and capable woman Coolridge joins the group of lovable outcasts who are all part of a new minority.
Series with Deaf Cameos
2013 Grimm (One Night Stand)
Character: Elly Mahario
Played By: Stephanie Nogueras
2009 House M.D. (House Divided)
Character: Seth Miller
Played By: Ryan Lane
2009 Glee (Hairography)
Character: Dalton Rumba
Played By: Michael Hitchcock
2007 Law and Order: CI (Silencer)
Character: Multiple
Played By: Deanne Bray, Alexandria Wailes, Garrett Zuercher, Darren Frazier, Hillary Baack, Willy Conley
and Raymond Luczak
2006 ER (Strange Bedfellows)
Character: D'Shawn
Played By: Marc Bowman
Character: Elly Mahario
Played By: Stephanie Nogueras
2009 House M.D. (House Divided)
Character: Seth Miller
Played By: Ryan Lane
2009 Glee (Hairography)
Character: Dalton Rumba
Played By: Michael Hitchcock
2007 Law and Order: CI (Silencer)
Character: Multiple
Played By: Deanne Bray, Alexandria Wailes, Garrett Zuercher, Darren Frazier, Hillary Baack, Willy Conley
and Raymond Luczak
2006 ER (Strange Bedfellows)
Character: D'Shawn
Played By: Marc Bowman
Character: Dalton Rumba Actor: Michael Hitchcock (Hearing)
Series: Glee
This is perhaps one of the most audistic portrayals in recent history, particularly in his meeting with the regular teachers on the series. With stereotypical jokes with him consistently yelling and misunderstanding what is being said in the conversation. This portrayal shows Deaf as obnoxious and daft.
Series: Glee
This is perhaps one of the most audistic portrayals in recent history, particularly in his meeting with the regular teachers on the series. With stereotypical jokes with him consistently yelling and misunderstanding what is being said in the conversation. This portrayal shows Deaf as obnoxious and daft.
Character: John Myers Actor: Troy Kotsur (Deaf)
Series: Criminal Minds
Despite having only one appearance in the series Criminal Minds, when the casting director saw Troy Kotsur in a production of Cyrano they managed to convinced the team to change the character of John Myers and make him Deaf in order to hire Troy. A Deaf serial killer John Myers' trademark is to sew his victims mouth shut.
Series: Criminal Minds
Despite having only one appearance in the series Criminal Minds, when the casting director saw Troy Kotsur in a production of Cyrano they managed to convinced the team to change the character of John Myers and make him Deaf in order to hire Troy. A Deaf serial killer John Myers' trademark is to sew his victims mouth shut.
References:
(2005). Sue Thomas F.B.Eye [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329934/
(2012). Gil Grissom William Petersen [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/gil-grissom/images/273978/title/william-petersen-photo
(2012). Troy Kotsur [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://intimateexcellent.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/tv-show-changes-role-from-hearing-to-deaf-
to-nab-deaf-actor-in-cyrano/
(2014) Dalton Rumba [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://glee.wikia.com/wiki/Dalton_Rumba
(2014) Emma Coolidge [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://heroeswiki.com/Emma_Coolidge
(2014). Switched at Birth [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/switched-at-birth/episode-guide
(2005). Sue Thomas F.B.Eye [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329934/
(2012). Gil Grissom William Petersen [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/gil-grissom/images/273978/title/william-petersen-photo
(2012). Troy Kotsur [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://intimateexcellent.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/tv-show-changes-role-from-hearing-to-deaf-
to-nab-deaf-actor-in-cyrano/
(2014) Dalton Rumba [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://glee.wikia.com/wiki/Dalton_Rumba
(2014) Emma Coolidge [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://heroeswiki.com/Emma_Coolidge
(2014). Switched at Birth [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/switched-at-birth/episode-guide