Famous Deaf People

When Nyle DiMarco said ‘I think the biggest misconception is that people think deaf people are not able to do things’, she couldn’t have been more correct in her observation. Did you know that some of the greatest men/women on earth whom we know or revere today were actually partially or completely deaf in their lifetime? They had the courage to rise above their limitation and become iconic figures that the world would take pride in. If you have a nick of doubt about it, read this. American history would have been miser had there been no Thomas Alva Edison or Helen Keller in it! The most celebrated American inventor and businessman who is best known for inventing the first practical electric light bulb and phonograph, Edison was actually deaf from his childhood. Helen Keller was not just deaf but blind too. But she highly determined that she was, she went on to become the first deaf-blind person to gain a Bachelor degree in Arts. German music wouldn’t have had its share of greatness without the eminent pianist and classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. But did you know that Beethoven suffered from hearing impairment? And these are just a handful of the many more legendary figures from history who were actually deaf. Check out the list of famous deaf people who made it big in life.

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 1 

Leslie Nielsen

(Actor and Comedian Known for His Films: ‘Forbidden Planet’, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ and ‘Airplane!’)

Birthdate: February 11, 1926

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Regina, Canada

Died: November 28, 2010

Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor who played more than 220 characters, appearing in over 150 television programs and 100 films in a career that spanned 60 years. In the latter part of his career, he gained recognition as a comedian and went on to become one of the most popular Canadian comedians of his generation.

 2 

Marlee Matlin

(The First Deaf Performer to Win an Academy Award and the Youngest Winner in the 'Best Actress' Category)

Birthdate: August 24, 1965

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Morton Grove, Illinois, United States

Marlee Matlin is an American actress and author. Her portrayal of Sarah Normanin the 1986 film Children of a Lesser God earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the only deaf performer to have received an Oscar. Apart from being an accomplished actress, Matlin is also an important member of the National Association of the Deaf.

 3 

Tamika Catchings

(Basketball player)

Birthdate: July 21, 1979

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stratford, New Jersey, United States

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

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Birthdate: June 3, 1993

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Boca Raton, Florida

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

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 5 

Fanny Blankers-Koen

(Dutch Track and Field Athlete)

Birthdate: April 26, 1918

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Lage Vuursche, Netherlands

Died: January 25, 2004

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

 6 

Lauren Ridloff

(Known for her roles in the TV series The Walking Dead and the film Eternals.)

Birthdate: April 6, 1978

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

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 7 

Tigran Petrosian

(One of the Best Chess Players in Armenia During his Generation)

Birthdate: June 17, 1929

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Tbilisi, Georgia

Died: August 13, 1984

Tigran Petrosian was a Soviet-Armenian chess player who achieved the grandmaster title in 1952. Nicknamed Iron Tigran, Petrosian was the World Chess Champion between 1963 and 1969. Regarded as one of the best chess players in Armenia during his generation, Tigran Petrosian is credited with popularizing the game in Armenia. He also won the USSR Chess Championship on four occasions.

 8 

Matt Hamill

(American Mixed Martial Artist and Wrestler)

Birthdate: October 5, 1976

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Loveland, Ohio, United States

Though born deaf, Matt Hamill didn’t let his physical disability hinder his progress in mixed martial arts and wrestling. Introduced to wrestling by his wrestling coach father, he won three NCAA Division III wrestling titles. His life inspired the 2011 film The Hammer, named after his nickname.

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 9 

David Wright

(Baseball player)

Birthdate: December 20, 1982

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Norfolk

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 10 

Lester Piggott

(British Professional Jockey and Trainer)

Birthdate: November 5, 1935

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Wantage, Berkshire, England

Died: May 29, 2022

Lester Piggott is an English former jockey. Piggott has 4,493 career wins under his belt and is considered one of the greatest jockeys of all time.In 1999, Piggott was ranked second in the top 50 jockeys of the 20th century list published by the Racing Post. In 2021, Piggott was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame.

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 11 

Ayumi Hamasaki

(Singer, Seiyū, Songwriter, Model, Actor, Singer-songwriter, Composer, Lyricist, Poet, Record producer)

Birthdate: October 2, 1978

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Fukuoka

Japanese pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki had started a TV career after moving to Tokyo at 14. She later gained fame with her dance hits and ballads. Also known for her dramatic costumes and videos, The Empress of J-pop has been rendered totally deaf in one ear, owing to a ear infection.

 12 

Maarten Stekelenburg

(Dutch Football Goalkeeper)

Birthdate: September 22, 1982

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Haarlem, Netherlands

Dutch footballer Maarten Stekelenburg, the goalkeeper for Ajax, has had a successful stint with the club, winning both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup with them 4 times. He was also part of the Dutch squad that became the runner-up at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

 13 

Evelyn Glennie

(Composer, Percussionist)

Birthdate: July 19, 1965

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Aberdeen

 14 

Aryana Engineer

(Actress)

Birthdate: March 6, 2001

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Port Moody, Canada

Height: 4'11" (150 cm)

Birthdate: June 26, 1916

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Wisconsin

Died: September 10, 1988

 16 

Gertrude Ederle

(American Competition Swimmer, Olympic Champion, and World Record-Holder in Five Events)

Birthdate: October 23, 1906

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: November 30, 2003

Gertrude Ederle made history when she became the first female to cross the English Channel. Unfortunately, she lost her sense of hearing while achieving the feat and later devoted herself to coaching deaf swimmers. She also won 2 bronze medals and a relay gold medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

 17 

Laura Bridgman

(Educator)

Birthdate: December 21, 1829

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Hanover, New Hampshire,United States

Died: May 24, 1889

 18 

Stephanie Nogueras

(Known for her roles in the television series Switched at Birth[2] and Grimm, and the 2018 film Unfriended: Dark Web.)

Birthdate: November 18, 1989

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey, United States

Height: 5'1" (155 cm)

 19 

Shelley Beattie

(American Professional Bodybuilder)

Birthdate: August 24, 1967

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Santa Ana, California, United States

Died: February 16, 2008

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

 20 

Juan Miles

(Argentine Polo Player)

Birthdate: June 24, 1895

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Died: December 18, 1981

 21 

Joachim du Bellay

(Poet)

Birthdate: May 1, 1522

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Liré, Orée-d'Anjou, France

Died: January 1, 1560

 22 

Lance Cairns

(Former New Zealand All-Rounder Cricketer)

Birthdate: October 10, 1949

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Picton, New Zealand

 23 

Robert Marchand

(French Centenarian Cyclist)

Birthdate: November 26, 1911

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Amiens, France

Died: May 22, 2021

Initially a fire fighter in Paris, cyclist Robert Marchand was also a World War II prisoner of war. He became a Guinness record holder as the world’s oldest competitive cyclist, at 105. Initially discouraged from cycling for his 5-foot frame, he returned to cycling at 68 and created history.

 24 

Giovanni Baglione

(Italian Painter and Art Historian)

Birthdate: 1566 AD

Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Died: December 30, 1643

Giovanni Baglione was an Italian painter and art historian. He mainly painted religious and mythological subjects. Baglione is also remembered for his impressive collection of biographies of other artists and painters. Giovanni Baglione is perhaps best remembered for his acrimonious and controversial relationship with Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

 25 

Lance Allred

(Basketball player, Writer)

Birthdate: February 2, 1981

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Pinesdale, Montana, United States

Height: 6'11" (211 cm)

 26 

Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard

(Scientist)

Birthdate: May 5, 1809

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Sheffield, Massachusetts, United States

Died: April 27, 1889

Birthdate: January 2, 1877

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Ozalj

Died: March 29, 1906

 28 

Kathleen Ollerenshaw

(Mathematician)

Birthdate: October 1, 1912

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Withington, Manchester, England

Died: August 10, 2014

 29 

Godfrey Huggins

(Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1933 to 1953)

Birthdate: July 6, 1883

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Bexley, Kent, England

Died: May 8, 1971

Godfrey Huggins, 1st Viscount Malvern was a Rhodesian physician and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 12 September 1933 to 7 September 1953. He also served as the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 7 September 1953 to 2 November 1956.

 30 

Vanessa Lima Vidal

(Brazilian Beauty Pageant Contestant and Beach Volleyball Player)

Birthdate: March 3, 1984

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil

Vanessa Lima Vidal is a Brazilian model, beach volleyball player, and beauty pageant contestant. She achieved national prominence in 2008 when she became the first deaf beauty pageant participant at the Miss Brasil pageant. Vanessa Lima Vidal also represented Brazil at the Summer Deaflympics in 2013 where she was part of the national deaf beach volleyball team.     

 31 

Anders Gustav Ekeberg

(Swedish Chemist Who Discovered 'Tantalum')

Birthdate: January 16, 1767

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: February 11, 1813

Swedish analytical chemist Anders Gustav Ekeberg is primarily known for his discovery of tantalum in 1802. He first studied at and later taught at the University of Uppsala. He was also a member of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 2018, Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center started an award in his name to acknowledge work in the field of tantalum research. 

 32 

Charles Joseph Kickham

(Revolutionary)

Birthdate: May 9, 1828

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Mullinahone, Ireland

Died: August 22, 1882

 33 

Sonu Anand Sharma

(Retired Indian Deaf Badminton Player and a Deaflympics Gold Medal Winner)

Birthdate: March 8, 1975

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Retired Indian deaf badminton player Sonu Anand Sharma was part of the gold-medal-winning Indian team at the 1997 Deaflympics. The first deaf woman to be honored with the Nari Shakti award, she took to coaching post-retirement. She has also headed the Deaf Sports Association of Delhi as its Sports Director.

 34 

Elena Yakovishina

(Russian Alpine Skier)

Birthdate: September 17, 1992

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

 35 

Jack Clemo

(Poet)

Birthdate: March 11, 1916

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Saint Austell, England

Died: July 25, 1994

 36 

Ildikó Rejtő

(Retired Hungarian Two-Time Olympic and Five-Time World Champion Foil Fencer)

Birthdate: May 11, 1937

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary

Height: 5'5" (165 cm)

 37 

Ivan Karlovich Arnold

(Russian Artist and Educator Who Founded the Moscow School for the Deaf)

Birthdate: September 25, 1805

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Moscow, Russia

Died: April 26, 1891

Ivan Karlovich Arnold was a Russian artist and educator remembered for establishing the Moscow School for the Deaf. The school, which was founded in 1860, was the first school for the deaf in the city. He served as the director of the school from 1860 to 1866. His contributions were honored in 1900 when the school was rechristened Arnoldo-Tretyakov School.

 38 

Petrona Viera

(Painter)

Birthdate: March 24, 1895

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay

Died: October 4, 1960

 39 

Andrea Ferrell

(Actor)

Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States