Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore explores the life and career of the pioneering actress, disability rights champion, and author.
The documentary takes a closer look at Marlee Matlin’s life as a groundbreaking performer, whose meteoric and tumultuous rise to fame started in 1987 when she became the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award for her role in Children of a Lesser God. At the age of twenty-one, Matlin was thrust into the national spotlight, becoming for many Americans the first Deaf person they saw on TV and overnight becoming the de-facto representative of the Deaf community.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore boasts never-before-seen home video filmed over the course of Matlin’s 37-year career by her longtime interpreter and producing partner Jack Jason—including footage of Matlin behind the scenes on the sets of some of her most iconic roles including Children of a Lesser God, The West Wing and Seinfeld. For the first time in her own language, Matlin will reflect on her relationship with actor William Hurt, her place in the Deaf community, her fight for roles and accessibility in Hollywood and what it means to be “the first.”
The project is directed by Shoshannah Stern who is bringing her singular vision to Matlin’s story.
Stern’s prior work includes the award-winning Sundance series This Close which she conceived of, wrote for and executive produced; recurring acting roles on Supernatural and Grey’s Anatomy, writing on Marvel’s Echo and recent story consulting on HBO’s The Last of Us. About her perspective she states, “As a Deaf woman who first saw herself reflected in Marlee as a child, I was inspired to become an actor. I am now an actor, a writer and with this film, a director. I am experiencing everything Marlee has made possible in a beautiful metaphysical tandem. In our film, the telling of her story is rendered through the easy familiarity people have with an interviewer that shares their lived experience. Hopefully because of this, our project will exemplify why nobody, much less Marlee Matlin, should be alone anymore.”
The project has unprecedented access to Matlin and features interviews with her close friends and family along with colleagues Henry Winkler, Aaron Sorkin, Randa Haines, Sian Heder, Lauren Ridloff and John Maucere.
“Marlee’s career spans generations of movie and television lovers, and we follow her as she becomes the first Deaf director in the Directors Guild of America. Her talent, charisma and resilience have made her a role model for millions around the world,” said American Masters Executive Producer Michael Kantor. “We are proud to partner with Shoshannah Stern and are certain that Marlee’s pioneering story will resonate with both Deaf and hearing audiences across the country.”
