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AMERICAN MASTERS: Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore

Learn about the life and career of 4-time Emmy nominee Marlee Matlin as she shares her story in her native American Sign Language. Known for roles in THE WEST WING and CODA, at 21 years old, Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar.

Premieres Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream with KPBS+ / Encores Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2

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 biography and career timeline

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Article: 10 of Marlee Matlin’s most memorable film and television roles

AMERICAN MASTERS: Marlee Matlin on her childhood in Illinois

"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.

AMERICAN MASTERS: Marlee Matlin changed how "CODA" was cast

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.”

AMERICAN MASTERS: How Henry Winkler helped Marlee Matlin through a turbulent time in her life

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