Deaf History - Deaf People - Television Fifties to Today

Although Marlee Matlin and Deanne Bray are the first deaf actors or actresses people think of when the subject of deaf people on television comes up, there were many others who paved the way for them over the years on television programs in the United States and elsewhere. Someday I would like for someone to put together a DVD with all deaf television character appearances over the years, because there are many I have never seen and would like the chance to see, or see again. (Notes: This article does not include soap operas,reality shows, or programs like Sesame Street. The focus is on regularly aired dramas, comedies, etc. Also, ifterms like "deaf-mute" appear, that is because that is how the characters were described originally.)

1950s and 1960s

Apparently deaf people (if not deaf actors, because in the early days many deaf roles in Hollywood were taken by hearing actors) have been on television since not long after television began. These are the earliest appearances of deafness on television that I know of:

• Screen Director's Playhouse/"Number Five Checked Out" (16/January 1956) - a young deaf woman
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents/"You Got to Have Luck" (16/January 1956) - a deaf woman's inability to hear leads to the captureof a fugitive
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (British)/"The Wager" (June 1956) -deaf beggar
• The Adventures of Jim Bowie/"Deaf Smith" (February 1958)- scout Erastus ("Deaf") Smith
• Wagon Train/"Ella Lindstrom Story" (February 1959) - deaf child in a family
• Bonanza/ "Silent Thunder" (December 1960) -a character has a deaf-mute daughter who is taught sign
• The June Allyson Show/"A Silent Panic" (December 1960) -a deaf-mute man is a murder witness
• The Deputy/"Spoken in Silence" (April 1961) -a character has a deaf-mute daughter
• 87thPrecinct (1961-62) - deaf mute wife of cop
• Wagon Train/"Wagon to Fort Anderson" (June 1961) - deaf girl
• The Rifleman/"The Quiet Fear" (January 1962) -a character has a deaf daughter.
• Ben Casey/"A Woods Full of Question Marks" (October 1964) - a group of deaf children from Mary E. Bennett school for deaf. (June Reed, Irene Wassell, Val Zimmer, Gale Doling, Steven Cole, Edward Ewald, Rebecca Fogarty, Christopher Sato, Hedy Ukovich, Anthony Hinderer, Deanna Longo)
• Peyton Place (1964-69) - young deaf child
• Lassie/"The Day the Mountain Shook" (April 1966) - deaf boys from Mary E. Bennett School
• Mannix/"Silent Cry" (September 1968) - deaf woman witness to crime
• Land of the Giants/"Shell Game" (April 1969) -a giant deaf boy

1970s

In the 1970s, deaf actors and actresses began to appear on television programs, but appearances were relatively scarce. Roles were limited, and deaf characters were never anything more than "guest" appearances. During this era, deaf characters on television were more curiosities than anything else.

• Doctor in the House (British)/"Finals" (July 1970) - deaf patient (Bert Palmer)
• The Waltons/"The Foundling" (1972) - young "deaf and dumb" girl with parents who can not communicate with her in sign language and think she is retarded
• Lassie/"Paths of Courage" sequence (February and March 1972) - deaf girl
• Lassie/"A Girl and a Boy" (October 1972) - young deaf boy (Moosie Drier) who uses sign language. Deaf character reappeared in November 1972 episode, "Deadly Surf"
• The Hanged Man (British)/"Knave of Coins" (January 1975) - deaf black character (Elanie Delmar)
• Harry O/"Silent Kill" (February 1975) - deaf-mute criminal client on the show
• Good Times/"Willona's Dilemma" (November 1975) - J.J. befriends a deaf man
• James at 15 (1977)/"Actions Speak Louder"- character meets a deaf boy (Kevin Van Wieringen).
• Hardy Boys Mysteries (1977/78)/"Silent Scream" - central character falls for deaf girl
• Incredible Hulk (1977 to 1982) - Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk
• Love Boat/"Sounds of Silence/Cyrano de Bricker/Murder on the High Seas" (March 1979) - a deaf friend. (Sheila Lenham)
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century/"Return of the Fighting 69th" (October 1979) - deaf mute slave (Katherine Wiberg)