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TECHNOTE: Thu 9/4/25 Radio broadcast interruptions during tower work 9am-5pm

Marlee Matlin on her childhood in Illinois

Season 39 Episode 7 | 2m 00s

Marlee Matlin visits the house she grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois and shares stories from her childhood, including how she became Deaf at 18 months old.

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Anita and Jay Kaufman, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Charina Endowment Fund, The Marc Haas Foundation and public television viewers.
Extras
Learn about Marlee Matlin, Oscar-winning actress and champion of the Deaf community.
Marlee Matlin refused to allow a hearing actor to play her Deaf husband in the 2021 film “CODA.”
Actress Natasha Rothwell on her creative process in "The White Lotus."
Ringo Starr describes his friendship with Mae West.
Actor Daniel Dae Kim on his groundbreaking career and new project, "Butterfly."
Discover this portrait of the Cuban-American graphic artist and graphic novelist Edel Rodriguez.
Discover this portrait of the Cuban-American graphic artist and graphic novelist Edel Rodriguez.
Discover this portrait of the Cuban-American graphic artist and graphic novelist Edel Rodriguez.
Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb talk about how they have worked together.
Mel Brooks talks about the first Broadway show he ever saw—Cole Porter's "Anything Goes."