Marlee Matlin

Joined the ABC reality series, "Dancing with the Stars" as a contestant

Joined the fourth season of Showtime's Lesbian themed drama, "The L Word" as fiery artist Jodi Lerner, the new love interest of Bette (Jennifer Beals)

Reprised her role for the final episodes of the NBC White House drama, "The West Wing"

Guest-starred on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" as Doctor Amy Solway; earned an Emmy nomination

Published her first novel Deaf Child Crossing, which was loosely based on her own childhood

Earned plaudits for playing a deaf woman on trial in ABC's "The Practice"; scripted by David E Kelley

Had a recurring role as a feisty campaign manager on the NBC political drama "The West Wing"

Producing debut, the Lifetime TV-movie "90 Days at Hollyridge"

Reteamed with Eric Roberts in "Two Shades of Blue"

Starred in the HBO movie, "Dead Silence"

Hosted PBS' "People in Motion" a look at how technology is reshaping the lives of people with disabilities

Played Eric Roberts' sister in Randal Kleiser's "It's My Party"

Earned praise for her performance in Lifetime's "Against Her Will: The Story of Carrie Buck"; based-on-fact tale of a mentally-impaired woman who fought against her sterilization in the 1920s

Had recurring role as Laurie Bay on David E Kelley's "Picket Fences" (CBS); received Emmy nomination

Performed the national anthem in American Sign Language with country music star Garth Brooks at Super Bowl XXVII; also appeared in Brooks' video "We Shall Be Free"

Played a terrorized deaf woman in the thriller, "Hear No Evil"

Played Jerry's girlfriend Laura in two episodes of "Seinfeld" (NBC); nominated for an Emmy

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Appeared as herself in Robert Altman's "The Player"

Portrayed April Hare in episodes of the Disney Channel's "Adventures in Wonderland"

Played assistant prosecutor Tess Kaufman on TV series, "Reasonable Doubts" (NBC)

TV movie debut and first speaking role in "Bridge to Silence" (CBS)

Feature film debut, the leading role of Sarah in "Children of a Lesser God"

At age eight, performed with Children's Theater of the Deaf in Des Plains, IL

Acted in community theater

Became deaf from a bout of roseola when she was 18 months old

Played a supporting role in a Chicago stage production of Mark Medoff's "Children of a Lesser God"