Phyllis Frelich

Phyllis Frelich
8 x 10 inches
Oil on canvas
February 2012
SOLD

Description:
This painting honors Phyllis Frelich, a groundbreaking Deaf actress and advocate who made a lasting impact on Deaf representation in the arts.

Phyllis Frelich was born on February 29, 1944, in Devils Lake, North Dakota. She was born into a Deaf family—her parents were Deaf, and she was the oldest of nine Deaf children. She attended the North Dakota School for the Deaf and graduated in 1962.

Frelich became widely recognized for her leading role in the Broadway production of Children of a Lesser God, a performance that earned her the 1980 Tony Award for Best Actress. She broke barriers by bringing a Deaf performer’s authentic experience and language to the stage.

Her film and television roles included Love Is Never Silent, Bridge to Silence, and Sweet Nothing in My Ear.

Phyllis Frelich passed away on April 10, 2014, from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Her legacy continues through her contributions to Deaf culture, theater, film, and representation of Deaf people in the arts.