Marlee Matlin, a trailblazing figure in Hollywood, continues to captivate audiences with her remarkable story, now explored in a groundbreaking documentary. Recently, she appeared on TODAY alongside Shoshannah Stern, her collaborator and “Grey’s Anatomy” star, to discuss Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. This film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, uses American Sign Language (ASL) as its primary language, offering an intimate look at Matlin’s life as the first deaf actor to win an Academy Award. The documentary, directed by Stern, highlights Matlin’s triumphs, challenges, and advocacy for accessibility, including her push for closed captions across platforms. This blog dives into the latest developments surrounding Matlin’s legacy and the impact of this new film.
Marlee Matlin’s Trailblazing Career
At just 21, Marlee Matlin made history by winning an Oscar for her role in Children of a Lesser God in 1987. The film, a landmark in deaf representation, showcased her raw talent as she portrayed a janitor resisting societal pressures to speak. Her performance earned her a place in Hollywood’s spotlight, but it also brought immense responsibility. Matlin became a beacon for the deaf community, advocating for better representation and accessibility. Over the decades, she starred in shows like The West Wing, Law & Order, and CODA, the 2021 Oscar-winning film where she championed casting deaf actors. Her recent appearance on TODAY emphasized her ongoing commitment to breaking barriers, with Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore serving as a testament to her enduring influence.
A Documentary Rooted in Authenticity
Directed by Shoshannah Stern, a deaf actor and filmmaker, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore offers a fresh perspective on Matlin’s life. The documentary, which hit theaters on June 20, 2025, uses ASL as its primary language, a deliberate choice to center the deaf experience. Stern, who was inspired by Matlin as a child, crafted the film to feel like a conversation between friends. It weaves together interviews with Matlin’s family, friends, and colleagues, including Henry Winkler, Aaron Sorkin, and Troy Kotsur. The film also incorporates never-before-seen footage from Matlin’s 37-year career, captured by her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason. This approach creates a visual, authentic narrative that resonates with both deaf and hearing audiences.
Advocacy for Accessibility
Matlin’s advocacy extends beyond her performances. During her TODAY interview, she highlighted the growing presence of closed captions across platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and television. This shift, she noted, stems from decades of activism, including her work with Senator Tom Harkin to mandate captioning on TVs. A pivotal moment in her activism came when she protested Netflix’s lack of captions for The Wizard of Oz on its 70th anniversary, a film she cherished from childhood. Her efforts have made media more accessible, ensuring deaf audiences can engage fully. The documentary captures these milestones, showing how Matlin’s personal struggles fueled her fight for inclusion.
| Key Milestones in Marlee Matlin’s Advocacy |
|---|
| 1987: Wins Oscar for Children of a Lesser God |
| 1990s: Pushes for TV captioning legislation |
| 2009: Releases memoir I’ll Scream Later |
| 2021: Advocates for deaf casting in CODA |
| 2025: Stars in Not Alone Anymore documentary |
Challenges and Resilience
Matlin’s journey wasn’t without hardship. Growing up in a hearing family, she faced isolation and abuse, losing her hearing at 18 months for reasons never fully explained. Her relationship with Children of a Lesser God co-star William Hurt was tumultuous, marked by domestic violence and substance abuse, as detailed in her 2009 memoir I’ll Scream Later. Despite these challenges, Matlin found strength in sobriety, checking into the Betty Ford Center, and building a stable family life with her husband, Kevin Grandalski, and their four children. The documentary, celebrated for its 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, portrays her resilience, showing how she transformed pain into purpose.
A Cultural Shift in Hollywood
The release of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore marks a cultural milestone. Screened at Sundance, SXSW, and the Tribeca Film Festival, it has garnered praise for its innovative use of ASL and captions. Unlike traditional documentaries, it avoids voiceovers, letting Matlin’s story unfold visually. This approach, combined with Stern’s direction, challenges Hollywood’s norms, emphasizing authentic representation. Matlin’s work on CODA, which won three Oscars in 2022, further proves her influence, paving the way for deaf actors like Troy Kotsur, who won Best Supporting Actor. Her story underscores a shift toward inclusivity, inspiring future generations.
Why This Documentary Matters
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore isn’t just a biography; it’s a celebration of community and perseverance. The film’s premiere at Sundance drew a significant deaf audience, a rarity for the festival, signaling a growing space for deaf voices in cinema. Matlin’s insistence on a deaf director ensured the story’s authenticity, making it a powerful tool for education and advocacy. As closed captions become standard across media, her legacy continues to shape how stories are told and who gets to tell them. This documentary invites viewers to see the world through Matlin’s eyes, fostering empathy and understanding.
Don’t miss Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore in theaters or streaming platforms starting June 20, 2025. Grab your tickets to witness this inspiring story of resilience and advocacy, and join the conversation about accessibility in media.