There’s an estimated 466 million people worldwide with hearing loss (according to WHO), so it’s not surprising some of our most talented historical figures, celebrities and influencers are deaf or hard of hearing.
Many of these talented individuals have made incredible accomplishments and haven’t let deafness hold them back, proving that the deaf community can achieve anything you put your mind too.
Need some inspo? Here’s 8 famous deaf people who’ve changed the world.
Historical Figures
1. Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous composers that ever lived. He was profoundly deaf, but that didn’t stop him from composing his world-renowned music.
After experiencing buzzing noises when he was 26, Beethoven had lost 60% of his hearing by the age of 31 and became completely deaf at 46.
Beethoven continued to write music even when deaf, as he’d learnt how instruments and voices sounded. He also continued to perform publicly in symphonies as a conductor.
2. Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was quite possibly the greatest inventor of all time. Many of his inventions have improved the quality of our modern day lives.
During his career Edison’s inventions included the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera.
Thomas Edison was completely deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. He believed that his deafness was a benefit to his work, as it would help keep conversations short so that he could have more time for work!
3. Helen Keller
Image via BBC
Blind-deaf American educator Helen Keller was a prominent socio-political activist.
She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a BA degree, and became a world-famous speaker and author, disability-rights activist and a campaigner for women’s rights and social equality.
Helen Keller single-handedly changed the lives of many disabled people through her empathy and activism.
Celebrities
4. Marlee Matlin
Image via ABC news
Actress, author and activist Marlee Matlin is the only deaf person to have ever won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Matlin won the award in 1987 for her role in the film ‘Children of a Lesser God’, and has gone on to star in a number of films and TV shows since.
She’s a successful author, and has written three books that have deaf protagonists: ‘Deaf Child Crossing’, ‘Nobody’s Perfect’, and ‘Leading Ladies’.
Throughout her career, Matlin has been a vocal advocate for deaf rights, and is a member of the National Association of the Deaf in the US.
5. Nyle DiMarco
Image via TeenVogue
Nyle DiMarco is a model, actor and deaf activist.
He has been a winner on popular TV shows ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in the US.
In 2016, he launched the ‘Nyle DiMarco Foundation’ a non-profit organisation that provides access to resources for deaf children and their families.
Nyle is also a signer and creative collaborator on ‘The ASL App’ that teaches users ASL (American Sign Language).
Influencers
6. Hermon and Heroda Berhane (Being Her)
Image via Being Her
Deaf twins and lifestyle bloggers Hermon and Heroda Berhane document their love of travel, fashion and beauty on their blog ‘Being Her’.
With over 34,000 followers on Instagram, the duo are trailblazing the way forward for deaf representation within the fashion industry. Their mission is to encourage people to embrace their disabilities, rather than hiding them.
The sisters have featured in both national and international news and magazines sharing their experiences of being deaf and discussing the ways they’re breaking boundaries for the deaf community.
7. Rikki Poynter
Image via Rikki Poynter
Rikki Poynter is an activist, YouTuber and public speaker. Her YouTube channel has over 89,000 subscribers.
Rikki was diagnosed with hearing loss as a child, which she reveals through her YouTube video content, along with her personal experiences of being deaf. She also creates videos about deaf awareness, disability, accessibility and mental health.
Since making her first deaf-related video in October 2014, Poynter has been featured by several big news sites including Huffington Post, BBC, and ABC News.
Recently, Poynter has been campaigning for new closed captioning with the hashtag #LIGHTSCAMERACAPTION to encourage YouTubers to make their videos more accessible with closed captions.
8. Chella Man
Image via Dazed
Chella Man is an actor, model, artist and LGBTQ+ activist.
Chella started losing his hearing at 4 years old and was profoundly deaf by 13. In March 2017, he started a YouTube channel posting videos where he openly discusses his identity as a deaf transgender man. He also documented and shared his transition online.
In 2018, he delivered a TedX Talk titled ‘Becoming Him’, where he expressed his goal to normalise the conversations around gender issues for disabled and LGBTQ+ youth.
Chella is signed to leading modelling agency IMG and is known for playing mute superhero Jericho in the DC Universe series Titans – a character who uses sign language to communicate.
Looking for more deaf articles? Take a look at our latest articles and interviews. For support, check out Deaf Unity’s projects to find out what we can do for you. If you’d like to get in touch, contact us here.
This article was written by Rebecca, who has a background in communications, project management and event management. Passionate about writing, Rebecca loves researching and writing about important topics that affect the deaf and hard of hearing communities.
Dana is an Deaf Youtuber and 9.4k over subscribers.
Dana has profoundly deaf her both ears by newborn.
She worn a Cochlear Implant when 6 years old.
She was creative of filmmaking, vlogging, challenges, and etc… Mostly, she had only sign language and speak in same time while filming. Dana have planning her future about director, actor, and YouTuber.
I’ll in the process of adopting a deaf dog from the Associated Humane Society who has been labeled un adoptable because of his being death. He also has condition called HETEROCHROMIA which is a rare condition causing the dog to have two different color eyes
How nice! There are some nice YouTube videos about training deaf dogs – I saw one from signing duo (in Asl) – they are a deaf-hearing couple and they adopted a deaf dog.
In the process of having to get a hearing aid for my right ear. I am learning ASL right now so if I do get deaf then I can still communicate (I am 90% sure that I will be deaf soon.) I am partially hearing, like an old person- I keep saying “what?” or “Eh?” And that is bad for a 15 year old. That is why I think I will be deaf soon. For those that are prayers- pray for me I am scared to death right now and do not what to do.
Hi. I am a deaf inventor. Another would be Les Paul who invented the solid body electric guitar.
And also Alexander Graham Bell. I think it is kind of cool that deaf people invented microphones, sound recording, over dubbing, solid body electric guitars and more. Arguably and ironically deaf people made Rock and Roll possible.
Just my two cents.
Alexander Graham Bell was a monster. He supported eugenics and the prevention of intermarriage between deaf and hearing.