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Marlee Matlin may take a spin on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Feb 1, 2008, 07:04 PM | by Lynette Rice

Categories: TV Biz

Matlindwts_l ABC may have convinced Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God) to trip the light fantastic on Dancing with the Stars, according to one well-placed source. Choosing the deaf actress would be a continuation of Dancing's quest to defy casting expectations and prejudices. For season 4, it lured Heather Mills, who has a prosthetic leg, under the mirrored ball.

Each year the network maintains a huge cone of silence around the show. Matlin's publicist forwarded all inquiries to ABC. ABC declined to comment on any and all casting, although a spokesperson said, "there are a lot of rumors floating around out there right now." According to one knowledgeable source, the network even requires all DWTS participants to sign confidentiality agreements. That's a pity, because we're dying to know who this year's dancer from Beverly Hills, 90210 will be! Please say you're limbering up, Gabrielle Carteris!

The network is expected to announce the entire cast for season 6 sometime later this month. DWTS will return to ABC on March 17.

Dottie Griffith Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:17 AM EST

Marlee !! You did a fabulous dancer, it is great to have you back ! The audience are amazed how much you did great dancing and exposure to the hearing world. I born Deaf as third generation family. We really need to educate more hearing people out there. Deaf people are struggled to be successful career like you to search for a better job in this country. We need to stop discrimation on the Deaf people. I do not consider "disability" myself, I am invisble disability as I work for the Federal 26 years, struggle to promotion like other hearing people. The communication constantly is barrier and block me from climb up the leader promotion. Hope, this society will be much changing.

Regards
Dottie

Cam Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM EST

You know she is doing a fantastic job on all levels, as a deaf person, as a dancer, as just someone with a tremendous amount of good will, discipline and talent. This is what makes the world better for every person. I also ask the naysayers to consider, in the many years Marlee has been in the lime light she has always been supportive and enlightening about the deaf community and deaf who are not in the big D deaf community, she does a very diplomatic job of spanning support and positivity for all!

lezard Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:41 AM EST

hi Marlee, i did vote for you, you did great for dance wow. i am proud of you.

Frank Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 03:25 PM EST

Marlee Matlin adds a depth, class, and dignity to all she does. Yes the dance party will begins when she perfoms on Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday March 18th. Go Marlee!

Frank Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 03:25 PM EST

Marlee Matlin adds a depth, class, and dignity to all she does. Yes the dance party will begins when she perfoms on Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday March 18th. Go Marlee!

Ruthanne Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 07:38 PM EST

Way to Go, Marlee!!!!!! go for it and show them what you can dance with the stars. Dance with rythms... : ) I am looking forward to watch your show. Hey, everyone stop pick on her. She's great and very supportive to deaf communities, etcs....

meagan Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 12:49 PM EST

i am very happy that marlee is going to be on the show i think everyone should stop complaining and show her some support!

meagan Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 12:49 PM EST

i am very happy that marlee is going to be on the show i think everyone should stop complaining and show her some support!

Tammy Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 03:32 PM EST

Lets remember that disability does not equal bad dancing - Heather Mills was better then many able bodied people. Just because she's dead doesn't mean she'll be a good OR bad dancer...everyone has their hurdles...thats prosthetic legs, hip replacements or NO RHYTHM!

CarolMarie Mon, Feb 18, 2008 at 07:13 PM EST

Hi, my name is Carolmarie from south jersey and I am deaf since birth. I am so proud of who I am butIt s the time we need to EDUCATE other idiots in this world that we are NOOOO different than others. I believe Marlee's performace in DWTS will make AMERICA realize and accept other people with different disablities and give them a CHANCE to show their abilities!!! GO marlee ..

CarolMarie Mon, Feb 18, 2008 at 07:13 PM EST

Hi, my name is Carolmarie from south jersey and I am deaf since birth. I am so proud of who I am butIt s the time we need to EDUCATE other idiots in this world that we are NOOOO different than others. I believe Marlee's performace in DWTS will make AMERICA realize and accept other people with different disablities and give them a CHANCE to show their abilities!!! GO marlee ..

JACKIE Mon, Feb 18, 2008 at 01:58 PM EST

MARLEE MATLIN (JODY LERNER OF THE "L" WORD IS A FABULOUS ACTRESS. I HOPE THE RUMOR IS TRUE. GO MARLEE..........

Positive Thinker Sat, Feb 16, 2008 at 11:57 AM EST

Please look up a POSITIVE attitude. Don't oppress successful Deaf people by some of Deaf people with negative attitudes. Give a big APPLAUSE for Marlee! I am rooting for Marlee and Sho.

KATHY EARWOOD Sat, Feb 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM EST

ALOHA SMILE MY NAME IS KATHY EARWOOD IAM DEAF MY HOMETOWN IS FT WORTH SMIEL OH YES YES I HAVE HAD ALRADY HEARD A VERRY S WONDERFULLY AND AMAZING ABOTU WODNERFULLY STORY S ABOTU MARLEE MATLIN WITH A BIG SMILE AND ALOT S OF LOVE AMEN THANK S U KATHY EARWOOD

Marby Sat, Feb 16, 2008 at 07:15 AM EST

Pardon me, CJR, Who say that Marlee isn't the best representative? she does! she did the great job with deaf communties and set up Closed Captioning and deaf actives. If she get into DWTS, I would say GO FOR IT. we love to have her get back on TV/Movie whenever she have opportune. Way to go Marlee! ;o)

CJR Wed, Feb 6, 2008 at 12:32 PM EST

One more thing...if anyone is considering Heather Whitestone, the former Miss America isn't a part of the Deaf Community, so she would probably represent herself as a person with a hearing loss.

p.s. more info on Deaf Culture go here: http://www.nad.org

CJR Wed, Feb 6, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST

I am a Deaf person who is actively involved with the Deaf Community.
I think that Marlee isn't the best representative for those involved with the Deaf Community, but good luck to Marlee if she decides to do DWTS.

Hopefully Shoshannah Stern would be the next Deaf person on the show....

R Wed, Feb 6, 2008 at 11:59 AM EST

I see, I can understand why this world is searching for more exposure and they have included everyone to be a part of this event. However, there are other deaf dancers-not celebrity necessary, could be a part of this DWTS. In my opinion, give other deaf dancers a chance to be one of you guys.

carol Wed, Feb 6, 2008 at 09:58 AM EST

HI YA U WOULD HIRE SOME DEAF PEOPLE GET JOB AT STAR TO REAL GOOD ACTIVES OS MY SON REAL GOOD ACTIVES I WISH MY SON COULD JOIN ACTIVES FOR STAR MOVIES BUT HE NOT RICH AND HE REAL NEED MONEY SO BAD BUT HUMM HARD FOR HIM HE HAVE THREE OWN KIDS AND HE LIVE IN PA HE JUST WORK FARM FOR HELP HIS BEST FRIEND JOES FARM FOR WHILE THAN NOTHING HE TRY FIND OUT JOB IT HARD FIND OUT JOB THAT SAD HUMM THANK

carol Wed, Feb 6, 2008 at 09:53 AM EST

HI YA I M DEAF PERSON AND MY BEST FRIEND KNOW WELL U FROM MSSD (DEAF SCHOOL AT WASHINGTON, DC U ARE RICH FOR STAR MOVIES SO U WOULD SUPPORT DEAF FOR WHO HAVE ANY PLM CANCER OR ILLNESS AND SUPPORT DEAF POEOPLE AROUND IM NOT RICH I JUST POOR AND POOR MY HEALTH OF CANCER I LIVE IN PA BUT I WAS DEAF SCHOOL AT STAUNTON VA NOT GRADEUTE HUMM THANK

A Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 06:02 PM EST

So you're saying, we should expect special treatment towards the "disabled" people?? I'm deaf and I expect to be treated like normal. We're just people with DIFFERENT ABILITIES. Marlee would do great, and I expect the judges to judge her normally just as they would a hearing person, BASED on their dance skills. NOT their HEARING, or a wooden leg.

K Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 03:38 PM EST

Marlee Matlin is on the L word right now, she's too good for DWTS.

K Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 03:38 PM EST

Marlee Matlin is on the L word right now, she's too good for DWTS.

Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

It kinda stinks that there is a somewhat disabled person and they lose. What does that say to others with disabilities?

are you kidding me? Sat, Feb 2, 2008 at 06:26 PM EST

Who is the complete foreign MORON who keeps posting about the illegal millionaire site - the one who uses celebrity photos without their permission? I hear they're under investigation!!!! yippee

jaime Fri, Feb 1, 2008 at 07:16 PM EST

Chelsea Handler said that she was officially offered to be on the next season of DWTS. She said it on her show. . .i have never watched a season of it or ever voted but my god if she did I WOULD GO CRAZY IN LOVE WITH THE SHOW....

SHE IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST WOMEN EVER!!!

IM OBSESSED WITH HER********

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