Click Here

Deanne Bray

Person Score

 
9.7 Superb
61 votes

Your Score

Deanne Bray Picture

Biography

Recent Role:
Emma Coolidge on Heroes
Gender:
Female
Born:
5-14-1971
Birthplace:
Canoga Park, California, USA
Birth Name:
Deanne Bray
AKA:
Deanne Lee Bray

Deanne was "discovered" performing as a young adult in a dance group for people who are deaf.

Deanne was born with a severe hearing loss that might have been caused by German measles. She is deaf in her right ear, and uses a hearing aid in her left ear, which has some hearing. That, plus reading lips, helps her communicate. She also uses American Sign Language.

As she was growing up, she credits her mother with helping her with academics, and her father for showing her different cultures, and how to be open to all kinds of people.







More Besides her work in the new PAX series, she teaches deaf and hard of hearing children.

(from the official Pax-TV webpage, www.pax.tv)

DEANNE BRAY is the star of "Sue Thomas: F.B.EYE," and portrays an earnest, young deaf woman who falls into an exciting career as an undercover surveillant for the FBI. Bray herself is severely deaf and has been acting for more than 10 years, appearing in theatrical productions, film and guest-star roles on numerous television series. Contrary to the advice of some professionals, Bray's parents made certain their daughter was instructed from an early age onward to speak and write English and learn American Sign Language as well, sending her through a variety of learning programs and centers to strengthen her language skills. A California native, Bray broke into the entertainment industry after she was discovered performing with a deaf dancing group called "Prism West" at a deaf festival at California State University, Northridge, where she earned a B.A. degree in Biology.

Bray has appeared in the NBC Movie-of-the-Week "Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning" directed by Bruce Paltrow and co-starring Randy Quaid, Independent films "What Do The Women Want?" directed by Guy Shalem, "Last Mountain" with Soon-Tek Oh and "L.A. Sheriff Homicide" for CBS. Her numerous television credits include guest starring roles on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Ellen," "Diagnosis Murder," "The Pretender" and "Strong Medicine." Additionally, Bray was a host on a nationally syndicated show for the deaf community, "Caption This."

Bray holds an extensive list of stage credits from the acclaimed Deaf West Theatre in California including "Road To The Revolution," for which she garnered a Best Supporting Actress Award for the 2001 A.D.A. Awards; "Oliver" which earned her a Best Translation nomination at the 2000 Los Angeles Ovation Awards; and "The House of Bernarda Alba" which won Best Ensemble at the 1999 LA Weekly Awards. She also has appeared in Deaf West's "Alice in Wonderland," "A Christmas Carol" and "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest." At the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, she played Helen Keller in "Helen & Frida" and appeared in the Vincent Paderson production, "Kazoo."

For the past three years, Bray has taught science and math to deaf and hard of hearing students in East Los Angeles, established a literacy program -- "The Little Bookworm Club"-- for deaf and hard of hearing children and is about to complete her Masters in Education. She is involved in numerous organizations and serves as Second Vice Chairperson on the council board of the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness (GLAD) and the Non-Traditional Casting Project.

Bray lives in North Hollywood, California with her husband Troy Kotsur, a deaf actor who recently appeared in the acclaimed Deaf West Theatre production of "True West." They have both been cast in Deaf West's exciting journey to the Mark Taper Forum for their next musical production, "Big River" (November-December 2002), a role Bray will have to forgo for her work on "Sue Thomas: F.B.EYE."

From the Forums

More Topics
More Topics

Deanne Bray News

More
  •  
    10 Perfect
    She is epic hide show

    I first came across Deanne Bray in CSI and then again in Sue Thomas F.B.eye and I have to admit each time I've thought she was brilliant. She has overcome so much to become who she is and even now she does so much good work for the deaf community. She really is an inspiration.
    She is beautiful, intelligent and talented and all three factors shine through in everything that she does. She is married, has children and has a wonderful career, she is truly fortunate.
    She has adapted so successfully to not having proper hearing, and can speak so well. She is awesome

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
  •  
    10 Perfect
    I think she is a GREAT actress, she knows how to draw a crowd in. Once you watch her, you fall in love with her character on STFBE. She strives for the best. She has a BEAUTIFUL baby girl, and a wonderful husband, who is also deaf. hide show

    She's one of my role models. I mean, she worked very hard to get where she is today, she NEVER gave up. I LOVE her. She is my VERY favorite, and is on the top of "who i would like to meet" list. She's heartwarming and gorgeous. She's not like actresses in hollywood today. She's not OUT there, but i mean, she should be, she DESERVES to be, but even if she was a big shot hollywood star, im pretty sure she wouldn't flaunt it. she is my personal favorite, and i hope to see her in the near future!

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
  •  
    9.9 Superb
    Great actress hide show

    I think she is a great actress. She does such a fabulous job on her show Sue Thomas F.B.Eye. Sheh has accomplished so much. I am going to miss seeing her on Sue Thomas F.B.Eye. I wish the show had run longer. She isn't given enough credit as an actress and in general. I think more people need to realize what a great person and how good an actress she really is.

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
  •  
    10 Perfect
    very good actress on sue thomas f.b.eye. really enjoyed the show. sorry it went off the air here in spatanbur s.c.
    hope to see more of deanne bray in the near future. hide show

    dear deanne,
    Miss seeing you on the show.it shouldn'been taken off the air.show was very good and had alot of meaning to the story.sure hope the company brings the program back on the air.
    would you please send me a picture of you andlevi?
    thank you.
    linda white

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
  •  
    10 Perfect
    This woman rocks. hide show

    Deanne Bray is amazing. She has come so far. She doesnt care what others think and she has a cute husband and gorgeous daughter. She gets way to little credit for her portrayal of Sue in STFBE. A role with which she has worked a great deal. She has a great understanding of her character as she is also deaf. If I have to do one thing before I die it would be to meet this woman.When she was knocked back she continued unphased and with the greatest of courage. I cant imagine what it would be like to go to college not for hard of hearing students and to have to be looking at the teacher to read their lips instead of being able to hear or to have an interpreter in the room with you. Deanne is amazing and she is my all time favourite acctress. ST really opened my eyes to lives of other people. I have become more charitable and I have turned from someone who usent go to mass from one end of the year to the other (even at christmas) now I go at least four times a week. She is the greatest and deserves all the happiness in the world. Good Luck withe baby. God Bless.

    Do you agree?
     
    Report Abuse
 
Click Here

Top Contributors

What is a TV.com Contributor?