Children of a Lesser God

On the frozen tundra and farmland in northeast North Dakota lies what the Sioux Indians called the “sacred water“.  Devil’s Lake, as it’s called these days, is high in saline and not fit to drink, but home to some of the best ice fishing in the country.  This was also home to one of the finest actresses of our time and a pioneer in deaf acting.  A 1962 graduate of the North Dakota School for the Deaf , Phyllis Frelich was the oldest of nine deaf children of Phillip and Esther Frelich, he a typesetter for the Devil’s Lake Journal and she a seamstress…..typical careers for the times for deaf individuals. 

After graduation from NDSD, Phyllis enrolled as a student at Gallaudet University.  Having been interested in acting since a child, she became involved in the theater and starred in campus productions, finally deciding to pursue a stage career. At the time, however, Gallaudet had no major in theatre and very few classes in the discipline. The university and many others of the time felt that there was not much of a future in acting for deaf performers.  Thus, Frelich’s academic advisors persuaded her to major in library science… “a field that could serve her better as she followed any future husband around the country”.  Such was the plight for women, especially for those with hearing impairment.  While it was the 1960s, there were still few opportunities for deaf people, even in the United States, and certainly not much available in the theatre.  Consider that at the time, there was no television captioning, not even for televised emergencies or weather advisories, and TTY telephones for the deaf  had just been invented. (They weighed 300 pounds, were costly, and most deaf individuals did not have them.)  There was no 911 service, and deaf people had to rely on hearing neighbors or their children to place emergency calls.

Ms. Frelich was one of the founding members of the National Theater of the Deaf (NTD) in 1967 and was part of the group instrumental making life better for deaf people including:

• Removing stigma from sign language
• Legitimizing the use of sign language on television, stage and in movies
• Popularizing the study of sign language
• Providing training and employment for deaf artists
• Invigorating the entertainment industry to consider and use deaf artists
• Deaf pride of self and culture to all members of the deaf community

Through her involvement with the NTD, she met playwright Mark Medoff who was inspired by the difficulty of deaf actors in finding suitable roles.  He wrote “Children of a Lesser God” with her in mind for the leading role. Mark Medoff’s play, written with the help of Phyliss’ husband, Robert Steinberg, tells the story of a speech teacher who falls for a young deaf woman who resists his lessons as well as the idea that she must speak in order to participate in the world. She excelled in the role.  After being rewarded with a Tony Award in 1980 in the best actress category, she gained support from the deaf community and quickly rose to fame. While the play was very successful, the 1987 movie version made Marlee Matlin the first deaf movie star to receive an Oscar for best actress.   Frelich also was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1985 TV movie “Love Is Never Silent.” She appeared in episodes of the soap opera “Santa Barbara” as Sister Sarah and starred in “Sweet Nothing in My Ear,” a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie about a married couple torn apart when their son loses his ability to hear. Her other credits include appearances in “CSI,” “ER,” “Diagnosis Murder” and “Bridge to Silence,” as well as starring in Broadway plays “Big River” and “Prymate.” 

Phyliss Frelich was also an honorary colonel in the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders.  This is an award that recognizes present or former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens.  Recipients of the award are chosen by the Governor, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and the Director of the State Historical Society.  As of March 2014, 40 North Dakotans have received the award, including Phyllis Frelich. Their portraits are on display in the lower level of the Capitol building.  Former North Dakota Gov. Allen Olson said in a 1981 article that Frelich embodied the state’s “can do” spirit.  “She is breaking ground for all hearing-impaired people, and teaching us all about perseverance,” he said. Current North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said of Frelich, “She will always be remembered as a gifted actress and an inspiration. Although she was deaf, she never wavered in her pursuit of the theater arts. She was a great example of the power of determination, and she inspired many others to pursue their dreams.”

Frelich is also remembered  for interpreting singer Jewel’s rendition of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXII. Teaching us all that sign language is a beautiful language.  (Click on Jewel’s picture to listen and watch Phyllis sign the National Anthem)

Following her death (described by David Kirkwood at Hearing View), the Deaf West Theatre released the following statement: “You paved so many roads for us, Phyllis. A leading light of our community has been lost, and we mourn deeply. Our thoughts are with her family.”