- Geri Jewell
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Geri Jewell Born Geraldine Ann Jewell
September 13, 1956
Buffalo, New York, U.S.Occupation Actress/Stand Up Comedienne Years active 1978–present Spouse Richard Pemintel, divorced (1992-2004) Website www.gerijewell.com Geraldine Ann "Geri" Jewell (born September 13, 1956) is an American actress born with cerebral palsy.[1]
Contents
Early life and career
Originally from Buffalo, New York, she is most famous for her role on the television program The Facts of Life from 1980 to 1984. She was the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime time series, as well as the first actor with cerebral palsy to be featured on a TV series.[2][3] She began her career doing stand up comedy at The Comedy Store in 1978. In 1980, she performed at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards, when she was introduced to Norman Lear by producer, Fern Field.
Jewell appeared as the recurring character "Jewel" on the HBO original series Deadwood from 2004—2006.
Awards
She has been the recipient of many awards, including the 1992 Founders Award, the 2005 Independent Living Legacy Award, and in 2006, she was awarded a National Rehabilitation Hospital Victory Award.[4]
Personal life
Her autobiography I'm Walking as Straight as I Can was published in 2011 by ECW Press. The title refers both to her having cerebral palsy and being a lesbian.[5]
Books
- Jewell, Geri; Stewart Weiner (1984). Geri. New York: Morrow. ISBN 0688024521.
- Jewell, Geri; Ted Nichelson (2011). I'm Walking as Straight as I Can. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 1550228838.
References
- ^ Barclay, Dolores (1985-06-05). "Building a Comedy Career on Cerebral Palsy". Associated Press. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=cbe1dc1b0b409b4b8248d10196e2a1f4&_docnum=57&wchp=dGLbVzW-zSkVb&_md5=e9592e42713a805572bf4cd63240f7e4. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ "Interview with Geri Jewell" Dara Nai, April 1, 2011, After Ellen
- ^ "Geri Jewell - Entertainer, Comedienne, Diversity Intelligence" Great Women Speakers.com
- ^ "Bob Woodruff and Teri Garr Among Those To Receive 2006 Victory Award". http://www.nrhrehab.org/About+NRH/Press+Releases/477.aspx. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ Actress/Comedienne Geri Jewell Releases Memoir 'I'm Walking As Straight As I Can'
External links
Categories:- 1956 births
- Actors from New York
- American film actors
- American memoirists
- American stand-up comedians
- American television actors
- American people with disabilities
- Lesbian actors
- Lesbian writers
- LGBT memoirists
- LGBT writers from the United States
- Living people
- People from Buffalo, New York
- People with cerebral palsy
- American television biography stubs
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