Biography for
Deanne Bray More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 May 1971, Canoga Park, California, USA

Height

5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Mini Biography

Born mostly deaf from unknown cause (possibly German measles). Completely deaf in right ear, some residual hearing in left ear in which she uses a hearing aid. Enjoys reading, especially with deaf children. Also enjoys attending deaf community events. Role models include Phyllis Frelich, Linda Bove, Freda Norman and Sue Thomas. In addition to acting, also teaches deaf and hard of hearing children.

IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous

Mini Biography

Bray was first discovered while performing with the Deaf dance troupe "Prism West". She has also worked with California's Deaf West Theatre and the National Theatre of the Deaf. Bray straddles both the hearing and deaf worlds, communicating both through spoken English and also American Sign Language.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Meredith <meredith@amanita.net>

Spouse

Troy Kotsur

(1 September 2001 - present) 1 child

Trivia

A strong literacy advocate, she established "The Little Bookworm Club" to promote literacy.

She was a science and math teacher for deaf high school students, and is pursuing a master's degree in education (probably on hold while she performs on "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye" (2002)).

She encourages the cast and crew of "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye" (2002) to learn American Sign Language, and partners with writing staff on plot-lines and scripts - her suggestions are largely based on many different deaf individuals. In addition, several deaf and hard-of-hearing people have been hired as extras, editors, and ASL Masters on the show. Often because there is a different director each week, Bray works closely with him or her to block scenes, ensuring her character is able to see what other characters are saying.

Her favorite quote is the African proverb: "It takes a village to raise a child."

In her spare time she enjoys reading with deaf children, as well as going to Deaf community functions, like interacting with deaf senior citizens and listening to their stories.

While teaching math and history to deaf and hard of hearing students in an East Los Angeles high school, she founded and personally funded, a reading club to benefit deaf and hard of hearing students. The success of the "Little Bookworm Club" earned her a grant from the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program - a program recognizing outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public secondary schools serving economically disadvantaged students.

She earned a B.A. degree in Biology at California State University at Northridge.

Daughter, Kyra Monique Kotsur, born September 8, 2005, weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces.