Deanne Bray

Bray was discovered while performing with the Deaf dance troupe Prism West, and has worked with California's Deaf West Theatre and the National Theatre of the Deaf. Beyond acting, she teaches American Sign Language. Her role models include Phyllis Frelich, Linda Bove, Freda Norman, and Sue Thomas. She enjoys reading, especially with deaf children, and attends deaf community events.

While teaching math and history to deaf and hard-of-hearing students at an East Los Angeles high school, she founded and personally funded a reading club for them. The Little Bookworm Club's success earned her a grant from the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program, which recognizes outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public secondary schools serving economically disadvantaged students. She also co-wrote a book in 60 days: "Grow with Your Child," for hearing parents with deaf children, filled with games and activities to learn sign languages with specific grammatical features. On the set of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (2002), she encouraged cast and crew to learn American Sign Language, partnered with writing staff on plotlines, and worked with directors to block scenes, ensuring her character could see what others were saying. Several deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals were hired as extras, editors, and ASL masters on the show.