Sean Berdy

Sean Berdy is a deaf actor, comedian, and live performer recognized for his advocacy of deaf representation in mainstream entertainment.

Bilingual from birth, Berdy's first language is American Sign Language (ASL), and he also speaks English. He is known for his rapid ASL signing abilities. Before his career in Hollywood, Berdy won the top award for young magicians at the World Children's Magicians Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was named Mr. Deaf Teen America as a sophomore at the Indiana School for the Deaf, a pageant established by the Model Secondary School for the Deaf.

Berdy received his first major acting role in the movie "The Sandlot 2," portraying Sammy Fingers Samuelson. He also appeared in two sign language films: "The Legend of the Mountain Man," a family adventure, and the comedy "The Deaf Family." His role as Emmett Bledsoe in the ABC Family series "Switched at Birth" brought him national attention. In the series, Berdy played a character who rides a motorcycle, plays drums in a rock band, and is a photographer, acting alongside Marlee Matlin. The show highlighted issues of deaf culture and communication, earning Berdy a nomination for TV Breakout Star at the Teen Choice Awards and the DeafNation Inspiration Award for Entertainment.

Berdy produced an ASL version of the song "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias, which has garnered over one million views on YouTube, and performed the ASL version live at Disney. For Twentieth Century-Fox's animated movie "Ice Age: Continental Drift," he provided an on-camera ASL performance featured in a picture-in-picture window on the DVD release. After "Switched at Birth," Berdy expanded his presence in mainstream television with a role in the Netflix series "The Society," playing Sam Eliot, a deaf character whose identity was portrayed with nuance and depth, contributing to more authentic deaf representation on screen.

Beyond acting, Berdy is active in public advocacy, openly discussing his experience with bipolar disorder and using his platform to promote authentic casting practices in Hollywood. He has advocated for deaf actors to portray deaf characters, influencing industry standards for representation. Berdy developed "The Sean Berdy Show," a one-man performance that combines comedy, advocacy, and storytelling, touring universities and community centers. He also delivers motivational speeches at universities, deaf schools, and community organizations across North America, supporting young deaf individuals pursuing careers in entertainment. Berdy's work continues to impact the entertainment industry and the broader conversation around disability, diversity, and inclusion.