Marlee Matlin was a young deaf girl performing at a children's theater for deaf and hearing kids. The organizers invited the cast of Happy Days as a long shot, and Henry Winkler said yes. Marlee performed as if he were the only person in the audience. Afterwar

Marlee Matlin was a young deaf girl performing at a children's theater for deaf and hearing kids. The organizers invited the cast of Happy Days as a long shot, and Henry Winkler said yes. Marlee performed as if he were the only person in the audience. Afterward, she walked up and asked him a simple question: could she be an actor in Hollywood, just like him? Before he could answer, her mom pulled him aside. She asked him to dampen Marlee's enthusiasm and to tell her to go to college and dream other dreams instead. She knew how much rejection Hollywood handed out, and she feared it would be even harder for a deaf girl. Henry looked at her and said, "You're talking to the wrong man." Marlee didn't learn about that conversation until years later. "It broke my heart for my mom," she says. She understands her mom wanted the best for her. But she also says Henry "rescued" her from giving up on her dreams and from not believing in herself. 💛 The full episode is at the link in bio. #ThePersonWhoBelievedInMe #MarleeMatlin #HenryWinkler #DavidBegnaud #HappyDays #DeafActors #Podcast ▻