Deaf stage actress Phyllis Frelich, who won a Tony Award for the play Children of a Lesser God has passed away at the age of 70.
No cause of death has been revealed and the Deaf West Theatre group in Hollywood reported on her passing in a Facebook posting, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "You paved so many roads for us, Phyllis. A leading light of our community has been lost, and we mourn deeply," the post said.
In Frelich's Tony Award-winning performance in Children of a Lesser God, she played a maid and student at a school of the deaf who falls in love with a speech therapist.
Deaf actress Marlee Matlin won an Academy Award for playing the film version of Sarah Norman, who Frelich played onstage.
Matlin tweeted out her condolences, writing, "I'm devastated that Phyllis Freilich (sic) Tony winner for 'Children of A Lesser God' has died. She was a TRUE talent."
I'm devastated that Phyllis Freilich Tony winner for "Children of A Lesser God" has died. She was a TRUE talent. RIP pic.twitter.com/f6TzVjkwPV
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) April 10, 2014
In addition to being a stage actress, Frelich also appeared in both TV and film, reports Silent Grapevine. She had roles in CSI, E.R., Diagnosis Murder, Bridge to Silence and Sweet Nothing in My Ear.
THR notes she also received an Emmy nomination for the Hallmark Hall of Fame miniseries Love is Never Silent.
image from Twitter via Marlee Matlin