Lauren Ridloff

Lauren Ridloff, born as Lauren Teruel on April 6, 1978, in Chicago, Illinois, is a profoundly deaf American actress widely recognized for her performances in the TV series 'The Walking Dead' and the film 'Eternals'. Her rise to fame kicked off in 2018 with a leading role in the Broadway revival of 'Children of a Lesser God', earning her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. Ridloff attended California State University, Northridge and later earned a master's degree in education from Hunter College. Before venturing into acting, she worked as a teacher and was crowned Miss Deaf America. Her acting prowess surged when she tutored Kenny Leon, the director of Children of a Lesser God, in American Sign Language and was subsequently cast in the lead role. She then joined the ninth season of The Walking Dead and was cast as the first deaf superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Eternals. Beyond acting, Ridloff has received various accolades and is actively participating in projects that push for more representation in the entertainment industry. In her personal life, she married Douglas Ridloff in 2006, and they share two sons, both of whom are deaf. The family relocated from a neighborhood in New York to Austin, Texas, in 2022.