Geri Jewell

Last updated
Geri Jewell
Keynote speaker Geri Jewell.jpg
Jewell in 2009
Born
Geraldine Ann Jewell

(1956-09-13) September 13, 1956 (age 67)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • diversity consultant
  • motivational speaker
Years active1978–present
SpouseRichard Pimentel (m. 1992, sep. 1999, div. 2002)
Website www.gerijewell.com

Geraldine Ann "Geri" Jewell (born September 13, 1956) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, diversity consultant, and motivational speaker, noted for roles on the 1980s sitcom The Facts of Life and the mid-2000s western Deadwood . [1] [2] She is known as being one of the first people on a TV sitcom with cerebral palsy, and she has helped advocate for people with disabilities throughout her career. [3] She has also been an advocate for the LGBTQ community since publicly coming out as lesbian in her 2011 autobiography.

Contents

Early life

From Buffalo, New York, Jewell was born to Olga and Jack Jewell. She has two brothers, David and Fred; her sister Gloria died in 2016. [4] Due to a car accident Jewell's mother was in while pregnant with her, Jewell was born three months early. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at eighteen months old. [5] Growing up, Jewell's parents were determined not to raise her differently from the rest of their children, lest she think she wasn't as capable as her siblings. [6]

After her diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Jewell and her family moved to Orange County, California so that she could have access to better care as well as schools that could accommodate her needs. [5] Jewell attended a private school for children with cerebral palsy and remained there through first grade. After first grade, she attended a special education program at a public school, where she faced discrimination. Jewell described her school life as lonely and sheltered; she said she never had a best friend growing up, and was never able to practice her social skills. [7]

Jewell was inspired by Carol Burnett and wrote Burnett a letter when she was thirteen, asking her for advice since she too wanted to be a comedic actress. Burnett wrote back to her, telling her to “keep putting one foot in front of the other until you get where you want to go”, which Jewell did. [8] Later on in life, Jewell went with a friend to see Carol Burnett perform. [5]

Although she always knew she was interested in the arts, Jewell first studied accounting and psychology at college before committing to the theater. Jewell went to two different junior colleges: Cypress College and then Fullerton College. It was at Fullerton College where Geri befriended Alex Valdez, a blind comedian, who encouraged her to do stand-up at The Comedy Store. [5] Jewell wanted to transfer once more and enroll in UCLA-Fullerton to earn a degree in psychology and theater arts, but she ended up dropping out to perform at The Comedy Store, since she struggled with some of her college classes and wanted to pursue acting more seriously. [5] Jewell said that maturing emotionally was one of her hardest accomplishments, since she had been somewhat sheltered as a child. [9] [10]

After she dropped out of college, Jewell began work as a stand-up comic at The Comedy Store in 1978.

Career

The Facts of Life

In 1980, Jewell was offered a role on The Facts of Life . The show ended up being one of the longest-running TV sitcoms in the 1980s. The Facts of Life was a spin-off from Diff'rent Strokes, which featured Edna Garrett, the housekeeper in the Drummond household. Garrett was written into the new show as a housemother, and later a dietitian, at the fictitious Eastland private school. Jewell first appeared in the show's second season. Her role as Geri Tyler, the cousin of Blair, was groundbreaking. She was the first disabled actor to have a recurring role on a TV series;. [11] She was on The Facts of Life for twelve episodes and her contract ended in 1984. Not only was Jewell fired from The Facts of Life, but her then-manager was also arrested for embezzlement and securities fraud. Jewell was left broke and without professional representation. [5] In her first autobiography, Geri, published in 1984, Jewell wrote of the situation,

...I had a manager who was a crook. People in my life were manipulating me and taking advantage of me. Then The Facts of Life did not renew my contract. Years later, they offered me one episode during the fifth season, and my new manager, Richard Lippin, who was trying to fix all the previous manager’s mistakes, turned it down. He felt that after everything that I’d done for Facts, it was a slap in the face that they would only offer me one show. If I had had it my way, I would have accepted it anyway. But I don’t blame him, because he was right. The problem was that he thought I was indispensable, and they didn’t. He figured that they would come back with something better. And—oops!—they never did. He told me not to worry about it, that I was going to find other work because I was very talented, and I was the first person with a disability to break ground in a series. [12]

Post-Facts of Life

The years immediately following the show were dark for Jewell, and included an addiction to sleeping pills. A biography about her written by Stewart Weiner, also titled Geri, was published without her authorization. She never believed it illustrated her life as well as her autobiography. [13]

Jewell was asked to speak at the White House about her disability in 1985. She began her speech: “Love and fear cannot exist at the same time. One cannot exist in the presence of the other...[people are] not born into the world with prejudice; prejudice is a learned behavior. Fear is what stops us from loving genuinely”. Jewell told the audience at the White House to face their fears and uncertainties first in order to love others. [14] This speech helped lead her to her next chapter as a motivational speaker.

In 1986, Jewell said her new role as an advocate for the disabled allowed her to pick up the pieces of her life, and to find purpose. She also found success as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies on creating better accommodations and more inclusive culture for the disabled workforce.

In 2011, Jewell published her autobiography, I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond, which later won a 2013 Golden Halo Award, and the 2013 UCP Life Without Limits Award. She discussed the frustration of constantly being cast solely for her disability. Although representation is important, she said, she would have liked Hollywood to see her as an actor who could play roles not specifically written for someone with cerebral palsy. [13] She also wrote about her 2002 divorce from husband Richard Pimentel and came out publicly as a lesbian. The title, I'm Walking as Straight as I Can referred both to her cerebral palsy and sexual orientation. [1] [2]

Deadwood

Jewell appeared as the recurring character Jewel on the HBO original series Deadwood from 2004 to 2006 and in its 2019 film continuation.

Keynote speaker Geri Jewell takes questions from the audience. Keynote speaker Geri Jewell (6235421221).jpg
Keynote speaker Geri Jewell takes questions from the audience.

In an interview with Adrienne Faillace for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, Jewell explained how she co-created her character on Deadwood with the creator David Milch. Jewell described her first meeting with Milch and his writers, and how after their meeting, Milch asked her to “forget everything that happened." When Milch told her this, Jewell said, she believed that she was no longer being considered for the role. But in a turn that surprised her, Milch told Jewell he wanted her to tell him about her insights on the character, and to tell him what she believed would accurately represent a person with cerebral palsy in the 19th century. She said she appreciated his respect for her talents as a writer and actor. [15]

Awards

Jewell has been the recipient of many awards, including the 1992 Founders Award, the 2005 Independent Living Legacy Award, and a National Rehabilitation Hospital Victory Award (in 2006). [16] [17] [18] Jewell's most recent autobiography, I'm Walking as Straight as I Can, received the 2012 Gold Award by the Independent Publishers. Further, Jewel also received the 2013 Golden Halo Award and the 2013 UCP Life Without Limits Award. [18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 Nice Dreams Mental PatientUncredited
1991 Wisecracks HerselfDocumentary
2006 The Night of the White Pants Aunt Lolly
2012Pie Head: A Kinda' True Story FilmMs. Funker
2019Carol of the BellsGloria

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980The Righteous ApplesTerryEpisode: "Love Has Two Left Feet"
1980–1984 The Facts of Life Geri Tyler12 episodes
1982I Love LibertyHerselfTV special
1982 Two of a Kind IreneTelevision film
1985 Sesame Street HerselfEpisode 2065
1989 The New Lassie Dr. Rita FrancisEpisode: "Slumber Party"
1990 21 Jump Street Officer Rebecca ScanlonEpisode: "Unfinished Business"
2004 The Young and the Restless Rose9 episodes
2004–2006 Deadwood Jewel23 episodes
2005 Strong Medicine HollyEpisode: "Promising Treatment"
2012 Alcatraz Geri TillerEpisode: "Cal Sweeney"
2014 Glee TV ProducerEpisode: "The Back-Up Plan"
2019 Deadwood: The Movie JewelTelevision film

Books

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebral palsy</span> Group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sensation, vision, hearing, and speaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Burnett</span> American comedian and actress (born 1933)

Carol Creighton Burnett is an American comedian, actress, and singer. Her comedy-variety show The Carol Burnett Show, which originally aired on CBS, was one of the first to be hosted by a woman. She has performed on Broadway, on television, and in film of varying genres, including dramatic and comedic roles. She has received numerous accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and seven Golden Globe Awards. Burnett was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geri Halliwell</span> English singer (born 1972)

Geraldine Estelle Halliwell-Horner is an English singer, songwriter, television personality, author, and actress. She was a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Ginger Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time. Their slogan "girl power" was most closely associated with Halliwell and her Union Jack dress from the 1997 Brit Awards also became an enduring symbol. Halliwell left the Spice Girls in 1998, citing exhaustion and creative differences, but rejoined when they reunited in 2007.

<i>Deadwood</i> (TV series) American television series (2004–2006)

Deadwood is an American Western television series that aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three seasons and 36 episodes. The series is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before and after the area's annexation by the Dakota Territory, and charts Deadwood's growth from camp to town. The show was created, produced, and largely written by David Milch. Deadwood features a large ensemble cast headed by Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane, playing the real-life Deadwood residents Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, respectively. Many other historical figures appear as characters, including George Crook, Wyatt Earp, E. B. Farnum, George Hearst, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Sol Star, A. W. Merrick, Jack McCall, and Charlie Utter. The plot lines involving these characters include historical truths as well as substantial fictional elements. Milch used actual diaries and newspapers from 1870s Deadwood residents as reference points for characters, events, and the look and feel of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesca Martinez</span> British comedian (born 1978)

Francesca Martinez is an English comedian, writer and actress. She has cerebral palsy, but prefers to describe herself as "wobbly". Martinez first came to public attention in 1994, when she made her debut on the television series Grange Hill, where she went on to portray the role of Rachel Burns for a total of 55 episodes. Later turning her focus to stand-up comedy, she has performed at the Edinburgh Festival and internationally, including the Melbourne Comedy Festival, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Perth Festival and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. In 2018 she completed a 140-date tour, and has had off-West End London runs at the Tricycle Theatre, the Hackney Empire, and the Soho Theatre. Martinez's debut play, All of Us, was scheduled to be performed at the National Theatre in 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It opened in July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manorama (Tamil actress)</span> Indian actress

Gopishantha, better known by her stage name Manorama, also called Aachi, was an Indian actress, playback singer and comedian who had appeared in more than 1000 films and 5000 stage performances and several television series predomninantely in the Tamil language Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Sinhala until 2015. She was a recipient of the Kalaimamani award. In 2002, Government of India awarded Manorama the Padma Shri for her contribution to the arts. She received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film Pudhiya Padhai (1989) and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Blue</span> American comedian

Josh Blue is an American comedian. He was voted the Last Comic Standing on NBC's reality show Last Comic Standing during its fourth season, which aired May–August 2006. Blue has cerebral palsy, and much of his self-deprecating humor is centered on this.

Cara Readle is a Welsh actress from Swansea, Wales, known mainly for her role as Layla in The Story of Tracy Beaker from series three to five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RJ Mitte</span> American actor

Roy Frank "RJ" Mitte III is an American actor, best known for playing Walter White Jr. on the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–2013). Like his character on the show, he has cerebral palsy. After moving to Hollywood in 2006, he began training with a personal talent manager. They sought acting opportunities where his disability would serve to educate viewers, which led him to audition for the role in Breaking Bad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maysoon Zayid</span> American actress

Maysoon Zayid is an American actress and comedian. Of Palestinian descent, she is known as one of America's first Muslim women comedians.

Malini Chib is an Indian disability rights activist and author who has cerebral palsy. Chib wrote the book One Little Finger over the course of two years by typing with only one finger.

<i>Margarita with a Straw</i> 2014 Indian drama film by Shonali Bose

Margarita with a Straw is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Shonali Bose. It stars Kalki Koechlin as an Indian teenager with cerebral palsy who relocates to America for her undergraduate education and comes of age following her complex relationship with a blind girl, played by Sayani Gupta. Revathi, Kuljeet Singh, and William Moseley play supporting roles. Produced by Bose in partnership with Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Margarita with a Straw was co-written by Bose and Nilesh Maniyar. The film deals with the challenging concepts of sexuality, inclusion, self-love, and self-acceptance.

<i>Deadwood: The Movie</i> 2019 TV film

Deadwood: The Movie is a 2019 American Western television film directed by Daniel Minahan and written by David Milch for HBO. It is a continuation of the television series of the same name, which was created by Milch and ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2006. The film reunites the majority of the large ensemble cast, including Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Paula Malcomson, John Hawkes, and Gerald McRaney, and premiered on May 31, 2019.

Tobiloba Ajayi is a Nigerian lawyer and disability rights advocate. She has cerebral palsy. She was awarded a Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2016. She obtained a master's degree in international law from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Her disability advocacy includes contributing to Nigeria Vision 2020 on disabilities matters and "The Lagos State Disability Law". She has authored three books.

Rosie Jones is a British comedian, writer and actress. After starting her career as a writer on panel shows, she went on to appear as a guest on The Last Leg, 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, QI and Hypothetical. She attended the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo as a roving reporter for The Last Leg.

Nujeen Mustafa is a Kurdish Syrian refugee and activist with cerebral palsy. She was raised in Aleppo, Syria, and gained attention after traveling 3,500 miles (5,600 km) by wheelchair, fleeing conflict in the Syrian Civil War, before arriving and resettling in Germany. She was listed as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2018, and her story was featured on the television show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. In 2019 she became the first disabled person to brief the United Nations Security Council, and was the recipient of the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism from Human Rights Watch. She has co-authored two books about her experiences. She resides in Wesseling where she attends a school for those with disabilities.

Keah Brown is an American disability rights activist, author, journalist, and writer. She is also known as the creator of the hashtag #DisabledAndCute, which first went viral in February 2017 and caught the attention of such celebrities as Sophia Bush and Brie Larson. Brown has been featured on 3rd Hour of Today to discuss her first published book, The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love, with Me.

Katherine Muterspaugh Steele is the Albert S. Kobayashi Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States.

Dr. Kuli Kohli is an Indian-British disabled writer, poet, social activist and council worker of Punjabi descent. She is known for her literary works and has conducted several live performances. She was born with cerebral palsy, and confronts difficulties with handwriting, speaking, walking and hearing in her performances.

I Am Jeeja is an Indian documentary film directed by filmmaker Swati Chakraborty that recounts the story of Jeeja Ghosh, an Indian disability rights activist who has cerebral palsy. Through this film, Swati has attempted to show the lives and battles of individuals living with the disability. The film won numerous awards including the National Film Award and Top Award.

References

  1. 1 2 "Geri Jewell: Actor, Comedienne, and Motivational Speaker".
  2. 1 2 Actress/Comedienne Geri Jewell Releases Memoir 'I'm Walking As Straight As I Can'
  3. ↑ "Interview with Geri Jewell" Archived 2011-04-03 at the Wayback Machine Dara Nai,April 1, 2011, After Ellen
  4. ↑ Jewell, Geri. “Camila Tardif Interviews Geri Jewell.” Interview by Camila Tardif. April 2, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jewell, Geri (2011). I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: ECW Press. ISBN   978-1-55022-883-0.
  6. ↑ Olga Jewell the only interview of Geri Jewell's mother, archived from the original on 2021-12-13, retrieved 2021-05-09
  7. ↑ Jarvik, Elaine (1992-05-07). "COMEDY HELPS ACTRESS COPE WITH HOLLYWOOD'S FACTS OF LIFE". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  8. ↑ “Geri Jewell.” cerebralpalsy.org. Stern Law. Accessed March 2, 2021. https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/inspiration/artists/geri-jewell.
  9. ↑ Young, Amanda. 1996. Role models: Geri Jewell. The Exceptional Parent.03, ProQuest   223497425.
  10. ↑ "Geri Jewell - Entertainer, Comedienne, Diversity Intelligence" Great Women Speakers.com
  11. ↑ "Geri Jewell". Television Academy Interviews. 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  12. ↑ "Interview with Geri Jewell". ABILITY Magazine. April–May 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  13. 1 2 "Geri Jewell Interview with Chet Cooper". abilitymagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  14. ↑ Jewell, Geri, “Geri Jewell at The White House speaking on disabilities Part 2”, February 5, 2014, Youtube video, 9:27-12:27, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Lww7kY4HQ&t=25s.
  15. ↑ Jewell, Geri, "Geri Jewell on her 'Deadwood' character", Sep 13, 2016, YouTube video, 0:00-01:27, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVr07XMt8MM | "I co-created 'Jewel,' which was another wonderful compliment that David paid me because I met with all his writers at Paramount, and he walked me out to the car later, and he said to me, 'Okay, forget about everything we just talked about.' And I'm thinking like 'Oh, I must have fuck up again. Now this meeting never happened.' Because I'm always thinking the worst... And he goes, 'Don't even pay attention to what my writers shared with you. I want you to write the character that you perceive in my show. I want to know what's inside you, in your heart, how do you think. I want you to develop this character for me.' "
  16. ↑ "Bob Woodruff and Teri Garr Among Those To Receive 2006 Victory Award". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  17. ↑ National Rehabilitation Hospital web site
  18. 1 2 "Bio – Geri Jewell" . Retrieved 2021-05-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.