Person Biography:
CJ was born in St. Louis, MO, one of seven hearing children born to deaf parents. At age 7, he was struck with spinal meningitis, losing his hearing. He attended Missouri School for the Deaf, graduating high school, and later National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY. CJ joined the National Theater for the Deaf, touring nationally with main stage plays and Little Theater of the Deaf for two years.
CJ's acting career has spanned numerous roles, including Tony Award-winning performances, directing Deaf kids from high school to kindergarten, and writing several one-man shows that have toured the US and internationally. He has performed his one-man show in Ecuador, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the US Virgin Islands, and every state in the union.
Notable roles include Orin in Children of a Lesser God, garnering an Ensemble Tony award, and appearances on NBC's "Frasier," ABC Family's "Lincoln Heights," PBS's Sesame Street and Rainbow's End, and Happy Hands Kids Klub. He has also been featured in documentaries, voice-over roles, and films, including Baby Driver and Door in the Woods.
As a producer, CJ has worked on various projects, including ASL Idol and Once Upon a Sign. He is the founder and CEO of Sign World TV, producing a series of 6 classic fairy tales titled Once Upon A Sign.
Throughout his career, CJ has received numerous honors and awards, including the Unsung Hero Award of the Year, NTID Alumni Association Outstanding Award, Outstanding Service to the Deaf Community, and Nevil Award. He has also been a consultant and guest speaker at various events and institutions.
As a passionate advocate for Deaf awareness and inclusivity, CJ has shared his talents with Deaf and hearing schools, events, and universities across the country and around the world, spreading the message that being different does not mean being less worthwhile.
