Geri Jewell

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.

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. Jewell was born three months early due to a car accident, which her mother was in while pregnant with Jewell. At eighteen months old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. 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.

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.

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. Later on in life, Jewell went with a friend to see Carol Burnett perform.

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. 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.

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.

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. This speech helped lead her to her next chapter as a motivational speaker.

In 1986, Jewell said her new role as an disability rights advocate 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.

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). 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.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1981 Nice Dreams Mental Patient Uncredited 1991 Wisecracks Herself Documentary 2006 The Night of the White Pants Aunt Lolly 2012 Pie Head: A Kinda' True Story Film Ms. Funker 2019 Carol of the Bells Gloria

Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 The Righteous Apples Terry Episode: "Love Has Two Left Feet" 1980–1984 The Facts of Life Geri Tyler 12 episodes 1982 I Love Liberty Herself TV special 1982 Two of a Kind Irene Television film 1985 Sesame Street Herself Episode 2065 1989 The New Lassie Dr. Rita Francis Episode: "Slumber Party" 1990 21 Jump Street Officer Rebecca Scanlon Episode: "Unfinished Business" 2004 The Young and the Restless Rose 9 episodes 2004–2006 Deadwood Jewel 23 episodes 2005 Strong Medicine Holly Episode: "Promising Treatment" 2012 Alcatraz Geri Tiller Episode: "Cal Sweeney" 2014 Glee TV Producer Episode: "The Back-Up Plan" 2019 Deadwood: The Movie Jewel Television film

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