Lou Fant learned sign language before he learned to speak. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to deaf parents Louie Judson Fant and Hazeline Helen Reid. He attended Baylor University, planned a career in ministry and earned a master's degree in teaching at Columbia University. While at Baylor, he met and married Lauralea Irwin. They had four children and remained married until her death in 1988.
He taught elementary school students at New York School for the Deaf before joining the faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington, where he developed an interest in theater. In 1967 he helped found the National Theater of the Deaf in Waterford. He toured with the group for three years as an actor, interpreter, translator, narrator and administrator. He also taught at California State University Northridge and Seattle Community College and remained deeply involved in the deaf community, promoting advocacy and deaf education. He was also a founding member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Mr. Fant moved to California in the 1970's to pursue an acting career. He appeared in television shows including "Little House on the Prairie", "Cheers" and in films including "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". He also worked as a consultant for actors Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler and John Rubenstein, and was a coach on the set of the movie "Children of a Lesser God". He conducted seminars and wrote books on sign language including "The American Sign Language Phrase Book".
Her later married Barbara Bernstein and remained married to her until his death.
He taught elementary school students at New York School for the Deaf before joining the faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington, where he developed an interest in theater. In 1967 he helped found the National Theater of the Deaf in Waterford. He toured with the group for three years as an actor, interpreter, translator, narrator and administrator. He also taught at California State University Northridge and Seattle Community College and remained deeply involved in the deaf community, promoting advocacy and deaf education. He was also a founding member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Mr. Fant moved to California in the 1970's to pursue an acting career. He appeared in television shows including "Little House on the Prairie", "Cheers" and in films including "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". He also worked as a consultant for actors Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler and John Rubenstein, and was a coach on the set of the movie "Children of a Lesser God". He conducted seminars and wrote books on sign language including "The American Sign Language Phrase Book".
Her later married Barbara Bernstein and remained married to her until his death.
Lou Fant learned sign language before he learned to speak. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to deaf parents Louie Judson Fant and Hazeline Helen Reid. He attended Baylor University, planned a career in ministry and earned a master's degree in teaching at Columbia University. While at Baylor, he met and married Lauralea Irwin. They had four children and remained married until her death in 1988.
He taught elementary school students at New York School for the Deaf before joining the faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington, where he developed an interest in theater. In 1967 he helped found the National Theater of the Deaf in Waterford. He toured with the group for three years as an actor, interpreter, translator, narrator and administrator. He also taught at California State University Northridge and Seattle Community College and remained deeply involved in the deaf community, promoting advocacy and deaf education. He was also a founding member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Mr. Fant moved to California in the 1970's to pursue an acting career. He appeared in television shows including "Little House on the Prairie", "Cheers" and in films including "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". He also worked as a consultant for actors Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler and John Rubenstein, and was a coach on the set of the movie "Children of a Lesser God". He conducted seminars and wrote books on sign language including "The American Sign Language Phrase Book".
Her later married Barbara Bernstein and remained married to her until his death.
He taught elementary school students at New York School for the Deaf before joining the faculty at Gallaudet University in Washington, where he developed an interest in theater. In 1967 he helped found the National Theater of the Deaf in Waterford. He toured with the group for three years as an actor, interpreter, translator, narrator and administrator. He also taught at California State University Northridge and Seattle Community College and remained deeply involved in the deaf community, promoting advocacy and deaf education. He was also a founding member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).
Mr. Fant moved to California in the 1970's to pursue an acting career. He appeared in television shows including "Little House on the Prairie", "Cheers" and in films including "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". He also worked as a consultant for actors Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler and John Rubenstein, and was a coach on the set of the movie "Children of a Lesser God". He conducted seminars and wrote books on sign language including "The American Sign Language Phrase Book".
Her later married Barbara Bernstein and remained married to her until his death.
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