Geri Jewell

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Actor, writer & activist

About Geri Jewell  

Geri Jewell is best known for her groundbreaking role as Cousin Geri on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life, making her the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime time series. She began her career in stand-up comedy at the Comedy Store in 1978. Her big break came in 1980 when she performed at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards, where producer Fern Field introduced her to Norman Lear.

Following her pioneering role on The Facts of Life, Jewell appeared on a variety of television shows, including The Great Space Coaster, the Emmy Award-winning movie Two of a Kind, Sesame Street, 21 Jump Street, The Young and the Restless, Strong Medicine, and the HBO hit series Deadwood, for which she received Emmy consideration. She also co-starred in the independent film Night of the White Pants and was featured on the FOX series Alcatraz.

Beyond her television work, Jewell is a highly sought-after motivational speaker and trainer, focusing on diversity, disability, and GLBT issues. Her training sessions have been conducted for companies such as Hewlett Packard, Master Foods, Johnson Wax, AT&T, Amgen, Mass Mutual, and Raytheon, as well as government agencies including the CIA, the U.S. Treasury Department, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Army.

Jewell is renowned for her ability to use humor to facilitate attitudinal change, captivating audiences by sharing her personal experiences and offering new perspectives on disability, creating hope and joy.

She has maintained her roots in comedy, appearing on numerous cable comedy shows, including Evening at the Improv on A&E and Stand Up Spotlight on VH1. She has opened for Paul Anka, Robert Goulet, and Judy Collins, and has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, E! Hollywood True Story, ABC’s 20/20, and A&E’s Biography.

Jewell’s career is marked by numerous accolades, including the 1992 Founders Award, the 2005 Independent Living Legacy Award, and the 2006 Victory Award. Her autobiography, I’m Walking as Straight as I Can, received the 2012 Gold Award by the Independent Publishers. She also received the 2013 Golden Halo Award and the 2013 UCP Life Without Limits Award.