Biography

Riveting, truthful, and challenging are just some for the words that best describe Kathy Buckley, otherwise known as “America’s First Hearing-Impaired Comedienne.” Kathy Buckley is more than a popular comic, with her humor having a higher purpose. As quoted on the PBS television production, “Look Who’s Laughing,” “My comedy disarms people. I truly believe that the only disability out there is attitude. I love to make people laugh, but I love it even more if I can teach them something at the same time.”

Kathy began her career on a dare to enter a comedy competition to benefit a non-profit cause. Since that time, she has risen to become a veteran comedian who has been nominated three years in a row for an American Comedy Award. She continues to tour the country appearing at comedy clubs such as The Improv, Catch a Rising Star, the Ice House. She has guest starred and been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Entertainment Tonight, VH-1’s Stand-up Spotlight, Live With Regis and Kathy Lee, Evening at the Improv, and Caroline’s Comedy Hour on A & E. She recently starred on her own HBO special, “Women of the Night,” and was the focus of the Emmy Award-winning documentary, “I Can Hear the Laughter.”

The rise to the top was not an easy one and that is what makes Kathy’s presentation all the more compelling. As a second-grader she was thought to be retarded. As a young woman enjoying the beach in Los Angeles, she was run-over by a jeep and was near death. Full recovery took five years. Just one year later, she was diagnosed with cancer. She now holds the title of two-time cancer survivor. Kathy’s performance — which reflects upon her life experiences — is funny yet riveting.

Kathy has also creatively transformed her message into a one-woman play. Her run of six weeks in Los Angeles was extended for four months and her three-month engagement off Broadway ran for four months to sell-out crowds in both cities. USA Today, Daily Variety, and The New York Times all gave her show a rousing review for its impact, humor, inspiration and delivery. Kathy Buckley recently authored an autobiography entitled, “If You Could Hear What I See,” and produced a one-woman television presentation on PBS of the same title. Her video of this presentation has become one of PBS’ most requested shows.

Awards and Honors

• Achievement Award for the Year 2002
• Reynolds Society American Hero Award
• City of Hope Empowering Women Around the World
• CARE Communication and Leadership Award
• Toastmaster International Media Awareness Award
• The Dole Foundation Hero Award
• Challenge Center Woman of the year
• Oralingua School Valley of the Hearts Award
• Parents Helping Parents Lois Tarkanian Award
• Lois Tarkanian Founding Administrator Better Hearing Achievement Award
• Better Hearing Institute Help America Hear Humanitarian Award
• Hear Now Foundation Individual Achievement Award
• National Council on Communicative Disorders Award of Excellence
• New York State Theatre Education Association Walter Knott Service Award
• Goodwill Industries President Awards
• PATH Ovation Award
• Best Writing Drama-Logue Award
• Best Writing, Best Performance Media Access Award
• Best Play Cine Golden Eagle Award
• Outstanding Video Production PBS Special
• No Labels, No Limits Media Access Award
• 2002 Outstanding Television Special: No Labels, No Limits, Executive Producer

• No Labels, No Limits
• ”Your Words, Friend or Foe?” – Making your words your best friend
• ”The Power and Wisdom of Choice” or “The Power of Choice.” – The gift of Choice and how to use it wisely
• The Force of Forgiveness” or “The Strength of Forgiveness.” – Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself, the Blessings you will receive is when you let go. Your name represents the core existence of who you are.

“Kathy has you crying one moment, the next you’re laughing. She brings down the house!” — Today Show, NBC

“Your keynote speech left all our employees leaving knowing that we can overcome anything, and the best is yet to come. What a gift to give our company. Everyone is still talking about it. You made me look G-R-E-A-T!” — Holly Teutemacher, Kellogg Foods

“You are an inspiration.” — Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State

“You managed to change the lives of 5,000 women in 40 minutes … You restored my faith … You are incredible and the best motivational speaker I have ever heard … What a story! … You made me laugh, cry and celebrate life again … You give communication life … What a blessing … I felt as though I was the only one in the room, and you were talking straight to my heart … we thank you for an outstanding presentation.” –participants of the Power of Women Conference

“Kathy Buckley is audacious, funny, moving, and inspiring. If I didn’t already have a job, I would devote my life to kissing her feet.” — David Hyde Pierce, actor