Lou Fant
Born in Greenville, S.C., as the hearing son of deaf parents, Fant first encountered acting while providing the "voice" for deaf actors in student productions at Gallaudet U. in Washington, D.C., where he taught.
In 1967, Fant helped found the National Theatre of the Deaf, featuring deaf and hearing actors who perform in both signs and voice. He toured the country with the troupe over the next three years, attracting attention for his sign language performance of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky."
After relocating to Southern California in the 1970s, Fant had roles in such films as "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "Resurrection" and "Amy." His TV credits include guest appearances on "Kojak," "Little House on the Prairie" and "Cheers," and roles in the Emmy Award-winning specials "Love Is Never Silent" and "Rainbow's End." During the 1980s, he co-hosted KHJ-TV's "Offhand" with the hearing-impaired Herb Larsen.
The sign language instructor for Paramount's Academy Award-winning "Children of a Lesser God," Fant coached many actors in sign language, including Diane Keaton, Henry Winkler and Melissa Gilbert.
The author of several books on sign language, his "The American Sign Language Phrase Book" is still widely used.
Fant is survived by wife Barbara Bernstein and four children.
In lieu of flowers, family asks that donations be sent to the Lou Fant Memorial Fund, 19408 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98155.
