Who Is Sandra Mae Frank?
Sandra Mae Frank is an American actress. She works in movies, TV shows and theater. She is deaf and uses sign language to act. Many people know her from the Broadway show Spring Awakening and the TV show New Amsterdam. She also helps other deaf actors get good roles.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Sandra Mae Frank
- Job: Actress, theater artist, director
- Born: March 21, 1990
- Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Nationality: American
- School: Gallaudet University (Theatre Arts degree, 2013)
- Famous Roles: Wendla in Spring Awakening; Dr. Elizabeth Wilder in New Amsterdam
- Current Work: Theater and film projects; production manager at Deaf Austin Theatre
- Awards: Helen Hayes Award (2023); B. Iden Payne Award (2023)
Early Life and School
Sandra Mae Frank was born on March 21, 1990, in Louisville, Kentucky. She could hear when she was born but became deaf at age three because of an illness. Her family learned American Sign Language (ASL) to talk with her.
She went to the Louisville Deaf Oral School (now called Heuser Hearing Institute) and duPont Manual High School. In high school, she acted in a play called Crimes of the Heart. Later, she went to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. This school is made for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing students. She got a degree in Theatre Arts in 2013. At first, she wanted to be a teacher, but a teacher told her she was very good at acting, so she chose acting instead.
Big Break on Broadway
In 2015, Sandra got a big role. She played Wendla in a new version of Spring Awakening on Broadway. This show had both deaf and hearing actors. Sandra signed her part while a hearing singer sang for her character. This made her the first deaf actress to play a lead role on Broadway. Many people saw this show and praised her work. She also met Marlee Matlin, a famous deaf actress, on this show.
TV and Movie Work
After Broadway, Sandra started working in TV and movies. She appeared on Switched at Birth (2015), Reverse Polarity (2018), Daybreak (2019) and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (2020). In Zoey’s, she signed “Fight Song” in ASL, and many people liked it.
In 2021, she joined the NBC show New Amsterdam as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder, a deaf cancer doctor. She started as a guest star in Season 4 and became a main cast member in Season 5. The show ended in January 2023. On set, she used an ASL interpreter to help her learn her lines.
In movies, she was in Soul to Keep (2018), Multiverse (2019), Season of Love (2019) and The Silent Hour (2024).
Theater Direction and Leadership
Sandra does not only act. She also directs theater shows. In 2022, she co‑directed The Music Man at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland. For this work, she won a Helen Hayes Award in 2023. In 2023, she played Cinderella in a special version of the musical Cinderella with Zach Theatre and Deaf Austin Theatre. She won a B. Iden Payne Award for this role.
She works as production manager at Deaf Austin Theatre in Austin, Texas. This group helps deaf artists get work in theater. In 2022, she signed the U.S. national anthem and “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
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Family and Personal Life
Sandra is deaf and uses ASL every day. She has said she is pansexual. Many sources say she has been with Julian S. Moiwai, a videographer, since about 2017. Public records do not say if they are married or have children.
Her parents are William Frank and Kim Frank. She has a brother named Jasper and a sister named Anne‑Marie. Her family learned ASL early to support her.
Helping Deaf Actors
Sandra wants deaf actors to get the same chances as hearing actors. She speaks up for deaf talent in theater, TV and film. She says deaf roles should go to deaf performers. Her work on Spring Awakening, New Amsterdam and other shows helps show that deaf actors can lead big projects.
Net Worth
No reliable public source gives Sandra Mae Frank’s exact net worth. Some websites guess, but those numbers are not verified. What is clear is that she has worked steadily in theater, TV and film since 2015.
What She Is Doing Now (2025–2026)
As of 2026, Sandra is still active in theater and film. She works with Deaf Austin Theatre and takes on new acting and directing projects. After The Silent Hour in 2024, no new major TV or film roles have been confirmed yet for 2025–2026.
How old is Sandra Mae Frank?
She is 36 years old as of September 2026. She was born on March 21, 1990.
Where was she born?
She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
What is she most famous for?
She is most famous for Spring Awakening on Broadway and New Amsterdam on NBC.
Is she deaf?
Yes. She became deaf at age three and uses ASL.
Did she win awards?
Yes. She won a Helen Hayes Award (2023) and a B. Iden Payne Award (2023) for theater work.
What is she doing now?
She continues acting, directing and working with Deaf Austin Theatre in 2026.
The Bottom Line
Sandra Mae Frank is a successful deaf actress, director and advocate. She broke barriers on Broadway and TV and helps other deaf artists get work. As of 2026, she remains active in theater and film.
Sources
Sandra Mae Frank
Sandra Mae Frank – News
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