Geri Jewell

Geri Jewell was best known to millions as “Cousin Geri” from the ground-breaking NBC sitcom, “The Facts of Life.” She is now featured as the character Jewel in the HBO hit series,  “Deadwood”. The “Young and the Restless” has also invited Geri to be part of their cast and you can see her as Rosey on this daytime show.

Geri started her acting career as the personal choice of famed producer Norman Lear for her role as Cousin Geri. With this role she became the first person with a visible disability to become a regular performer on a national television show. During her long run on the show she broke important new ground by addressing issues of disability awareness.

Geri is not only is an exceptional actress and comedienne, but also a powerful motivational speaker and trainer. She is famous for her uncanny ability to captivate the hearts of audiences by using humor to facilitate attitude changes. Geri brings to her presentations personal experience of having her behavior and actions misunderstood because of her cerebral palsy. By sharing her disability as her greatest blessing, and revealing insights about the world, Geri turns the focus from disabilities to a true celebration of ability, resulting in an inspiring, empowering and healing experience.

In addition to her on-going speaking tours to college campuses, associations, corporations and government agencies, Geri performs on the comedy circuit and has appeared on VH 1 and A & E. She has opened for stars such as Robert Goulet, Paul Anka, and Judy Collins, and has appeared in several films and on many television shows. Recently she was the focus of an “Entertainment Tonight” special segment.

Geri is well-schooled on issues relating to diversity and disabilities and is available to deliver keynote addresses and workshops on such titles as: 

            •  Celebrating Abilities
            •  Valuing Diversity 

“You are a tremendously bright, witty and endearing person, both on stage and off. Your speech was one of the true highlights of our conference: at the same time hilarious, moving, inspirational, and thought-provoking. I admire your dedication and your stamina... and appreciate the importance of the message that you deliver."
Jeff Schimber, Sr. VP, Marriott Corporation

“Geri was wonderful! Every call I get from participants at our conference raves about her sense of humor and her ability to make them think more positively about their potential to be whatever they want to be.”
Sherry Repscher, Executive Director, Utah Governor’s Committee on Disabilities