菲利斯·弗雷里奇，Phyllis was born on Feburary 29, 1944, the oldest of 9 children. She attended North Dakota School for the Deaf, graduating in 1962. She went on to Gallaudet College (renamed Gallaudet University), actively participating in theater there. She finally made her debut on April 2, 1967, on the NBC nationwide program, "Theatre of the Deaf".