GUEST BIO

Rachel Handler is a filmmaker and actor known for her stint as Peg Leg Doris on AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” and her award-winning Slamdance films “Committed” and “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” Other acting credits include, “New Amsterdam,” “Goliath,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Best Foot Forward,” “Bull,” and “The Upside.”

Handler became an amputee after a tragic car accident in 2012. She believes deeply in the power of stories to create social change and is passionate about healthcare and human rights, particularly within the disabled community. Her awards as a director/writer/producer include the AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award, Best Writer and Best Actor in the Disability Film Challenge, Best International Film in Focus on Ability, and she won the Sundance Co//ab Monthly Challenge for her script, “Derailed.”

After performing in the Off-Broadway play, “The Lucky Star,” Rachel recently played Ani in “Cost of Living” at Philadelphia Theatre Company. When she isn’t performing or writing, Handler works to expand disability equity within arts organizations, corporations and schools.