Ali Stroker

Alyson Mackenzie Stroker, born on June 16, 1987, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, developed a passion for performing at a young age. At two years old, a car accident resulted in a spinal cord injury, leading to paralysis from the chest down and the use of a wheelchair. She pursued her theatrical ambitions, graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama in 2009. This made her the first actor in a wheelchair to earn a degree from the institution. Stroker’s early career included solo performances at venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and New York’s Town Hall, as well as concert appearances at Lincoln Center.

Stroker’s professional acting career began to gain momentum with her participation in the second season of The Glee Project in 2012, where she was a finalist. This led to a guest role on the television series Glee in 2013, portraying Betty Pillsbury. In 2015, Stroker made history as the first actor using a wheelchair to appear on Broadway, originating the role of Anna in Deaf West Theatre’s revival of “Spring Awakening.” Her performance as Ado Annie in the 2019 Broadway revival of “Oklahoma!” earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, further cementing her status as a trailblazer and the first wheelchair user to win the award. She has since expanded her work to television, appearing in series like “Ozark,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “And Just Like That…”, and also voiced characters in animated shows. Stroker has also authored two books about girls in wheelchairs involved in musical theatre.

Beyond her acting career, Stroker is an advocate for disability inclusion and anti-bullying initiatives. She has co-chaired the “Women Who Care” awards luncheon, supporting United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, and is a founding member of Be More Heroic, an anti-bullying campaign. Her work extends internationally, having conducted theater classes and workshops for women and children affected by AIDS in South Africa through ARTS InsideOut. Stroker married theater director and actor David Perlow in July 2021, and they welcomed their first child in late 2022. She continues to inspire others by sharing her message of turning limitations into opportunities through her performances and advocacy.