Deborah Rush (born April 10, 1954) is an American actress. She has worked in television, film and on Broadway. In 1984, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off.
Life and career
Rush was born in Chatham Borough, New Jersey, to Joseph G. Rush, a newspaper editor, and Mary Conley Rush. She is married to Walter Cronkite III (born April 22, 1957) and daughter-in-law of the late television journalist Walter Cronkite. The couple has two sons, Walter Cronkite IV and the late Peter Cronkite.
Rush made her Broadway debut performing in the 1975 musical Dance with Me. She later appeared in films Oliver's Story (1978), 10 (1979) and Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), and made-for-television productions Alice at the Palace and A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1982. From 1983 to 1984 she starred as Brooke Ashton in Noises Off, a role gained her Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination. Also in 1983, Rush starred in the satirical mockumentary comedy film, Zelig written and directed by Woody Allen. She later appeared in another Woody Allen's film, The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985). During the 1980s, Rush also appeared in films such as Compromising Positions (1985), Heat (1986), Big Business (1988), Parents (1989) and Family Business (1989). On stage, Rush also acted in Hay Fever, The Sisters Rosensweig, and Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.
In 1990s, Rush played number of supporting roles in films such as My Blue Heaven (1990), In & Out (1997), You've Got Mail (1998) and Three to Tango (1999). On television, she played Isabel Hazard in the 1994 miniseries, Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III and had a recurring role in the ABC sitcom Spin City as Helen Winston, eventual ex-wife of mayor Randall Winston. From 1999 to 2000, Rush was a regular cast member of the Comedy Central comedy series, Strangers with Candy starring Amy Sedaris. She reprised her role in the 2005 prequel film, Strangers with Candy. In 2002 she co-starred opposite Jennifer Aniston in the comedy-drama film, The Good Girl and the following year appeared in the comedy film American Wedding, as Mary Flaherty, Michelle Flaherty's mom. She played Ryan Gosling's mother in the 2006 drama film, Half Nelson, and starred as Avis DeVoto in the 2009 biographical comedy-drama film, Julie & Julia written and directed by Nora Ephron. In December 2008, she joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit.
In 2010, Rush was regular cast member in the short-lived Comedy Central sitcom, Big Lake. She also made guest appearances in television series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Good Wife, Inside Amy Schumer and The Blacklist. From 2013 to 2019 she had a recurring role in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black, as Piper Chapman's mother, Carol Chapman.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1978Oliver's Story1st Girl in Bar197910Dental Assistant1981Honky Tonk FreewaySister Mary Magdalene1982Split ImageJudith1983ZeligLita Fox1983Patsy1985Rita1985Compromising PositionsBrenda Dunck1986HeatD.D.1988Big BusinessBinky Shelton1989ParentsMrs. Zellner1989She-Devil People reporter1989Family BusinessMichele Dempsey1990My Blue HeavenLinda1992Passed AwayDenise Scanlan1995RecklessTrish1997In & OutAva Blazer1998You've Got MailVeronica Grant1999Three to TangoLenore2002Gwen Jackson2003American WeddingMary Flaherty2005Strangers with CandySara Blank2006Half NelsonJo Dunne2007Diane2007The Visitor Upper Eastside Woman2008FlingKatherine2009Julie & JuliaAvis DeVoto2009Clymene Steward2012Rhymes with BananaJane2015Ava's PossessionsJoanna2016Women Who KillGrace2018Accommodations Victoria Maason2020Before/During/AfterTherapist #42024The Next Big One: A Comedy with Three Potential Problems Aunt MittyPost-production
Television Year Title Role Notes1981Kiss Me, PetruchioBiancaTV film1982Alice at the PalaceAlice's MotherTV film1982HermiaTV film1985Spenser: For HireAngelaEpisode: "No Room at the Inn"1987Crime StoryPenelope WorthEpisode: "The Pinnacle"1987Leg WorkJudyEpisode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night"1987Invisible ThreadDr. NorrisTV film1988Isabel DominoEpisode: "1.1"1990Against the LawLouise CiardiEpisode: "Pilot"1992Unnatural PursuitsStephanie DidcotEpisode: "I Don't Do Cuddles"1994Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book IIIIsabel HazardTV miniseries1995Phoebe HalliwellEpisode: "Pilot"1996-1997Spin CityHelen WinstonRecurring role (4 episodes)1997Law & OrderFrances HoustonEpisode: "Blood"1999Earthly PossessionsHeidi AndersonTV film1999-2000Strangers with CandySara BlankMain role (30 episodes)2000Law & Order: Special Victims UnitChristina HarlinEpisode: "Russian Love Poem"2000Madigan MenMrs. WolfeEpisode: "Meet the Wolves"2004Ms. DavenportEpisode: "The Honeymoon Suite"2004Tempting AdamRuth HellerTV film2010Caroline HeffenbacherEpisode: "Revolutionary Doughnuts"2010Big LakeLinda Franklin(10 episodes)2012Judge Sally RigbyEpisode: "Gloves Come Off"2013GirlsThomas-John's MotherEpisode: "It's a Shame About Ray"2013-2019Orange Is the New BlackCarol Chapman(11 episodes)2014Inside Amy SchumerAmy's motherEpisode: "Slow Your Roll"2019 The BlacklistRealtorEpisode: "Orion Relocation Services"2021 Search Party Gertrude WreckEpisode: “The Thoughtless Woman”
Theater Year Title Role Notes1975-1976Dance with MeGoldie Pot1983-1985Noises OffBrooke Ashton1985-1986Hay FeverJackie Coryton1993-1994Gorgeous TeitelbaumReplacement2005Absurd Person SingularMarion2009Blithe SpiritMrs. Bradman
References
External links
Deborah Rush at Broadway.com