---
name: "Deborah Rush"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/deborah-rush"
fi1m_id: "deborah-rush"
imdb_id: "nm0750658"
tmdb_id: 44830
wikidata_id: "Q2915471"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 April 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-05T03:04:05.439811+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Deborah Rush

## Identity

Deborah Rush

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/deborah-rush
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** deborah-rush
- **IMDb ID:** nm0750658
- **TMDB ID:** 44830
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2915471
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Rush, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2915471, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750658/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/44830

Actor. Born 10 April 1954 in Chatham Borough.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 April 1954, Chatham Borough
- **Active:** 1983–2016
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 83 (2), 1990s 66 (1), 2000s 69 (3), 2010s 92 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 72 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Romance 4, Drama 3, Crime 1, Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $639m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Rush, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2915471, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750658/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/44830

## Streaming the US now

- **Pluto TV:** [*The Purple Rose of Cairo*](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Deborah Rush is an American actress who has worked in film, television and on Broadway. Born on 10 April 1954 in Chatham Borough, New Jersey, she made her Broadway debut in the musical *Dance with Me* (1975). She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for her role as Brooke Ashton in the original production of *Noises Off* (1983–1985).

Rush appeared in Woody Allen’s *Zelig* (1983) and played Rita in *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985). Her other film credits include *American Wedding* (2003), *Julie & Julia* (2009) and *The Box* (2009). On television she has had recurring roles in *Orange Is the New Black* as Carol Chapman and in *Billions*. She has also appeared in several later Broadway revivals, including *Blithe Spirit* (2009).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Search Party* (2016), Fi1m 92, as Gertrude — [page](https://film.one/tv/search-party-2016.md)
- *Julie & Julia* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Avis De Voto — [page](https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md)
- *Half Nelson* (2006), Fi1m 81, as Jo Dunne — [page](https://film.one/film/half-nelson.md)
- *American Wedding* (2003), Fi1m 54, as Mary Flaherty — [page](https://film.one/film/american-wedding.md)
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), Fi1m 66, as Veronica Cash — [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985), Fi1m 84, as Rita — [page](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md)
- *Zelig* (1983), Fi1m 82, as Lita Fox — [page](https://film.one/film/zelig.md)

## Complete filmography (58)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Accommodations* (2018), as Victoria Maason
- *Search Party* (2016), series, as Gertrude — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/tv/search-party-2016.md)
- *Women Who Kill* (2016), as Grace
- *Billions* (2016), series, as Ellen Rhoades
- *Ava's Possessions* (2015), as Joanna
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Stella Bisset — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Orange Is the New Black* (2013), series, as Carol Chapman — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/orange-is-the-new-black.md)
- *Rhymes with Banana* (2012), as Jane
- *Big Lake* (2010), series, as Linda Franklin
- *The Box* (2009), as Clymene Steward
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Sally Rigby — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Julie & Julia* (2009), as Avis De Voto — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md)
- *Fling* (2008), as Katherine
- *The Visitor* (2008), as Upper Eastside Woman
- *The Good Life* (2007), as Diane
- *Half Nelson* (2006), as Jo Dunne — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/half-nelson.md)
- *Strangers with Candy* (2006), as Sara Blank
- *The Jury* (2004), series, Actor
- *American Wedding* (2003), as Mary Flaherty — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/american-wedding.md)
- *The Good Girl* (2002), as Gwen Jackson
- *Bad Company* (2002), as Mrs. Peterson
- *Madigan Men* (2000), series, Actor
- *Earthly Possessions* (1999), as Heidi Anderson
- *Three to Tango* (1999), as Lenore
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Christina Harlin
- *Strangers with Candy* (1999), series, as Sara Blank
- *Advice From a Caterpillar* (1999), as Diner Hostess
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), as Veronica Cash — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *In & Out* (1997), as Ava Blazer
- *Spin City* (1996), series, as Helen
- *Reckless* (1995), as Trish
- *Passed Away* (1992), as Denise Scanlan
- *Unnatural Pursuits* (1992), as Stephanie Didcot
- *Against the Law* (1990), series, Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Frances Houston — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *My Blue Heaven* (1990), as Linda
- *She-Devil* (1989), as 'People' Reporter
- *Family Business* (1989), as Michele Dempsey
- *Parents* (1989), as Mrs. Gladys Zellner
- *Big Business* (1988), as Binky Shelton
- *Leg Work* (1987), series, as Judy
- *Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread* (1987), as Dr. Norris
- *Heat* (1986), as D.D.
- *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1985), as Hermia
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *Compromising Positions* (1985), as Brenda Dunck
- *The Purple Rose of Cairo* (1985), as Rita — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-purple-rose-of-cairo.md)
- *A Night in Heaven* (1983), as Patsy
- *Zelig* (1983), as Lita Fox — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/zelig.md)
- *Split Image* (1982), as Judith
- *Alice at the Palace* (1982), as Alice's Mother
- *Honky Tonk Freeway* (1981), as Sister Mary Magdalene
- *Kiss Me, Petruchio* (1981), as Bianca
- *10* (1979), as Dental assistant
- *Oliver's Story* (1978), as Girl in Bar
- *Charles Ives: A Good Dissonance Like a Man* (1977), Actor
- *The Next Big One: A Comedy with Three Potential Problems*, as Aunt Mitty
- *Close to Nowhere*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Deborah Rush](https://film.one/media/person/118395/gallery-e181879de151.jpg) Deborah Rush — RealTVfilms, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Deborah_Rush_on_RealTVFilms.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Deborah Rush](https://film.one/media/person/118395/gallery-0f668bf56432.jpg) Deborah Rush — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1984: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/deborah-rush