---
name: "Debra Winger"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/debra-winger"
fi1m_id: "debra-winger"
imdb_id: "nm0000700"
tmdb_id: 26513
wikidata_id: "Q229009"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 May 1955"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T19:32:27.072595+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."
---

# Debra Winger

## Identity

Debra Winger

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/debra-winger
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** debra-winger
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000700
- **TMDB ID:** 26513
- **Wikidata ID:** Q229009
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_Winger, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229009, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000700/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26513

Actor. Born 16 May 1955 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 May 1955, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, USA
- **Active:** 1980–2008
- **Also known as:** Debbie Winger, Mary Debra Winger, دبرا وینگر
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 other
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (4), 1990s 79 (1), 2000s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 75 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Romance 4, Comedy 1, Sport 1, Western 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $334m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debra_Winger, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229009, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000700/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26513

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*An Officer and a Gentleman*](https://film.one/film/an-officer-and-a-gentleman.md) (70), [*Urban Cowboy*](https://film.one/film/urban-cowboy.md) (61)
- **Netflix:** [*Rachel Getting Married*](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md) (84)
- **Hulu:** [*Terms of Endearment*](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) (81)

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

## Fi1m on Debra Winger

> Debra Winger brings a welcome bluntness to romantic drama, giving her characters wants and tempers of their own. She is worth watching even when the writing gives her too little to work with.

In *Shadowlands* (1993), Debra Winger's Joy Gresham seems to have had a full life before Anthony Hopkins's Lewis takes an interest in her. That ought to be a modest requirement for a romantic lead, but here it matters. Winger gives Joy enough force to disturb his determination to keep love at a distance. She makes us curious about what Joy wants beyond this relationship, even when the film is more interested in what Lewis needs.

Her breakthrough came opposite John Travolta in *Urban Cowboy* (1980), followed by *An Officer and a Gentleman* (1982) and *Terms of Endearment* (1983). Her appeal in romantic and family drama rests on emotional openness, blunt speech and a capacity for playfulness when things hurt. As Emma Greenway Horton in *Terms of Endearment*, she makes vulnerability feel lived through. The attraction is the sense of someone who can be hurt and still have something inconvenient to say.

Richard Attenborough makes good use of that openness in *Shadowlands*, taking Lewis's reluctance to risk attachment seriously and allowing Winger to challenge it. We were moved by the romance because her Joy feels independent enough to have chosen it. But Nicholson's writing gives Lewis most of the space to change, and too little to Joy to be difficult or contradictory. Winger supplies much of the complexity herself, suggesting a woman the film has not quite made room for. Her performance keeps the romance worth watching despite that imbalance.

She stepped away from major film work after 1995 and returned with *Big Bad Love* (2001). Supporting roles followed in films including *Rachel Getting Married* (2008) and *Kajillionaire* (2020). We would still rather see her given the time and space to be difficult, with writing that follows through on what she suggests. Start with *Shadowlands* for Winger and Hopkins, but expect to wish it would give her equal attention.

## Biography

Debra Winger is an American actress. She was born Mary Debra Winger on 16 May 1955 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Winger received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for her performances in *An Officer and a Gentleman* (1982), *Terms of Endearment* (1983) and *Shadowlands* (1993). She is also known for roles in *The Sheltering Sky* (1990), *A Dangerous Woman* (1993) and *Rachel Getting Married* (2008). Winger has been married to actor Arliss Howard since 1996.

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

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), Fi1m 84, as Abby Buchman — [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md)
- *Shadowlands* (1993), Fi1m 79, as Joy Gresham — [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *Terms of Endearment* (1983), Fi1m 81, as Emma Greenway Horton — [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md)
- *An Officer and a Gentleman* (1982), Fi1m 70, as Paula Pokrifki — [page](https://film.one/film/an-officer-and-a-gentleman.md)
- *Urban Cowboy* (1980), Fi1m 61, as Sissy — [page](https://film.one/film/urban-cowboy.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), Fi1m 91, as Nurse Zombie Carrying Poodle (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial.md)

## Complete filmography (53)

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

- *Accused* (2023), series, as Margot
- *Mr. Corman* (2021), series, as Ruth Corman, Ruth Corman (archive footage), Songs
- *Ultra City Smiths* (2021), series, as Trish McSapphire (voice)
- *With/In Volume 2* (2021), as (segment "Still Life")
- *Kajillionaire* (2020), as Theresa
- *Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema* (2020), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA* (2017), as Kit (archive footage)
- *The Lovers* (2017), as Mary
- *When We Rise* (2017), series, as Elena Kagan
- *Oh Jerome, No* (2016), as Hypnotherapist
- *The Ranch* (2016), series, as Maggie
- *Boychoir* (2015), as Ms. Steel
- *The Red Tent* (2014), series, as Rebecca
- *Lola Versus* (2012), as Robin
- *How It Ended* (2011), as Wife
- *Rachel Getting Married* (2008), as Abby Buchman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-getting-married.md)
- *In Treatment* (2008), series, as Frances Greer
- *The Life and Faith of CS Lewis* (2006), Actor
- *Sometimes in April* (2005), as Prudence Bushnell
- *Dawn Anna* (2005), as Dawn Anna Townsend
- *Eulogy* (2004), as Alice Collins
- *Radio* (2003), as Linda Jones
- *Big Bad Love* (2001), as Marilyn · Producer
- *Rumi: Poet of the Heart* (1998), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True* (1995), as The Wicked Witch of the West
- *Forget Paris* (1995), as Ellen Andrews Gordon
- *Shadowlands* (1993), as Joy Gresham — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *A Dangerous Woman* (1993), as Martha
- *Wilder Napalm* (1993), as Vida
- *Leap of Faith* (1992), as Jane Larson
- *The Sheltering Sky* (1990), as Kit
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Principal Woodside — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Everybody Wins* (1990), as Angela Crispini
- *Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton* (1989), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Betrayed* (1988), as Katie Phillips / Cathy Weaver
- *Made in Heaven* (1987), as Emmett Humbird
- *Black Widow* (1987), as Alexandra
- *Legal Eagles* (1986), as Laura J. Kelly
- *Mike's Murder* (1984), as Betty Parrish
- *Terms of Endearment* (1983), as Emma Greenway Horton — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md)
- *An Officer and a Gentleman* (1982), as Paula Pokrifki — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/an-officer-and-a-gentleman.md)
- *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), as Nurse Zombie Carrying Poodle (uncredited) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial.md)
- *Cannery Row* (1982), as Suzy DeSoto
- *The Alan Thicke Show* (1980), series, Actor
- *Urban Cowboy* (1980), as Sissy — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/urban-cowboy.md)
- *French Postcards* (1979), as Melanie
- *Thank God It's Friday* (1978), as Jennifer
- *Special Olympics* (1978), as Sherrie Hensley
- *Szysznyk* (1977), series, Actor
- *Slumber Party '57* (1976), as Debbie
- *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Drusilla / Wonder Girl
- *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor
- *What May Be*, as Agnes

## Gallery

- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-13e9aa343544.jpg) Debra Winger — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Debra_Winger_APP4_-_NIH_Aug_2011_%286092772575%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-052ad383ccc8.jpg) Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/1-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093314086%29.jpg/1280px-1-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093314086%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-f97a27b15b2f.jpg) Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/2-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093313956%29.jpg/1280px-2-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093313956%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-91cca79a8cce.jpg) Actress Debra Winger and NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow pose prior to NIDA’s Addiction Performance Project, held Aug 5, 2011 on the NIH Campus — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/3-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093313354%29.jpg/1280px-3-Winger_%26_Volkow_%286093313354%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-e6c10c483b8b.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-867e235b7007.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-69ec5a1da92f.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB
- ![(L-R): Debra Winger, Dr. Nora Volkow (NIDA Director), David Mineta (Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy), Dr (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-8328531eabac.jpg) (L-R): Debra Winger, Dr. Nora Volkow (NIDA Director), David Mineta (Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy), Dr (2011) — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/APP4_-_NIH_Aug_2011_%286092772575%29.jpg/1280px-APP4_-_NIH_Aug_2011_%286092772575%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Debra Winger, Dr. Nora Volkow (NIDA Director) and David Mineta (Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy) (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-18603eabfa1c.jpg) Actress Debra Winger, Dr. Nora Volkow (NIDA Director) and David Mineta (Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy) (2011) — NIDA(NIH), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/APP5_-_NIH_Aug_2011_%286093310974%29.jpg/1280px-APP5_-_NIH_Aug_2011_%286093310974%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-b197baf5712a.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-1f5cf8cb7fc9.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB
- ![Debra Winger](https://film.one/media/person/83632/gallery-12e1d6417db2.jpg) Debra Winger — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 1994: Best Actress (nominated), for *Shadowlands*
- 1984: Best Actress (nominated), for *Terms of Endearment*
- 1983: Best Actress (nominated), for *An Officer and a Gentleman*

*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/debra-winger