Deborah Rush (born April 10, 1954) is an American actress. She has worked in television, film and on Broadway theatre. 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.
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, 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 , 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
1978 Oliver's Story 1st Girl in Bar 1979 10 Dental Assistant 1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Sister Mary Magdalene 1982 Split Image Judith 1983 Zelig Lita Fox 1983 Patsy 1985 Rita 1985 Compromising Positions Brenda Dunck 1986 Heat D.D. 1988 Big Business Binky Shelton 1989 Parents Mrs. Zellner 1989 She-Devil People reporter 1989 Family Business Michele Dempsey 1990 My Blue Heaven Linda 1992 Passed Away Denise Scanlan 1995 Reckless Trish 1997 In & Out Ava Blazer 1998 You've Got Mail Veronica Grant 1999 Three to Tango Lenore 2002 Gwen Jackson 2003 American Wedding Mary Flaherty 2005 Strangers with Candy Sara Blank 2006 Half Nelson Jo Dunne 2007 Diane 2007 The Visitor Upper Eastside Woman 2008 Fling Katherine 2009 Julie & Julia Avis DeVoto 2009 Clymene Steward 2012 Rhymes with Banana Jane 2015 Ava's Possessions Joanna 2016 Women Who Kill Grace 2018 Accommodations Victoria Maason 2020 Before/During/After Therapist #4 2024 The Next Big One: A Comedy with Three Potential Problems Aunt Mitty Post-production
Television
1981 Kiss Me, Petruchio Bianca TV film 1982 Alice at the Palace Alice's Mother TV film 1982 Hermia TV film 1985 Angela Episode: "No Room at the Inn" 1987 Crime Story Penelope Worth Episode: "The Pinnacle" 1987 Leg Work Judy Episode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" 1987 Invisible Thread Dr. Norris TV film 1988 Isabel Domino Episode: "1.1" 1990 Against the Law Louise Ciardi Episode: "Pilot" 1992 Unnatural Pursuits Stephanie Didcot Episode: "I Don't Do Cuddles" 1994 Isabel Hazard TV miniseries 1995 Phoebe Halliwell Episode: "Pilot" 1996-1997 Spin City Helen Winston Recurring role (4 episodes) 1997 Law & Order Frances Houston Episode: "Blood" 1999 Earthly Possessions Heidi Anderson TV film 1999-2000 Strangers with Candy Sara Blank Main role (30 episodes) 2000 Christina Harlin Episode: "Russian Love Poem" 2000 Madigan Men Mrs. Wolfe Episode: "Meet the Wolves" 2004 Ms. Davenport Episode: "The Honeymoon Suite" 2004 Tempting Adam Ruth Heller TV film 2010 Caroline Heffenbacher Episode: "Revolutionary Doughnuts" 2010 Big Lake Linda Franklin (10 episodes) 2012 Judge Sally Rigby Episode: "Gloves Come Off" 2013 Girls Thomas-John's Mother Episode: "It's a Shame About Ray" 2013-2019 Orange Is the New Black Carol Chapman (11 episodes) 2014 Inside Amy Schumer Amy's mother Episode: "Slow Your Roll" 2019 The Blacklist Realtor Episode: "Orion Relocation Services" 2021 Search Party Gertrude Wreck Episode: “The Thoughtless Woman”
Theater
1975-1976 Dance with Me Goldie Pot 1983-1985 Noises Off Brooke Ashton 1985-1986 Hay Fever Jackie Coryton 1993-1994 Gorgeous Teitelbaum Replacement 2005 Absurd Person Singular Marion 2009 Blithe Spirit Mrs. Bradman
External links
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