Rush was born in Chatham Borough, New Jersey. She is the wife of 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.^[2]

Rush made her Broadway debut performing in the 1975 musical Dance with Me.^[1] 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.^[1] Also in 1983, Rush starred in the satirical mockumentary comedy film, Zelig written and directed by Woody Allen. She later appeared in the 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).^[3] 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.^[4][5] 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.^[6]

In 2010, Rush was regular cast member in the short-lived Comedy Central sitcom, Big Lake.^[7] 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.

Film edit

Television edit

• Deborah Rush at IMDb
• Deborah Rush at the Internet Broadway Database  
• Deborah Rush at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Deborah Rush at Broadway.com