Debra Jo Rupp

Debra Jo Rupp Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: February 24, 1951

Age: 73 years old

Birth Place: Glendale, California

Petite and relentlessly perky actress Debra Jo Rupp became one of the most familiar faces on television with roles that capitalized on her matronly, yet frequently madcap, persona. After garnering strong notices in several performances on and off-Broadway in the late-1980s, she began racking up steady appearances on series such as "Kate & Allie" (CBS, 1984-89), as well as in major feature films, including the Tom Hanks comedy "Big" (1988). Although regular cast work on a successful series initially eluded her, Rupp gained recognition with memorable recurring roles on hit comedies such as "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1990-98) and "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004). She at last found a stable home on a long-running series when she joined the ensemble cast of the comedy "That '70s Show" (Fox, 1998-2006). Surrounded by a talented cast of veteran actors and fresh faces, Rupp played the standard sitcom mom with a wonderfully manic twist in a show that lovingly looked back at a kinder, gentler decade. The actress maintained her profile on TV and film after "That '70s Show" finished its run, although her regular role on the sitcom "Better with You" (ABC, 2010-11) failed to become the next hit series she had hoped for. Whether she was playing an inept talent manager, the "older woman" in a May/December romance, or the high-strung mother of a promiscuous 1970s-era teen, Rupp brought undeniable energy and impeccable comic timing to every character she inhabited.

Debra Jo Rupp was born on Feb. 24, 1951 in Glendale, CA, but soon moved East with her family to Boxford, MA, where she attended Masconomet Regional High School. She attended New York's University of Rochester and earned a bachelor's degree in 1974, before the aspiring thespian made the leap to the Big Apple in pursuit of an acting career. Initially working as an accountant to support herself, Rupp began picking up roles and kudos for her stage work. Notable was a 1986 off-Broadway production of playwright Arthur Laurents' "The Time of the Cuckoo," followed by a career-boosting role as the lead in author Cynthia Heimel's "A Girl's Guide to Chaos" that same year. With her profile raised by the critical raves she was receiving, the young actress soon heeded the siren call of television and made the transition back to the West Coast. Rupp's earliest TV credits came in the late-1980s, with small parts "Kate & Allie" (CBS, 1984-89), "Spenser for Hire" (ABC, 1985-88), and "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" (NBC, 1987-1991).

In 1988, Rupp appeared again off-Broadway in a long-running production of Terrence McNally's "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune," in addition to making her feature film debut as Tom Hanks' secretary in the hit comedy "Big" (1988). She then went on to take her first bow on Broadway as Mae alongside Kathleen Turner and Charles Durning in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in 1990. A role in the TV movie "Mothers, Daughters and Lovers" (NBC, 1989) and a guest turn on the penultimate season of "Newhart" (CBS, 1982-1990) came before Rupp's recurring character on the soon-cancelled single dad sitcom "David Rules" (ABC, 1991-92). A small role in the Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn/Bruce Willis supernatural comedy "Death Becomes Her" (1992), as well as more guest appearances on such series as "Evening Shade" (CBS, 1990-94) and "Family Matters" (ABC, 1989-1998) kept Rupp in the public eye until she snagged another recurring role, playing Sister Mary Incarnata, the Catholic school teacher of a tennis prodigy, on the ABC sitcom "Phenom" (1993-94).

As short-lived as "Phenom" was, Rupp nonetheless managed to rack up extensive additional credits during that time, appearing in the TV-movies "The Odd Couple: Together Again" (CBS, 1993), the Kenny Rogers vehicle "MacShayne: Winner Takes All" (NBC, 1994) and its sequel, as well as guest spots on "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994) and other network series. When "Phenom" ran out of steam, the increasingly ubiquitous Rupp continued her TV guest shots, including a hilarious turn as Jerry's ditzy, ineffectual manager for two episodes of "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1990-98). Simultaneously, Rupp was teased with regular roles on a pair of barely-seen sitcoms. First came the tepid workplace comedy "The Office" (CBS, 1995) - not to be confused with the hugely successful later NBC show of the same name - and the romantic comedy "If Not for You" (CBS, 1995). Never out of work for long, she kept busy with more guest spots, including a recurring role on "The Jeff Foxworthy Show" (ABC, 1995-97). Rupp reappeared on the big screen with supporting roles in the Steve Martin-led adaptation of the classic TV comedy "Sgt. Bilko" (1996), followed by a turn alongside Lisa Kudrow, Toni Collette, and Parker Posey as bored office temps in the indie comedy "Clockwatchers" (1997).

In one of her more high-profile television roles up to that time, Rupp reteamed with Kudrow during the 1997-98 season of the hit sitcom "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004), as Alice, the much older girlfriend - and later, wife - of Phoebe's (Kudrow) younger brother, Frank, Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi). The dimwitted and quirky Frank, Jr.'s devotion to Alice - 20 years his senior - provided some of the season's biggest laughs and hilariously awkward moments, exemplified by their spontaneous on-camera make-out sessions. When Kudrow became pregnant in real life, the show's writers came up with one of TV's more ingenious work-arounds for such a situation by having Phoebe become the surrogate mother for the odd couple's eventual triplets. Fresh off her run on "Friends," Rupp was featured in the Sally Field-directed "The Original Wives Club" installment of the acclaimed 12-part miniseries essaying the early years of NASA, "From the Earth to the Moon" (HBO, 1998), hosted and co-produced by Tom Hanks. That same year, she was featured in the Penelope Spheeris-directed "Senseless" (1998), an uninspired comedy starring Marlon Wayans and David Spade.

As Kitty Foreman, hardworking nurse, loving wife of Red (Kurtwood Smith) and overly cautious mother of Eric (Topher Grace), Rupp at last found a long-lasting role worthy of her considerable talents on "That '70s Show" (Fox, 1998-2006). Kitty may have come from the mold of the traditional sitcom mom, but she broke it as well. Prone to high-pitched pleadings and moments of harried hysteria handled masterfully by the actress, it was nonetheless clear that the devoted and somewhat naive Kitty was the glue that held the Foreman family together. Nostalgic without being stale, the well-written show allowed the older generation of actors to shine alongside the series' young leads, many of whom - in particular Grace, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis - would go on to achieve major stardom. During her eight-season tenure on "That '70s Show" she continued to make sporadic guest appearances on other series, in addition to projects such as the Sunday comics adaptation "Garfield" (2004), starring Bill Murray as the voice of the eponymous cat, in which Rupp voiced a motherly rat, of all things.

When "That '70s Show" came to an end, Rupp moved forward with a 2006 guest turn on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ), followed by a supporting role in the Jamie Kennedy break-dancing comedy "Kickin' It Old Skool" (2007). In a move that surprised some, she next picked up a recurring role on one of the few remaining daytime soaps, "As the World Turns" (CBS, 1956-2010) in 2008, and later returned to the big screen with a supporting turn in the teenage romantic comedy "She's Out of Your League" (2010). Looking to land a regular spot on another successful show, she joined the cast of the sitcom "Better with You" (ABC, 2010-11), as the mother of two daughters, each at different stages of their respective relationships. Unfortunately, the romantic comedy struggled in the ratings from its premiere and was cancelled after its first season.

Credits

Teacher's Pet

Voice
Mary Lou Helperman
Movie
2024

That '90s ShowStream

Actor
Kitty Forman
Series
2023
75%

That '90s ShowStream

Executive Producer
Series
2023
75%

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

The Social Ones

Actor
Sheila Berger
Movie
2019

Fair Market Value

Actor
Carol Coogan
Movie
2019

I Feel BadStream

Guest Star
Victoria
Series
2018
31%

This Is UsStream

Guest Star
Linda
Series
2016
94%

The Opposite Sex

Actor
Tracy
Movie
2014

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Series
2012
95%

Congratulations

Actor
Nancy Riley
Movie
2012

She Wants Me

Actor
Ruth Baum
Movie
2012

Hart of DixieStream

Guest Star
Betsy Maynard
Series
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Better With You

Actor
Vicky
Show
2010

She's Out of My LeagueStream

Actor
Mrs. Kettner
Movie
2010
57%

NCIS: Los AngelesStream

Guest Star
Ginger
Series
2009

Kickin' It Old Skool

Actor
Sylvia Schumacher
Movie
2007

Spymate

Actor
Edith
Movie
2006

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Robot ChickenStream

Guest Voice
Series
2005

Lucky 13

Actor
Mrs. Baker
Movie
2005

Disney's Teacher's Pet

Voice
Mrs. Mary Lou Moira Angela Darling Helperman
Movie
2004

That '70s Show Special

Actor
Show
2003

Teacher's Pet

Voice
Show
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Debra Hartnell
Series
1999
78%

To Have & to Hold

Guest Star
Show
1998

The Hughleys

Guest Star
Series
1998

That '70s ShowStream

Actor
Kitty Foreman
Series
1998

From the Earth to the MoonStream

Actor
Marilyn See
Miniseries
1998

Reasons of the Heart

Actor
Viv Rushton
Movie
1998

Crisis Center

Guest Star
Marilyn
Show
1997

ClockwatchersStream

Actor
Barbara
Movie
1997
85%

High Incident

Guest Star
Show
1996

If Not for You

Actor
Eileen
Show
1995

The Jeff Foxworthy ShowStream

Actor
Series
1995
15%

The Jeff Foxworthy ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1995
15%

The Office

Actor
Beth Avery
Show
1995

FriendsStream

Guest Star
Alice Knight-Buffay
Series
1994
78%

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

ERStream

Guest Star
Mrs. Dibble
Series
1994

In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco

Actor
Dorrie
Movie
1993

A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story

Actor
Alice
Movie
1992

Civil Wars

Guest Star
Florence Herrigan
Show
1991

SeinfeldStream

Guest Star
Katie
Series
1989
89%

Kate & Allie

Guest Star
Series
1984

NewhartStream

Guest Star
Series
1982

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