Debra Jo Rupp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Debra Jo Rupp
Rupp in 2019
Born	(1951-02-24) February 24, 1951 (age 74)
Education	University of Rochester
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1980–present

Debra Jo Rupp (born February 24, 1951) is an American actress. She is famous for playing the funny and caring mom, Kitty Forman, on the popular TV show That '70s Show (1998–2006). She returned to play the same character in the sequel series That '90s Show (2023–2024).

Many people also know her from her roles in other hit shows. She played Alice Knight in the sitcom Friends and Mrs. Hart in the Disney+ series WandaVision and its spin-off, Agatha All Along. She has also done voice acting, like in the animated series Teacher's Pet.

Rupp has appeared in many movies, including the comedies Big (1988), Death Becomes Her (1992), and Garfield: The Movie (2004). Besides screen acting, she is a talented stage actress and has been nominated for awards for her performances in plays.

Early Life

Debra Jo Rupp grew up in Boxford, Massachusetts. She went to Masconomet Regional High School and graduated in 1969. After high school, she attended the University of Rochester.

Acting Career

Starting on Stage and Screen

In 1979, Rupp moved to New York City to become an actress. She started by performing in plays and appearing in commercials. Her first TV role was in 1980 on the daytime drama All My Children.

Throughout the 1980s, she acted in many plays. One of her important roles was in a play called A Girl's Guide to Chaos. Her performance was so good that it helped her career move forward. She also had small roles in TV shows like Kate & Allie and Spenser for Hire. In 1988, she got her first big movie role as Miss Patterson, a secretary in the Tom Hanks comedy Big.

Becoming a Familiar Face

In the 1990s, Rupp's career grew even more. She acted on Broadway in a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She also had a recurring role on The Jeff Foxworthy Show.

One of her most memorable roles from this time was on the sitcom Friends. She played Alice Knight, a teacher who marries Phoebe Buffay's younger brother, Frank Jr. She also appeared on an episode of Seinfeld as an agent for Jerry Seinfeld.

In 1998, Rupp landed the role that would make her famous: Kitty Forman on the sitcom That '70s Show. She played the cheerful, funny mom with a unique laugh for all eight seasons of the show.

Continued Success

While working on That '70s Show, Rupp also did voice work. She was the voice of Mrs. Helperman in the Disney cartoon Teacher's Pet and its movie. After That '70s Show ended in 2006, she continued to act in TV, movies, and plays.

She had guest roles on shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a main role in the sitcom Better with You. She also appeared in several episodes of the popular drama This Is Us.

In 2021, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mrs. Hart in the Disney+ series WandaVision. She later returned to this role in the 2024 spin-off, Agatha All Along.

Return to a Famous Role

In 2023, Rupp returned to her most famous character in That '90s Show, a sequel to That '70s Show. She once again played Kitty Forman, now a grandmother, alongside her original co-star Kurtwood Smith. The show introduced a new generation to the Forman family.

Stage Performances

Rupp has a great love for theater and has performed in many plays. A notable stage role was playing the famous therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. She starred in a one-woman show called Becoming Dr. Ruth.

The play told the story of Dr. Ruth's amazing life, from escaping the Nazis as a child to becoming a famous media personality. Rupp's performance was highly praised, and she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Personal Life

Debra Jo Rupp has two homes. One is in Lee, Massachusetts, which is close to New York for her theater work. Her other home is in Los Angeles, where she works on TV shows and movies. She has said in an interview that she is a Methodist.

Selected Acting Credits

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Debra Jo Rupp para niños