Barbara Rush, an esteemed actress whose star rose in the golden age of Hollywood, passed away at the age of 97.
The news of her death was announced by her daughter, Claudia Cowan, who shared that Rush died peacefully on Easter Sunday at 5:28 PM. “She chose Easter for her departure, a holiday she loved dearly, adding now a profound significance to it for our family,” Cowan stated.
Born in 1927, Rush quickly became a recognized face in cinema, making a significant impact with her role in the 1953 science fiction classic “It Came from Outer Space,” opposite Richard Carlson.
Her performance earned her a Golden Globe as the most promising female newcomer the following year. Rush’s career was marked by her versatility, starring in notable films such as “When Worlds Collide” (1951), “Magnificent Obsession” (1954), and “The Young Philadelphians” (1959). She shared the screen with iconic actors including Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, John Drew Barrymore, and Rock Hudson.
In addition to her film career, Rush was a familiar presence on television, notably in the 1960s soap opera “Peyton Place,” and later appearances in popular shows like “Batman” and “7th Heaven.” Her stage work included her Broadway debut in 1984 with the one-woman show “A Woman of Independent Means,” among other regional theater performances.
Rush was married twice, first to actor Jeffrey Hunter with whom she had her son, Christopher Hunter, 71, and later to publicist Warren Cowan, with whom she shared her daughter Claudia. Her family, friends, and a multitude of fans mourn her passing while celebrating the lasting legacy she leaves behind in the world of entertainment.
