Deborah Van Valkenburgh — Biography
An American actress, Deborah Van Valkenburgh first made her mark on screen in the 1979 cult classic "The Warriors," portraying the character Mercy. She later secured a prominent role as Jackie Rush, appearing for five seasons on the popular sitcom "Too Close for Comfort" from 1980 to 1985. In 2012, her performance in "Road to Hell" earned her the Best Supporting Actress in a Fantasy Film award at the PollyGrind Underground Film Festival.
Van Valkenburgh completed her secondary education at Shaker High School in Latham, New York, graduating in June 1970. Her artistic pursuits continued at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a specialization in Painting and Drawing. Her professional acting journey began on the Broadway stage, taking on a role in the musical "Hair." Her theatrical experience extends to numerous Off-Broadway productions, including "Honeybee," "The Tempest," "Six Characters in Search of an Author," "Hay Fever," "When Did You last See Your Mother?," "Iolanthe," "It Ain't Aardvark," and "Minutemen." Beyond her work in New York theater, Van Valkenburgh has participated in regional and touring productions of "Mooney's Kid Don't Cry," "The Children's Hour," and "A View From the Bridge."
Her dedication to honing her craft is evident in her extensive training. She studied acting under the guidance of William Esper and John Shea. Her movement education includes ballet studies with Ballet Arts Carnegie Hall and modern dance instruction from James Cunningham. Furthermore, Van Valkenburgh has explored puppet production with Jim Henson, vocal techniques with Kirk Nurock and Richard Green, and improvisation with Dan Richter. Her heritage is a rich tapestry, encompassing African, Choctaw, Croatian, Dutch, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
Van Valkenburgh completed her secondary education at Shaker High School in Latham, New York, graduating in June 1970. Her artistic pursuits continued at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a specialization in Painting and Drawing. Her professional acting journey began on the Broadway stage, taking on a role in the musical "Hair." Her theatrical experience extends to numerous Off-Broadway productions, including "Honeybee," "The Tempest," "Six Characters in Search of an Author," "Hay Fever," "When Did You last See Your Mother?," "Iolanthe," "It Ain't Aardvark," and "Minutemen." Beyond her work in New York theater, Van Valkenburgh has participated in regional and touring productions of "Mooney's Kid Don't Cry," "The Children's Hour," and "A View From the Bridge."
Her dedication to honing her craft is evident in her extensive training. She studied acting under the guidance of William Esper and John Shea. Her movement education includes ballet studies with Ballet Arts Carnegie Hall and modern dance instruction from James Cunningham. Furthermore, Van Valkenburgh has explored puppet production with Jim Henson, vocal techniques with Kirk Nurock and Richard Green, and improvisation with Dan Richter. Her heritage is a rich tapestry, encompassing African, Choctaw, Croatian, Dutch, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
