Debbie Zipp

Debbie Zipp (born 28 June 1952 in Missouri, USA) is an American actress, author, and producer. She is best known for her roles in the film Double Exposure (1982)[1] and television series Murder, She Wrote[2] and Small & Frye.[3]

Career

Film and television

Zipp's film roles include Double Exposure (1982) and Like Father Like Son (1987).[1]

She had a recurring role on Murder, She Wrote playing Donna Mayberry, who became the wife of main character Jessica Fletcher's nephew, Grady Fletcher. In real life, Zipp is married to Michael Horton, who played Grady in the series.[2][4][5] Zipp also portrayed a character called Terry in an earlier episode of the show.[6][7]

She played Phoebe Small in Small & Frye.[8][9][10][11] The New York Times said that the character she played looked and sounded like "Squeaky Georgette on the old Mary Tyler Moore Show."[12]

She also appeared as Katherine in episodes of Gilmore Girls.[13] Other roles include guest-starring roles in shows like Malcolm in the Middle, L.A. Law, Magnum, P.I, The Fall Guy, One Day at a Time, and The Paper Chase.[13] She also appeared in lead roles in two pilots which later became TV movies: The Cheerleaders (1976)[14][15] and There's Always Room (1977).[16][17]

Theatre

Her theatre roles include starring stage roles in Los Angeles plays like "Sirens of Seduction", "Let's Call The Whole Thing Gershwin" and "The Good One".[18] In their review of "Sirens of Seduction", The Los Angeles Times said that Zipp was a "sheer delight as the gangly, confused, adorable Judy."[19]

Later career

Zipp was head of In The Trenches Productions, where she produced, directed, acted in, edited and wrote many short films.[18][20] In the late 1990s, she was co-chair of the Los Angeles-based group Actresses @ Work for actresses aged 35 and older.[21] She ran an entertainment website for women over 40 with three other women, becoming the West Coast writer/editor/producer and the third tomato for The Three Tomatoes website, writing "A Lifestyle Guide for Women Who Aren't Kids" and their weekly newsletters.[22]

Zipp appeared in over 300 commercials, including one with Robin Williams.[23]

She is the co-author of and The Aspiring Actor's Handbook, which was co-written with Molly Cheek and published by Bettie Youngs Books in 2014.[20][23]

Personal life

Zipp studied acting at University of California, Los Angeles and graduated with a master's degree.[24] She married actor (and Murder, She Wrote co-star) Michael Horton in 1975, several years before they appeared on the show together. They have two children and live in Los Angeles, California.[5][24]

References
  1. "Debbie Zipp". BFI. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  2. Craig, Christian (2020-08-10). "10 Best Recurring Characters In Murder, She Wrote". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  3. Terrace, Vincent (2021-10-11). Encyclopedia of Television Miniseries, 1936-2020. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-4542-1.
  4. "Donna Mayberry Fletcher - Murder, She Wrote | TVmaze". www.tvmaze.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  5. Joanna (2019-05-09). "Murder, She Wrote 5.9 "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue"". Murder, She Watched. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  6. Parish, James Robert (1997). The Unofficial Murder, She Wrote Casebook. Kensington Books. ISBN 978-1-57566-210-7.
  7. "Debbie Zipp". www.aveleyman.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  8. "Small & Frye (1983)". BFI. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  9. "Small and Frye (television)". D23. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  10. "Small and Frye – Nostalgia Central". nostalgiacentral.com. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  11. Chance, Norman (2011-01-07). Who was Who on TV. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4568-2456-3.
  12. O'Connor, John J. (1983-03-07). "TV: HANK WILLIAMS JR. STORY AND OTHER FARE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  13. "Debbie Zipp". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  14. Gadsden Times. Gadsden Times.
  15. Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene Register-Guard.
  16. "Debbie Zipp - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  17. "Television". The New York Times. 1976-08-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  18. Debbie Zipp Profile - Audible.com.
  19. McCULLOH, T. H. (1992-08-07). "'Sirens of Seduction' Skewers Suburban Mores". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  20. "BETTIE YOUNGS BOOKS". www.bettieyoungsbooks.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  21. Chuang, Angie (1997-04-02). "For This Club, Hollywood Life Begins at 35". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  22. "A celebration of women over 40: Now screening at the Three Tomatoes film series - The Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  23. Williams, Sharrie. "1977 TV commercial, with Robin Williams, pre "Mork and Mindy, features my fellow author and friend Debbie Zipp". Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  24. "Debbie Zipp, Luminary At Inspire Me Today". inspiremetoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
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