Barbara Rush, Star of It Came from Outer Space and Peyton Place, Dead at 97

The Golden Globe winner's daughter Claudia Cowan confirmed the news of her mother's death on Easter Sunday, saying that, "Easter will have a deeper significance for me and my family"

Barbara Rush attends The 30th Anniversary Screening of "When Harry Met Sally…" Opening Night
Barbara Rush attends the 30th Anniversary Screening of "When Harry Met Sally" at the TCM Festival in 2019. Photo:

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Barbara Rush, the famed Hollywood actress known for roles in It Came from Outer Space and Peyton Place, died on Sunday. She was 97.

Rush’s death was confirmed by her daughter, Claudia Cowan, in a statement to Fox News. "My wonderful mother passed away peacefully at 5:28 this evening. I was with her this morning and know she was waiting for me to return home safely to transition."

"It’s fitting she chose to leave on Easter as it was one of her favorite holidays and now, of course, Easter will have a deeper significance for me and my family," the statement concluded.

Rush rose to fame for her role in It Came From Outer Space, which she starred in alongside Richard Carlson, in 1953. She was awarded a Golden Globe for the film the following year as she was named the most promising female newcomer.

Among the actress' most notable roles include When Worlds Collide (1951), Magnificent Obsession (1954) and The Young Philadelphians (1959).

Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush - It Came From Outer Space
Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush in 'It Came From Outer Space'.

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Many of her most known projects saw her star alongside some of the era's hottest names, including Frank Sinatra in Come Blow Your Horn (1963) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), Paul Newman in Taza, Son of Cochise (1954) andThe Young Philadelphians, John Drew Barrymore in Quebec (1951) and Rock Hudson in Magnificent Obsession.

In 1958, she was part of a truly star-studded collective as she starred in The Young Lions alongside Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin.

Come Blow Your Horn, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Rush, Phyllis Mcguire, Jill St John
Frank Sinatra, Barbara Rush, Phyllis Mcguire and Jill St John in 'Come Blow Your Horn'.

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Later in her career, she pursued several TV roles, including the 1960s soap opera Peyton Place, a stint on Batman, and 7th Heaven. She also took to the stage, making her Broadway debut in 1984 in a one-woman show, A Woman of Independent Means, as well as several other regional performances.

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Rush shared daughter Cowan, 60, with her second husband, publicist Warren Cowan. She also is mom to son Christopher Hunter, 71, who she shared with her first husband, fellow actor Jeffrey Hunter.

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