Barbara Rush, known for her role as Nola Orsini on the popular ABC soap opera “All My Children,” died on Sunday. She was 97 years old.
Rush’s death was confirmed by her daughter, FOX News senior correspondent Claudia Cowan, who said she “passed away peacefully” shortly after Cowan returned home from work.
“My wonderful mother passed away peacefully at 5:28 PM this evening. I used to be along with her this morning and I do know she was waiting for me to come back home safely to retire,” Cowan, 60, said Fox News in a press release.
“It’s good that she decided to go for Easter because it was one of her favorite holidays, and now of course Easter will have a deeper meaning for me and my family.”
Rush also appeared in “Ben Casey,” “Dr. Kildare”, “The Fugitive” and “Ironside”, and was also known for his role as Ruth Camden in “7th Heaven”.
The Post has reached out to Rush’s representative for comment.
Shortly before her death, Cowan shared a post a touching tribute to Instagram to his mother on her birthday.
“She is gold, she is a diamond, she shines like the moon and shines like the sun,” the reporter wrote under the actress’ photo. “Age does not dim the light in her eyes, the sweetness of her heart ❤️ or the wisdom of her soul.”
“For me, he is 97 years young,” she added. “Happy birthday to my beautiful mother.”
Rush was born on January 4, 1927 in Denver and later moved to Santa Barbara, California during her childhood.
Rush and her father worked as ushers at the Lobero Theater.
After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1948, the budding actress won a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse and was noticed by a talent scout.
In 1950, Rush signed her first acting contract with Paramount Pictures and landed the role of Debbie Sherman in the film adaptation of “The Goldbergs.”
During this time, Rush married fellow actor Jeffrey Hunter. The couple had a son, Christopher, and until they split in 1955, they were considered one of Hollywood’s most glamorous couples.
Rush married columnist Warren Cowan in 1959, with whom she had a daughter, Claudia Cowan. The couple then divorced in 1969.
The actress married for the third and last time in 1970 to sculptor Jim Gruzalski, but the couple separated in 1973.
The actress also won the now-defunct Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female for her leading role in the 1953 science-fiction film “It Came From Outer Space.”
During her illustrious profession, Rush was related to various Tinseltown icons akin to Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson, Dean Martin, Paul Newman and Kirk Douglas, and even became friends with Marilyn Monroe at one point.
“Oh yeah, we were friends,” Rush told Fox Digital. “We were at the studio club together. At least in my case, when you first came to Hollywood and I went to Paramount, I was immediately put into the studio club. It’s kind of like a frat house.”
“And Marilyn Monroe was there,” she continued. “I loved her. Marilyn was such a stunning woman. She was very sweet and nice. All the girls in the studio club were just having fun.
Then Rush got here along as the villainous Nora Clavicle in the Nineteen Sixties TV series “Batman”, by which Adam West starred in the title role and Burt Wade played his trusty sidekick, Robin.
After appearing on the series, Rush joined the popular soap opera “Peyton Place” as Marsha Russell, and in 1992 she eventually moved to “All My Children.” She appeared in the popular series for 2 years and 38 episodes.
Rush’s last screen role was in 2007, when she appeared in nine episodes of “7th Heaven.”
The actress left behind Cowan, her son Christopher Hunter and two grandchildren.
Credit : nypost.com
