Debra Winger is an accomplished American actress and producer, best known for her Academy Award-nominated performances in An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, and Shadowlands.
Over her extensive career, she has appeared in numerous films and television shows, becoming one of the most respected actresses of her generation.
Born on May 16, 1955, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Debra was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family. After a serious car accident in her teens that left her partially paralyzed and blind for several months, she resolved to pursue a career in acting once she recovered.
Film Career
Debra Winger’s film debut was in 1976 with Slumber Party ’57. However, she gained recognition with a larger role in Thank God It’s Friday (1978) and later in Urban Cowboy (1980), where her performance earned critical acclaim.
Throughout the 1980s, Winger starred in numerous successful films, including An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), which garnered her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and Terms of Endearment (1983), which earned her a second nomination. She continued her success with roles in films like Legal Eagles and Betrayed.
In the 1990s, she earned additional accolades for her roles in A Dangerous Woman (1993) and Shadowlands (1993), for which she received her third Academy Award nomination.
Television Career
In addition to her film career, Debra Winger has made notable contributions to television. She starred in the Netflix series The Ranch (2016-2020), where she played Maggie Bennett, and in In Treatment (2010). Her work in television has earned her an Emmy nomination for Dawn Anna (2005).
Stage Acting
Winger has also ventured into stage acting, starring in productions such as The Wizard of Oz (1995) and The Anarchist (2012).
Career Earnings
Debra Winger’s career earnings include significant contributions from her roles in films like Shadowlands ($2 million) and The Sheltering Sky ($3 million). Her total career earnings have reached around $5 million.
Despite taking occasional breaks from acting, Winger remains a prominent figure in Hollywood, with a net worth of $8 million.
