American actress Barbara Rush, best known for her role in the 1953 science-fiction film It Came from Outer Space, died naturally on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at age 97. Her daughter, Claudia Cowan, confirmed the peaceful passing and noted that it coincided with Easter, a holiday Rush cherished.
“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,” Cowan told Fox News. “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.”
Born on January 4, 1927, in Denver, Colorado, Rush launched her career in the early 1950s and became a familiar presence in both movies and television over several decades. Her death has renewed public interest in her life, including questions about her net worth and inheritance.
Her Financial Standing When She Passed
At the time of her death, Rush’s net worth was estimated to be about $4 million. She is survived by her two children, Claudia Cowan and Christopher Hunter, who are the most likely heirs to her estate.
Her screen career gained momentum after she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, and her first film appearance in The Goldbergs (1950) drew attention to her talents.
The part that brought her broader recognition was in When Worlds Collide (1951). In the 1950s she continued to appear in notable films, including It Came from Outer Space (1953), Magnificent Obsession (1954), and Bigger Than Life (1956).
Rush also built a considerable television résumé, appearing on numerous series. Her work on shows such as Peyton Place and All My Children helped keep her a familiar face to TV audiences.
After appearing in the 1980 film Can’t Stop the Music, she joined the early-1980s cast of the soap opera Flamingo Road as Eudora Weldon. She later guest-starred in a 1998 episode of The Outer Limits titled “Balance of Nature.”
Her stage credits include touring nationally as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias in 1989. She continued to make TV guest appearances over the years and in 2007 portrayed Grandma Ruth Camden on 7th Heaven. In later years she occasionally performed with the Theatre Guild in Orange County, California.
Throughout her career Rush earned industry recognition, including winning the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 1954, along with other nominations and honors.
Despite the typical ups and downs of show business, she remained respected for her professionalism, grace, and commitment to her craft.
Life Away from the Spotlight
Outside of her professional achievements, her private life was full. She was married three times and had two children, beginning with actor Jeffrey Hunter, with whom she had a son, Christopher.
Following her divorce from Hunter, she became the wife of publicist Warren Cowan and later married Jim Gruzalski.
She resided at the Harold Lloyd Estate in Beverly Hills, California, remaining there until her death.
