Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Barbara Rush, the actor who played Ellen Fields in the 1953 science-fiction film It Came From Outer Space, died on March 31, 2024, at 97. Her daughter, Claudia Cowan, confirmed her death. Rush’s career extended from studio films to television and stage work.
Barbara Rush’s role in It Came From Outer Space
In Jack Arnold’s 1953 3-D film, Rush played Ellen Fields opposite Richard Carlson as John Putnam. The role brought her the promising female newcomer prize at the 1954 Golden Globe Awards, as reported by the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times.
![It Came from Outer Space - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ass33dAHL._SL160_.jpg)
Rush’s science-fiction credits also included When Worlds Collide (1951). Together, the films offer a way into her early screen career, but they represent only one part of her work.
Her film career beyond science fiction
Born in Denver in 1927, Rush studied theater at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and then at the Pasadena Playhouse. A Paramount contract brought her into films. The Associated Press identifies The Goldbergs, also known as Molly, as her 1950 screen debut. The Guardian reports that she appeared in 22 films during the 1950s.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
Her credits included Douglas Sirk’s melodrama Magnificent Obsession (1954) and Nicholas Ray’s Bigger Than Life (1956), as well as the ensemble films The Young Lions (1958) and The Young Philadelphians (1959). Later film roles included Come Blow Your Horn (1963) and Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964), two films featuring Frank Sinatra.
Television and stage work
Rush also built a sustained television career, with credits including Peyton Place, All My Children, and 7th Heaven. On stage, she toured in productions of Forty Carats, Same Time, Next Year, Father’s Day, and Steel Magnolias. Her solo show was A Woman of Independent Means.
Rank #2
Rush on acting and the roles available to women
Looking back on Paramount in 1954, Rush said: “Paramount wasn’t geared for developing new talent. Every time a good role came along, they tried to borrow Elizabeth Taylor.”
In 1962, she described the limits actresses could face as they aged: “There used to be this terrible Sahara Desert between 40 and 60 when you went from ingenue to old lady. You either didn’t work or you pretended you were 20.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
Rush also spoke about the craft of comedy. In 1970, she recalled: “It was very, very difficult for me to learn timing at first, especially the business of waiting for a laugh.” And in a 1997 interview, she joked: “I’m one of those kinds of people who will perform the minute you open the refrigerator door and the light goes on.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to watch first
Choose a starting point by the kind of performance or film you want to see:
- Early science fiction: When Worlds Collide (1951) or It Came From Outer Space (1953), the film most closely associated with Rush’s newcomer recognition.
- Studio melodrama and director-led work: Magnificent Obsession (1954) or Bigger Than Life (1956).
- Ensemble films: The Young Lions (1958) or The Young Philadelphians (1959).
- Television: Look for her work in Peyton Place, All My Children, or 7th Heaven.
These are viewing paths through different phases and genres, not a ranking. The cited accounts do not establish current streaming availability or which home-video editions are in stock.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
