Deborah Geffner

Deborah Geffner (born August 26, 1952) is an American actress, singer, and dancer whose career spans more than five decades across stage, screen, and television. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she displayed an early talent for movement and relocated to New York City at the age of sixteen to train at the prestigious Juilliard School, where she refined both her ballet technique and dramatic skills. After Juilliard she joined the Stuttgart Ballet and later the American Chamber Ballet, gaining international experience before transitioning to Broadway, where she became a featured performer in the original production of A Chorus Line, originating the role of Kristine. While still performing on Broadway, Geffner was cast by legendary choreographer‑director Bob Fosse as Victoria Porter in the Academy‑Award‑winning film All That Jazz (1979), a role that cemented her reputation as a reliable character actress capable of combining dance and dramatic nuance. She continued her collaboration with Fosse in the cult classic Star 80 (1983) and subsequently appeared in a wide variety of television series, including Scandal, Mad Men, Cold Case, Grey’s Anatomy, Monk, Criminal Minds, ER, and the daytime soap Passions. Her film work ranges from the indie drama Living Out Loud alongside Holly Hunter to genre pieces such as Infestation, Exterminator 2, and Chasing Destiny with Christopher Lloyd. In 2009 she expanded her creative portfolio by writing, directing, and starring in the award‑winning short Guitar Lessons, showcasing her skill behind the camera. Geffner has also directed stage productions, notably John Patrick Shanley’s Beggars in the House of Plenty and Tennessee Williams’ Auto‑Da‑Fé at Theatre 68, and she earned recognition for directing the world premiere of Jennifer Aniston Stole My Life at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, which was selected for the “Best of Fringe” showcase. More recently she appeared as Gwendolyn Gardner on The Young and the Restless in 2020, demonstrating her continued presence in the industry. A first cousin of actor Jeff Goldblum, Geffner resides in Los Angeles where she continues to act, direct, and mentor emerging talent.