Debra Winger, born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 16, 1955, captivated audiences with her raw talent before stepping away from Hollywood at the height of her fame. Initially studying criminology, she pursued acting after a near-fatal accident at 17 left her with a brain hemorrhage, blindness, and paralysis. Despite doctors’ grim prognosis, Winger regained her strength and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Her breakout role in Urban Cowboy (1980) and her performances in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and Terms of Endearment (1983) earned her critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations. However, she grew disillusioned with Hollywood’s focus on image over substance. By the mid-1990s, after her third Oscar nod for Shadowlands (1994), Winger decided to step away from acting, citing a lack of challenge in the industry.

During her hiatus, she focused on family, activism, and personal projects, including raising three sons, caring for her mother, and writing a book. She married actor Arliss Howard in 1996. Though she occasionally appeared in indie films, Winger largely stayed out of the public eye until 2016, when she joined The Ranch on Netflix.

Now living on a farm in New York, Winger continues to work on various film projects and enjoys her personal life, unapologetically living on her own terms. Despite her absence from mainstream Hollywood, fans still remember her timeless beauty and powerful performances.