Debby Schwartz

Debby Schwartz - Actor, Director, Acting Coach and Author
Born - Debby Minsky January 17, 1951
Married Michael Schwartz in 1975 and has 2 Adult Children Lisa Gail and Jonathan (he is married to Christina Scanlon)

Debby grew up in Queens, NY where from the age of 4 through the age of 46 she was physically and mentally abused by her parents. To cope with the abuse she escaped into the old 1930's. 1940's and 1950's movie musicals. Debby would pretend she was Judy Garland dancing with Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire and that she was loved by all. That was the only way she felt she would ever deserve and receive love. After High School, she was accepted at the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts (which was a 2-year conservatory) and HB Studios. While training there she took private voice lesson and took dance classes at Carnegie Hall. Debby was able to earn a living as an actor, loved it but something was missing. She met her husband Michael who wanted to get married and have children. Debby was too afraid to have children, as she felt she would abuse her children because she was abused. Statistically speaking a child abuser usually is one who has been abused themselves. Her parents were both abused by their parents. With the support and love of Michael, and therapy she agreed to marry and have children. Not only was this the best decision she ever made it helped her to realize that the chain of abuse can be broken. Still there was a void in her life that she couldn't quite figure out. When her oldest child Jonathan was 10 she went back into theatre as an acting coach for children and directing. She helped many children through the years to cope with their abusive relatives and that gave her more of a purpose. She also directed over 60 plays, one film (on bullying) and now she is directing a web series. She also is a partner with 2 other people in a not for profit film/acting school Cinematique. Still there was that void that she could never figure out what it is was until 2 years ago, when a very dear friend (who knew about the abuse she had suffered), suggested she write a book about her abuse. It took her a year to complete this book as it was extremely difficult to write as she was reliving painful memories that she had thought she had dealt with. Once she wrote it and decided to have it published to hopefully help others who have been abused and let them know they can break that chain the void was gone.