Deb Filler

Deb Filler is an internationally acclaimed comic, musician, writer-performer, producer and character actor. Her Jewish identity forms the basis of much of her work, creating humour from domestic and everyday situations and observations.

Born to a German Jewish mother (Ruth Adler), and Polish Holocaust survivor father (Sol Filler), a lot of her material is based on true elements. In an earlier interview with the Jewish Online Museum, Filler tells how her family shaped her early life: her grandmother sang German opera, her father was a natural entertainer and her mother liked to organise concerts.

The 1970s saw Filler becoming politically engaged against an anti-abortion bill, and she became part of the feminist movement as well as being two punk rock bands. She moved to the US where she studied under some stellar tutors, and was a keen observer of other talent, always learning from those she met. She is also an excellent mimic.

Filler’s fathers family had been murdered by the Nazis in Poland – 72 of his family – his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins had perished with 1200 Jews of the town.  In 1990, he asked her to go back with him for a visit. From a dark and emotional experience came the one woman show “ Punch Me in the Stomach” where she plays all 36 characters. The show was a huge success, and she travelled the world with it for 12 years.

Filler has a ‘library’ of characters to draw from, all funny, and each one with recognisable traits, which call upon her talent for mimicry and character.

In her travels, she has encountered some fascinating people – getting a personal concert from Leonard Bernstein and meeting Leonard Cohen, but she still calls New Zealand home.

In this video Deb talks about how it was growing up as a Jewish kid in New Zealand in the 60’s and 70s.

Originally part of the Jewish Online Museum (Edited).

©Jewish Lives 2021

Body of work

• Punk cabaret groups The Ratz and Debbie & the Dum Dums (1970s)

• Punch Me in the Stomach (1992)

• Filler Up (2001)

• Film & TV:  The Handmaid's Tale; Hulu; Shark Lords; FX; Reign; Odd Squad; Lucky 7; Mr Bernstein; Ladies and Gentlemen: Biddie Schitzerman; 'Trip'; Angst; The Path to 9/11

• Other:  voice of the Peg Bundy doll;  "Mummy" in the award-winning animated series, Bob and Margaret; contributing writer in Daughters of Absence worked on numerous productions as co-writer, coaches, and mc's live entertainment shows.