The unsung heroism of wifedom and motherhood are nothing new to our cultural imagination - we’ve all heard tell of the millions of moms who (somehow) kept their jobs and families together during the pandemic, and a select few of history’s most influential women have gained recognition posthumously. Edith Wilson comes to mind; the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, Edith acted as the “secret president” when her husband fell ill.
The successes of these powerhouse wives and mothers are commonly measured by the accomplishments of their husbands and children. Deborah Divine, the oft-ignored yet decidedly incredible wife of Eugene Levy, is one such woman. Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor, writer and producer who is best known for co-creating the legendary sitcom Schitt's Creek, in which he stars as former video store mogul, Johhny Rose. Levy was no stranger to iconic comedy roles before Schitt's Creek, serving up memorable performances as Mr. Levenstein in the American Pie series and Jimmy Murtaugh in the second Cheaper By The Dozen movie, among many other notable roles.
When Did Deborah And Eugene Get Married?
Deborah and Eugene married in 1977 after 4 years of dating. They raised Dan and Sara out of the spotlight, in the relative normalcy of Toronto, Canada. Though she was no stranger to the hard work of show business, Deborah was devoted to her children and supported them in all things; according to Your Tango, being a mom “was her number one job.”
Clearly, her hard work paid off. Despite not being a main cast member, one could argue that without Deborah Divine, there is no Schitt’s Creek. A capable producer and hilarious muse, Divine is the Levy family’s secret weapon. Created by her husband, Eugene, and her son, Dan Levy, the hit show won multiple Emmys and the hearts of millions of fans during its 6-season run.
It is fitting that a show about a family was truly a family affair, with Eugene and Dan “playing” father and son as John and David Rose. Divine’s daughter, Sara Levy, also starred on the show as Twyla Sands, the Cafe Tropical owner who is considered “the unsung genius of Schitt’s Creek.”
Related: Does The Cast Of Schitt's Creek Still Hang Out Since The Show Ended?
Divine’s role as a wife and mother doesn’t detract from the veracity of her talent and the legitimacy of her opinions, both of which are made clear on her irreverently funny Twitter account. Reading through Divine's thoughts, it's clear that Dan and Sarah inherited the comedy gene from both parents, not just their famous father. If you’re looking for a laugh dipped in sobering truth, scroll through her feed to find good-natured ribbing of her family, jokes about the idiosyncrasies of married life and poignant socio-political commentary.
Was Deborah Divine In Schitt's Creek?
Eugene Levy had two wives on the set of Schitt’s Creek; his wig-collecting fictional wife, Moira, played by Catherine O’Hara, and Deborah Divine, who acted as creative consultant.
With a background as a screenwriter, producer and production manager (according to IMDB), and direct familial ties to many of the lead actors, Divine’s presence on set was a no-brainer. Much like her Twitter account, Divine's contribution's to show business are understated.
In the 1990s, she produced a show that her husband created, dubbed Maniac Mansion, and her notable contributions to the American soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Another World undoubtedly informed depictions of Sunrise Bay, the fictional soap that made Moira Rose famous.
When Eugune Levy won an Emmy for his role as Johnny Rose, his wife was the first person that he thanked. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude to Divine for “all the love, support and sage counsel over the years.” Sarah Levy has voiced similar sentiments online, telling her mother, “We would all be stuck in our messes without you.” in a Mother’s Day Instagram post last year.
How Divine And Levy's Family Inspired Schitt's Creek
Lauded for its unproblematic portrayal of the LGBTQA experience, Schitt’s Creek stands alone as a family sitcom predicated wholly on acceptance of others. Without Divine's unconditional acceptance of her children, the premise may not have been formed. According to Parade, “Dan revealed that she was actually the first person to ask him if he was gay, praising their 'very close' mother-son relationship with helping him embrace who he is.” As usual, the matriarch is the unsung hero of the story - that story being Schitt’s Creek.
Still, Deborah isn’t exactly a neglected heroine. Fans and interviewers alike have commented on her warmth and exceptional mothering. In an interview with the dethroned comedian James Corden, Dan admits that a powerful tweet written by Deborah movedhim to tears when the show wrapped.
Comments on the tweet illuminate intense support for Divine's parenting style and attitude, as did the gushing of her son in reference to the tweet. “That’s huge for someone to hear and I think for her to say that so publicly, I can only assume that it meant so much to a lot of people, too,” Dan said to James Corden, “because that’s the power of support, that’s the power of encouragement. I think there’s so much fear associated still to this day with parents looking at their queer children and wondering if they’re going to be okay. For her to say that and champion me in that kind of way, it’s very lovely. And beautifully written, I might add!”
Related: Why Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy Hesitated On Coming Out (And Was Workplace Homophobia To Blame?)
Deborah continues to be an ally online, posting support for the LGBTQA community and criticizing aspects of modern culture that she finds unsavory, such as the patriarchy and the media.
This honest, witty commentary gives her followers a glimpse of why Deborah Divine is the overlooked icon of the Levy family.
