Born in 1951 in rural Minnesota, Deborah Jean Templin studied theater at Gustavus Adolphus College. After graduating she went to San Francisco, where she was introduced to political theater. In 1973 Templin came to Providence, Rhode Island, to be an apprentice at Trinity Repertory Theater. Frustrated with the disparity between men and women's work in the theater company, Templin spent the following year with the Rhode Island Feminist Theater. She currently works as an actress in New York City and tours nationally with various productions.