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By 2010, Ritchie was ready for a change. He had lived<br />
the hustle-and-bustle life in Los Angeles for three decades<br />
and he was longing for a quieter life. When he was called<br />
to work on The Help, he packed up and drove across the<br />
country to Greenville, Mississippi. “The first thing they<br />
asked me was if I could drive a 1940s bus. I told them I<br />
could drive anything from a covered wagon to a Zamboni,<br />
which is true!”<br />
During his career, Ritchie has acted in plays, commercials,<br />
television shows, and feature films. He also did a stint<br />
at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. “I have 189 credits<br />
so far in my career, and I’m shooting for 200.” As busy as<br />
the film industry is in Mississippi, especially in Natchez,<br />
that shouldn’t take very long. I love being back in Natchez.<br />
My friends in Los Angeles don’t believe me when I tell them<br />
I can walk to work!<br />
Debbie Willson also contributes to the vibrant art scene<br />
in Natchez. Her art can be seen in several historic homes in<br />
town, which is affirming for Debbie. “To have a piece of<br />
new art in a historic home is awesome.”<br />
As a child growing up in Concordia Parrish, just across<br />
the river from Natchez, Debbie has had a camera in her<br />
hands since she was only seven or eight years old. “I fell<br />
in love with photography at an early age.” But Debbie says<br />
her “real” art started ten years ago when she wanted to do<br />
something different. “I had been refinishing furniture and<br />
doing some gold leaf,” but she wanted to have a more<br />
creative outlet. She began printing on canvas, “but God<br />
gave me an idea to print my art behind antiqued mirrors.”<br />
Debbie creates large pieces, some as big as four feet by<br />
six feet.<br />
Today Debbie sells her art at Arts District Studio on<br />
Commerce Street, as well as in a gallery on Royal Street<br />
in New Orleans. Much of her artwork hangs in Ochsner’s<br />
hospitals and clinics around New Orleans.<br />
“I love traveling, but I always love coming home to<br />
Natchez. I raised my children here, and this is home.”<br />
Ritchie says Debbie does readings with him when he’s<br />
preparing to audition for a role. And he helps her haul art.<br />
“We have known each other for over 30 years, and we<br />
have always supported each other.”<br />
VisitNatchez.org 49
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