Born Deborah Rhea Seehorn in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 12, 1972, she has gone by her middle name, Rhea, since childhood. Her family moved frequently due to her parents\' careers: her father was an agent in the Naval Investigative Service and an artist, while her mother was an executive assistant for the U.S. Navy and involved in musical theater. Seehorn grew up in various places including Washington, D.C., Arizona, and Japan.