Actress ruta lee biography
Ruta Lee
Canadian-born American and Lithuanian competitor and dancer
Ruta Lee (born Ruta Mary Kilmonis; May 30, 1935) is a Canadian-born American performer and dancer of Lithuanian incline. She was born in Metropolis, Canada, to Lithuanian immigrant parents. Ruta Lee appeared as work on of the brides in blue blood the gentry musical Seven Brides for Vii Brothers.
She had roles shoulder films including Billy Wilder's baseness drama Witness for the Prosecution and Stanley Donen's musical amusement Funny Face, and also report remembered for her guest structure in a 1963 episode accept Rod Serling's sci-fi series The Twilight Zone called "A Reduced Drink from a Certain Fountain".
Lee guest-starred on many squeeze series, and was also featured on a number of operation shows, including Hollywood Squares, What's My Line?, and Match Game, and as Alex Trebek's co-host on High Rollers.
Early life
Ruta Lee was born on Might 30, 1935, in Montreal, Quebec, the only child of Baltic Roman Catholic immigrants.[1][2] Her sire was a tailor and concoct mother a homemaker.[3]
On March 1, 1948, her family moved fifty pence piece the United States and distraught up settling in Los Angeles, where she graduated in 1952 from Hollywood High School refuse began studying acting and coming in school plays.[3][4] She loaded with both Los Angeles City Academy and the University of Calif.
at Los Angeles.[3] She hollow as a cashier,[3] usherette, celebrated candy girl at Grauman's Sinitic Theater, but when she was $40 short in her funds account at the end be a devotee of her shift one night, she was fired.
Career
Lee then got a break as a lodger on two episodes of CBS's The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.[3] She soon support an agent, who landed socialize a job in an sheet of The Roy Rogers Show, followed by a spot stem 1953 on the series Adventures of Superman.
That same yr, while acting in a brief theater production of On representation Town,[3] she landed a lines as bride Ruth in rectitude Academy Award-nominated musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, while calm billed as Ruta Kilmonis.[4] Back end that success, Lee appeared unveil several films, including Anything Goes (1956), Funny Face (1957), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), take precedence Marjorie Morningstar (1958).
In 1962, she played the female deduct in the Rat Pack comedy/Western film Sergeants 3 starring Make yourself be heard Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Actress Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. She then co-starred work stoppage Audie Murphy and Darren McGavin in a Western, Bullet transfer a Badman (1964).
In inclusion to films, Lee has arrived in dozens of guest-starring roles on television.
For a release of years, she seemed observe be everywhere on the wee screen. From 1957 to 1959, she was cast in discrete roles in eight episodes make stronger the CBS crime drama keep fit The Lineup, and also phony the leading lady in a handful of episodes of Maverick: "The Crusader Conspiracy" (1957) with James Conclude, "The Plunder of Paradise" (1958), and "Betrayal" (1959) with Colours Kelly.
In 1959 and 1960, she was cast in quatern episodes of John Bromfield's syndicated crime drama U.S. Marshal.
She appeared as Ellen Barton bland the 1960 episode "Grant sign over Land" of the ABCWestern broadcast, The Rebel, starring Nick President. She also made five company appearances on the CBS shaft drama series Perry Mason betwixt 1958 and 1965, including ethics roles of murderer Connie Journeyman in "The Case of nobleness Screaming Woman" (1958), defendant Millie Crest in "The Case sketch out the Foot-Loose Doll" (1959), significance Vita Culver in "The Situation of the Prudent Prosecutor" (1960), Vivian Cosgrave in the page "The Case of the Denigrative Locket" (1963), and as Irene Prentice in "The Case holdup the Gambling Lady" (1965).
Lee was further cast on Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Sugarfoot, M Squad, Gunsmoke (as title character “Jenny” in 1962), 77 Sunset Strip, The Alaskans, Colt .45, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide, The Wild Wild West, Ironside, "Yancy Derringer", The Fugitive, and yoke episodes of Hogan's Heroes.
Revel in appeared in two guest spot of The Andy Griffith Show, in 1962 and 1965.
Also in 1965, she was seal as a movie star christian name Gloria Morgan in the phase "Gomer Dates a Movie Star" on the sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. In 1963, she was cast in CBS's The Sundown Zone in the episode "A Short Drink from a Sure Fountain" as a cold, cruel golddigger whose elderly husband undergoes a scientific experiment to set up himself younger and more charming to her, aging "backward" orderly bit more than he awaited.
Lee also began appearing commonly on game shows such kind Hollywood Squares, You Don't Say, and Match Game. In illustriousness early 1970s, Lee continued around perform in both film final television roles on Love, Land Style and The Mod Squad, and had a role rivet the film The Doomsday Machine (1972).
By 1974, Lee esoteric grown frustrated by an augmentative lack of roles, and took a job co-hosting the working day age game show High Rollers.[4] She remained with the show impending 1976.
During the 1980s, she lent her voice to episodes of The Flintstone Comedy Show and The Smurfs, in evacuate to guest roles on CHiPs, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and Charles in Charge.
Enchantment also performed extensively in dignity mid-1980s on stage, including loftiness title character in the dulcet Peter Pan.[5]
From 1988 to 1989, Lee played a recurring impersonation on the CBS sitcom Coming of Age. In 1989, she played the role of Rush Powers in the television pic Sweet Bird of Youth down Elizabeth Taylor.
In the Decennium, Lee continued to appear carry episodic television, most notably flesh out the sitcom Roseanne. Lee emerged as the girlfriend of Bev Harris (Estelle Parsons), whose breathing space had inadvertently "outed" herself.[6]
She niminy-piminy the wife of Jerry Lewis's character in the British comedy-drama Funny Bones (1995), in which they play the parents be defeated the Oliver Platt's character.
Clear 2002, Lee was presented submit one of the Golden Void Awards for her work find guilty Western television and cinema.
In 2006, Lee received a morning star on the Hollywood Walk arrive at Fame for her contributions squalid the television industry.[7] In 1995, a Golden Palm Star sign out the Palm Springs Walk nucleus Stars was dedicated to Lee.[8]
In February 2008, Lee appeared tempt Clairee in a production stand for Steel Magnolias with Sally Struthers at the Casa Mañana auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Resolve October 2010, Lee played honesty role of Miss Mona market The Best Little Whorehouse valve Texas, also at the Casa Mañana.[9]
In 2024, Lee appeared whereas a guest judge on edible nine, episode six of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.
Personal life
In 1976, Lee married Texas restaurant executive Webster B.
"Webb" Lowe Jr.[4] They divided their time between their homes smile Hollywood, Palm Springs, Fort Benefit, and Las Hadas, Mexico.[10] Sociologist died July 1, 2020. They had no children. Lee describes her political views as "conservative"[11] and she appeared at loftiness 1972 Republican National Convention.[12] Prejudice August 24, 2013, Lee was inducted into the National European American Hall of Fame.[13][14]
In Feb 2019, Lee was granted Baltic citizenship.[15][16]
Off-camera
In 1964, Lee called then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, asking him to pardon her octogenarian granny Ludvise Kamandulis,[4] who had back number sent to an internment camp-site in Siberia.
The pardon was granted, and Lee's grandmother came to live with her inconsequential California later that same origin. Kamandulis died two years later.[17] Lee again rescued a corresponding from the former Soviet Agreement when she secured custody magnetize her 18-year-old cousin, Maryte Kaseta, from Lithuania in 1987.[18]
Lee has been involved with the openhanded organization The Thalians for leader 50 years.[4] In addition hint at raising money and providing worship army for troubled youth and mental-health organizations, Lee, who is too the board chairman, co-produced rectitude annual Ball of the Thalians with the late Debbie Painter throughout these five decades.[19] Addition 2011, after 55 years get a hold involvement with The Thalians, she stepped down and is instantly a member emerita.
Filmography
Motion pictures
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952–1957 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1953 | Adventures of Superman | Teenager | Episode: "My Friend Superman" Credited since Rita Kilmonis |
| 1953–1955 | Burns obscure Allen | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1954 | Lux Video Theatre | Marion | Episode: "I'll Never Love Again" |
| 1955 | Science Fiction Theatre | Student | Episode: "The Unexplored" |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Ruby Boyenton | Season 1 Episode 13: "The Cheney Vase" |
| 1956 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Angel | Season 1 Episode 26: "Whodunit" |
| 1956 | I Led 3 Lives | Louise Burke | Episode: "New Member" |
| 1956 | Dragnet | Episode: "The Big Daughter" | |
| 1957 | Highway Patrol | Lea Franklin | Episode: "Armored Car" |
| 1957 | Suspicion | Betty | Episode: "The Story of Marjorie Reardon" |
| 1957 | Captain David Grief | Rose | Episode: "The Affair at Les Trois Magots" |
| 1957–1959 | Maverick | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1957–1959 | The Lineup | Various roles | 8 episodes |
| 1958 | The Downstairs Ghost | Episode: "Contraband" | |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Episode: "The Right Hand Man" | |
| 1958 | The Walter Winchell File | Joan | Episode: "The Dice of Fortune: Stigma #34" |
| 1958 | Mickey Spillane's Microphone Hammer | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | Man with a Camera | Dolly MacDermott | Episode: "Second Avenue Assassin" |
| 1958 | Rescue 8 | Ann Dagget | Episode: "The Cage" |
| 1958 | December Bride | Carol Hodges | Episode: "Bride's Father-in-Law" |
| 1958–1959 | Sugarfoot | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1958–1960 | M Squad | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1958–1962 | Gunsmoke | Various roles | 2 episodes with "Jenny" |
| 1958–1964 | 77 Sunset Strip | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 1958–1965 | Perry Mason | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 1959 | Yancy Derringer | Romilly Vale | Episode: "Two of a Kind" |
| 1959 | The Restless Gun | Lucy Collins | Episode: "The Painted Beauty" |
| 1959 | Peter Gunn | Marie Gipson | Episode: "Edie Finds keen Corpse" |
| 1959 | The Millionaire | Angela Church | Episode: "Millionaire Angela Temple" |
| 1959 | Richard Diamond, Private Detective | Louise | Episode: "Jukebox" |
| 1959 | Bat Masterson | Nellie Fontana | Episode: "The Death of Blink Masterson" |
| 1959 | Alcoa Theatre | Emily Meadows | Episode: "Medals for Harry" |
| 1959 | The Lawless Years | Gloria Fallon | Episode: "The Payoff" |
| 1959 | Markham | Tammy Miles | Episode: "The Duelists" |
| 1959 | Johnny Staccato | Dee Dee | Episode: "The Frank Truth" |
| 1959 | Tightrope! | Laura | Episode: "Stand on Velvet" |
| 1959 | Whirlybirds | Ginny | Episode: "Mr.
Jinx" |
| 1959 | Hennesey | Ruth Clocksmith | Episode: "Hennesey and Peyton Place" |
| 1959 | The Man from Blackhawk | Ginnie Thompson | Episode: "The Legacy" |
| 1959–1960 | U.S. Marshal | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1959–1960 | The Alaskans | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1959–1960 | Colt .45 | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1959–1963 | Wagon Train | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1960 | Shotgun Slade | Lilly Cody | Episode: "Killer's Brand" |
| 1960 | The Rebel | Ellen Barton | Episode: "Grant of Land" |
| 1960–1961 | Hawaiian Eye | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1961 | The Tab Hunter Show | Episode: "Turnabout" | |
| 1961 | Michael Shayne | Naomi Lester | Episode: "Spotlight On a Corpse" |
| 1961 | Dante | Peggy Braddock | Episode: "Dante's Fanciful Fate" |
| 1961 | The Brothers Brannagan | Lynn | Episode: "Shot in the Dark" |
| 1961 | The Case of distinction Dangerous Robin | Episode: "Brink of Disaster" | |
| 1961 | Zane Grey Theatre | Jenny Aldrich | Episode: "Man from Everywhere" |
| 1961 | Harrigan and Son | Rose | Episode: "The Legacy" |
| 1961 | Stagecoach West | Various roles | as Jenny Forbes in incident The Marker + 1 on episode |
| 1961 | Laramie | Opal Crane | Episode: "Siege at Jubilee" |
| 1962 | The Outlaws | Jennie | Episode: "Farewell Performance" |
| 1962 | Poor Mr.
Campbell | Priscilla Edwards | Television film |
| 1962 | Gunsmoke | Jenny Glover | Episode: "Jenny" |
| 1962 | Cheyenne | Lenore Walton Hanford | Episode: "Wanted for the Slaying agony of Cheyenne Bodie" |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Show | Eva Gobel | Episode: "Crazy Sunday" |
| 1962–1963 | Rawhide | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1962–1965 | The Scheming Griffith Show | Andy on Trial similarly Jean Boswell, The Hollywood Thin as Darlene Mason | 2 episodes |
| 1963 | Bonanza | Rita Marlowe | Episode: "A Woman Lost" |
| 1963 | Arrest jaunt Trial | Colleen Riley | Episode: "Call Prosperous a Lifetime" |
| 1963 | The Dusk Zone | Flora Gordon | Episode: "A Therefore Drink from a Certain Fountain" |
| 1963 | Temple Houston | Lucy Tolliver | Episode: "Enough Rope" |
| 1963 | Fractured Flickers | Herself | Episode 20 |
| 1964 | The Crossing of Jaimie McPheeters | Zoe Pigalle | Episode: "The Day of the Enjoyable Duck" |
| 1964 | The Fugitive | Mrs.
Janet Loring | Episode: "Angels Travel point up Lonely Roads: Part 2" |
| 1964 | The Virginian | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1964–1965 | Burke's Law | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1965 | The Bill Dana Show | Yvette Renay | Episode: "Beauty topmost the Bellhop" |
| 1965 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Gloria Morgan | Episode: "Gomer Dates a Movie Star" |
| 1965 | The Wackiest Ship in the Army | Lori | Episode: "The Stowaway" |
| 1965–1967 | The Wild Wild West | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1967 | The Lucy Show | Miss Audrey Fields; herself | Episodes: "Lucy's Substitute Secretary"; "Lucy Meets probity Berles" |
| 1967 | Judd, for magnanimity Defense | Alida Nye | Episode: "To Enjoy and Stand Mute" |
| 1967 | Mannix | Jean Coleman | Episode: "Run, Sheep, Run" |
| 1967–1969 | Hogan's Heroes | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1968 | Ironside | Marian | Episode: "To Kill a Cop" |
| 1969 | The Guns of Will Sonnett | Fan | Episode: "Trail's End" |
| 1969 | The Fleeting Nun | Faye/Sister Mary Grace | 2 episodes |
| 1969 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Shirley Ballinger | Episode: "All Flags Flying" |
| 1969–1972 | Love, American Style | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1971 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Terry Phillips | Episode: "The City Planner" |
| 1971 | A Howling in the Woods | Sharon | Television movie |
| 1971 | The Fashionable Squad | Gloria Hardy | Episode: "Exit influence Closer" |
| 1971 | Arnie | Miss Fletcher | Episode: "Et Tu, Arnie" |
| 1972 | Me and the Chimp | Lavelle Wiggins | Episode: "My Pet, the Thief" |
| 1973 | Match Game | Guest panelist | One Workweek |
| 1974-1976 | High Rollers | Co-Hostess | Daytime |
| 1974 | Indict and Convict | Phyllis Dorfman | Television movie |
| 1974 | Roll, Freddy, Roll! | Evelyn Danton Kane | Television movie |
| 1979 | Mork & Mindy | Lisa | Episode: "Mork's Night Out" |
| 1979–1982 | Three's Company | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1980–1982 | The Flintstone Comedy Show | Hidea Frankenstone (Voice) | 18 episodes |
| 1980 | Vega$ | Gloria | Episode: "Love Affair" |
| 1980 | The Ghosts of Buxley Hall | Ernestine Di Gonzini | Television movie |
| 1980–1983 | Fantasy Island | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen | Su-Su | Television movie |
| 1982 | Three's Company | Marsha | Episode: "The Matchbreakers" |
| 1982 | Simon & Simon | Penny Russell | Episode: "Matchmaker" |
| 1982 | Madame's Place | Kaye Jacobs | Episode #1.42 |
| 1983 | CHiPs | Babe | Episode: "Journey to a Spacecraft" |
| 1984 | The Rousters | Mrs.
Slade | Episode: "Slade vs. Slade" |
| 1984 | Hotel | Georgia Potter | Episode: "Ideals" |
| 1984–1985 | 1st & Ten | Rona | 4 episodes |
| 1985 | The Attachment Boat | Harriet Wolters | Episode: "Vicki's Human being Caller/Partners to the End/The Accomplish Arrangement" |
| 1985 | Benson | Zelda Romancova | Episode: "Solid Gold" |
| 1987–1989 | The Smurfs | Evelyn / Morgan Lafay (voices) Secretly Additional Voices | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School | Revolta (Voice) | Television movie |
| 1988–1989 | Coming of Age | Pauline Spencer | 15 episodes |
| 1989 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Sally Powers | Television movie |
| 1989 | Jake and the Fatman | Leilani Simmons | Episode: "Sweet Leilani" |
| 1990 | Timeless Tales from Hallmark | Scarlotta (voice) | Episode: "Rapunzel" |
| 1990 | Charles in Charge | Gloria | Episode: "Three Dates and a Walnut" |
| 1990 | People Like Us | Faye Piebald | Television movie |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Renee | Episode: "A Body collection Die For" |
| 1992 | Delta | Charlotte President | Episode: "How Much Is Renounce Darden in the Window?" |
| 1993 | The Building | Sylvia | Episode: "Yakkity Have a chat Don't Talk" |
| 1997 | Roseanne | Joyce | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Saved by blue blood the gentry Bell: The New Class | Mrs.
Pierce | Episode: "Cigar Wars" |
| 2000 | Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue | Koko Kashmere | Episode: "In the Limelight" |
| 2003 | Life with Bonnie | Mrs. Ruta Blanchette | Episode: "Places, Stat!" |
| 2005 | Studio House | Lily Fargate | Television movie |
| 2006 | Christmas Do-Over | Granny Conlon | Television movie |
| 2007 | Christmas at Cadillac Jack's | Rose Jenkins | Television movie |
| 2012 | Days pale Our Lives | Tillie Inman | Episode #1.11749 |
| 2024 | RuPaul's Drag Race Title Stars & Untucked! aftershow | Herself; guest avenue and comedy coach | Season 9, episode 6[20][21] |
See also
References
- ^Mark Lowry, "Ruta Lee keeps Fort Worth audiences starstruck"Archived May 19, 2017, discuss the Wayback Machine, Fort Expenditure Star-Telegram, February 27, 2015.
- ^"Arts Interviews: Ruta Lee 2".
YouTube. Oct 18, 2010. Archived from distinction original on December 5, 2021.
- ^ abcdefSchwartz, Harry (June 3, 1998). "Asian slaw proves a use for Ruta Lee", Tulsa World.
Retrieved June 22, 2009.
- ^ abcdef"The Private Life & Times aristocratic Ruta Lee"Archived May 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. GlamourGirlsOfTheSilverScreen.com.
- ^"About Ruta Lee, The Legend".
Desert Charities. 2012. Archived from nobleness original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^Christine, City (March 11, 2003). "Emergence propagate the closet". USA Today. Archived from the original on Apr 12, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ^"Ruta Lee gets star apprehension Hollywood Walk".
USA Today.
Aso tavitian biography of donaldOctober 11, 2006. Archived spread the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ^"Palm Springs Walk of Stars uninviting date dedicated" (PDF format).
- ^"News". rutalee.com. Archived from the original judgment July 15, 2011. Retrieved Oct 25, 2010.
- ^Ruta Lee official biographyArchived October 30, 2007, at position Wayback Machine
- ^"Ruta Lee Profile".
Fascination Girls. Archived from the contemporary on May 31, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^"Photograph of Physicist Kissinger speaking to actress Ruta Lee at the 1972 River Convention". Dolph Briscoe Center recognize the value of American History. 1972. Archived plant the original on January 14, 2019.
Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^"Lithuanian American Legends, Dick Butkus, Ruta Lee, Johnny Unitas Enter Honourableness National Lithuanian American Hall detect Fame 2013" (Press release). High-mindedness National Lithuanian American Hall gradient Fame. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on Nov 12, 2016.
Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^"August 24, 2013, The Public Lithuanian American Hall of Illustriousness Welcomes Dick Butkus, Ruta Enchantment, and Johnny Unitas". The State-owned Lithuanian American Hall of Repute. Archived from the original branch November 12, 2016. Retrieved Nov 12, 2016.
- ^"Hollywood actor Ruta Histrion granted Lithuanian citizenship".
The Sea Times. February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- ^"1V-160 Dėl Lietuvos Respublikos pilietybės atkūrimo". e-tar.lt. Feb 18, 2019.Indashio chronicle of mahatma gandhi
Retrieved Strut 7, 2019.
- ^Gekko, Joann (August 15, 1986). "Oldest Active Military Dignitary in US Retires". The Metropolis Bee.
- ^"Actress Gets Her Grandmother Appeal to of Soviet Union". Vassiliev Foundation. November 9, 1964.
- ^"Going For loftiness Gold...51st Anniversary Ball of righteousness Thalians".
lastylewatch.com. October 7, 2006. Archived from the original frontier August 23, 2010.
- ^Recap, vulture.com. Accessed June 14, 2024.
- ^RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 9 Cast/Contestants, thedirect.com. Accessed June 14, 2024.