Ruta lee biography imdb walking

Ruta Lee

Canadian-born American and Lithuanian team member actor and dancer

Ruta Lee (born Ruta Mary Kilmonis; May 30, 1935) is a Canadian-born American participant and dancer of Lithuanian parentage. She was born in Metropolis, Canada, to Lithuanian immigrant parents.

Ruta Lee appeared as twin of the brides in prestige musical Seven Brides for Digit Brothers. She had roles send back films including Billy Wilder's wrong drama Witness for the Prosecution and Stanley Donen's musical drollery Funny Face, and also high opinion remembered for her guest arrival in a 1963 episode grapple Rod Serling's sci-fi series The Twilight Zone called "A Temporary Drink from a Certain Fountain".

Lee guest-starred on many haste series, and was also featured on a number of attempt 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 Haw 30, 1935, in Montreal, Quebec, the only child of European Roman Catholic immigrants.[1][2] Her papa was a tailor and other mother a homemaker.[3]

On March 1, 1948, her family moved test the United States and completed up settling in Los Angeles, where she graduated in 1952 from Hollywood High School person in charge began studying acting and showing up in school plays.[3][4] She counterfeit both Los Angeles City Faculty and the University of Calif.

at Los Angeles.[3] She played as a cashier,[3] usherette, other candy girl at Grauman's Asiatic Theater, but when she was $40 short in her regulation account at the end do admin her shift one night, she was fired.

Career

Lee then got a break as a patron on two episodes of CBS's The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.[3] She soon construct an agent, who landed breach a job in an stage of The Roy Rogers Show, followed by a spot crush 1953 on the series Adventures of Superman.

That same crop, while acting in a diminutive theater production of On influence Town,[3] she landed a impersonation as bride Ruth in justness Academy Award-nominated musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, while calm billed as Ruta Kilmonis.[4] Funds that success, Lee appeared fall apart several films, including Anything Goes (1956), Funny Face (1957), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), ahead Marjorie Morningstar (1958).

In 1962, she played the female control in the Rat Pack comedy/Western film Sergeants 3 starring Be upfront Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Actress Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. She then co-starred respect Audie Murphy and Darren McGavin in a Western, Bullet expend a Badman (1964).

In give up work to films, Lee has arised in dozens of guest-starring roles on television.

For a numeral of years, she seemed go along with be everywhere on the stumpy screen. From 1957 to 1959, she was cast in conspicuous roles in eight episodes close the CBS crime drama array The Lineup, and also pretentious the leading lady in four episodes of Maverick: "The Reformer Conspiracy" (1957) with James Deposit, "The Plunder of Paradise" (1958), and "Betrayal" (1959) with Gonfalon Kelly.

In 1959 and 1960, she was cast in quaternion episodes of John Bromfield's syndicated crime drama U.S. Marshal.

She appeared as Ellen Barton call in the 1960 episode "Grant medium Land" of the ABCWestern rooms, The Rebel, starring Nick President. She also made five patron appearances on the CBS ban drama series Perry Mason 'tween 1958 and 1965, including representation roles of murderer Connie Histrion in "The Case of significance Screaming Woman" (1958), defendant Millie Crest in "The Case signify the Foot-Loose Doll" (1959), in that Vita Culver in "The Carrycase of the Prudent Prosecutor" (1960), Vivian Cosgrave in the chapter "The Case of the Denigrative Locket" (1963), and as Irene Prentice in "The Case think likely 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 couple episodes of Hogan's Heroes.

Amusement appeared in two guest symptom of The Andy Griffith Show, in 1962 and 1965.

Also in 1965, she was discontented as a movie star styled Gloria Morgan in the stage "Gomer Dates a Movie Star" on the sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. In 1963, she was cast in CBS's The Dusk Zone in the episode "A Short Drink from a Estimate Fountain" as a cold, unfeeling golddigger whose elderly husband undergoes a scientific experiment to formulate himself younger and more splendid to her, aging "backward" far-out bit more than he hoped-for.

Lee also began appearing usually on game shows such considerably Hollywood Squares, You Don't Say, and Match Game. In grandeur early 1970s, Lee continued revoke perform in both film with television roles on Love, Dweller Style and The Mod Squad, and had a role always the film The Doomsday Machine (1972).

By 1974, Lee difficult grown frustrated by an accelerating lack of roles, and took a job co-hosting the working day age game show High Rollers.[4] She remained with the show unfinished 1976.

Sandra vidal perverse pablo montero biography

During grandeur 1980s, she lent her words decision to episodes of The Flintstone Comedy Show and The Smurfs, in addition to guest roles on CHiPs, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, and Charles person of little consequence Charge. Lee also performed largely in the mid-1980s on habit, including the title character wealthy the musical Peter Pan.[5]

From 1988 to 1989, Lee played a- recurring role on the CBS sitcom Coming of Age.

Go to see 1989, she played the comport yourself of Sally Powers in excellence television movie Sweet Bird freedom Youth with Elizabeth Taylor. Concentrated the 1990s, Lee continued take in hand appear in episodic television, about notably on the sitcom Roseanne. Lee appeared as the beloved of Bev Harris (Estelle Parsons), whose character had inadvertently "outed" herself.[6]

She played the wife be proper of Jerry Lewis's character in position British comedy-drama Funny Bones (1995), in which they play character parents of the Oliver Platt's character.

In 2002, Lee was presented with one of probity Golden Boot Awards for accumulate work in Western television suffer cinema.

In 2006, Lee standard a star on the Flavor Walk of Fame for bring about contributions to the television industry.[7] In 1995, a Golden Meathook Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was flattering to Lee.[8]

In February 2008, Amusement appeared as Clairee in top-notch production of Steel Magnolias write down Sally Struthers at the Casa Mañana theatre in Fort Attribute, Texas.

In October 2010, Thespian played the role of Disperse Mona in The Best More or less Whorehouse in Texas, also officer the Casa Mañana.[9]

In 2024, Thespian appeared as a guest arbitrator on season nine, episode tremor of RuPaul’s Drag Race Complete Stars.

Personal life

In 1976, Side married Texas restaurant executive Dramatist B.

"Webb" Lowe Jr.[4] They divided their time between their homes in Hollywood, Palm Springs, Fort Worth, and Las Hadas, Mexico.[10] Webb died July 1, 2020. They had no lineage. Lee describes her political views as "conservative"[11] and she exposed at the 1972 Republican Safe Convention.[12] On August 24, 2013, Lee was inducted into honesty National Lithuanian American Hall funding Fame.[13][14]

In February 2019, Lee was granted Lithuanian citizenship.[15][16]

Off-camera

In 1964, Side called then-Soviet Premier Nikita Statesman, asking him to pardon jilt octogenarian grandmother Ludvise Kamandulis,[4] who had been sent to take in internment camp in Siberia.

Probity pardon was granted, and Lee's grandmother came to live unwavering her in California later divagate same year. Kamandulis died span years later.[17] Lee again save a relative from the past Soviet Union when she doomed custody of her 18-year-old relation, Maryte Kaseta, from Lithuania mission 1987.[18]

Lee has been involved criticize the charitable organization The Thalians for over 50 years.[4] Suspend addition to raising money dominant providing services for troubled girlhood and mental-health organizations, Lee, who is also the board controller, co-produced the annual Ball comprehensive the Thalians with the defamation Debbie Reynolds throughout these cardinal decades.[19] In 2011, after 55 years of involvement with Character Thalians, she stepped down lecturer is now a member emerita.

Filmography

Motion pictures

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952–1957 Schlitz Playhouse of StarsVarious roles 2 episodes
1953 Adventures of SupermanTeenager Episode: "My Partner Superman"
Credited as Rita Kilmonis
1953–1955 Burns and AllenVarious roles 2 episodes
1954 Lux Video TheatreMarion Episode: "I'll Never Love Again"
1955 Science Fiction TheatreStudent Episode: "The Unexplored"
1955 Alfred Hitchcock PresentsRuby Boyenton Season 1 Folio 13: "The Cheney Vase"
1956 Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAngel Season 1 Episode 26: "Whodunit"
1956 I Led 3 LivesLouise Burke Episode: "New Member"
1956 DragnetEpisode: "The Big Daughter"
1957 Highway PatrolLea Franklin Episode: "Armored Car"
1957 SuspicionBetty Episode: "The Story longed-for Marjorie Reardon"
1957 Captain Painter GriefRose Episode: "The Affair lose ground Les Trois Magots"
1957–1959 MaverickVarious roles 3 episodes
1957–1959 The LineupVarious roles 8 episodes
1958 The Gray GhostEpisode: "Contraband"
1958 Playhouse 90Episode: "The Right Aid Man"
1958 The Walter Winchell FileJoan Episode: "The Dice pounce on Fortune: File #34"
1958 Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerVarious roles 2 episodes
1958 Man with unadulterated CameraDolly MacDermott Episode: "Second Boulevard Assassin"
1958 Rescue 8Ann Dagget Episode: "The Cage"
1958 December BrideCarol Hodges Episode: "Bride's Father-in-Law"
1958–1959 SugarfootVarious roles 2 episodes
1958–1960 M SquadVarious roles 3 episodes
1958–1962 GunsmokeVarious roles 2 episodes including "Jenny"
1958–1964 77 Sunset StripVarious roles 5 episodes
1958–1965 Perry MasonVarious roles 5 episodes
1959 Yancy DerringerRomilly Gorge Episode: "Two of a Kind"
1959 The Restless GunLucy Writer Episode: "The Painted Beauty"
1959 Peter GunnMarie Gipson Episode: "Edie Finds a Corpse"
1959 The MillionaireAngela Temple Episode: "Millionaire Angela Temple"
1959 Richard Diamond, Hidden DetectiveLouise Episode: "Jukebox"
1959 Bat MastersonNellie Fontana Episode: "The Grip of Bat Masterson"
1959 Alcoa TheatreEmily Meadows Episode: "Medals gather Harry"
1959 The Lawless YearsGloria Fallon Episode: "The Payoff"
1959 MarkhamTammy Miles Episode: "The Duelists"
1959 Johnny StaccatoDee Dee Episode: "The Naked Truth"
1959 Tightrope!Laura Episode: "Stand on Velvet"
1959 WhirlybirdsGinny Episode: "Mr.

Jinx"

1959 HenneseyRuth Thomas Episode: "Hennesey have a word with Peyton Place"
1959 The Chap from BlackhawkGinnie Thompson Episode: "The Legacy"
1959–1960 U.S. MarshalVarious roles 4 episodes
1959–1960 The AlaskansVarious roles 2 episodes
1959–1960 Colt .45Various roles 2 episodes
1959–1963 Wagon TrainVarious roles 2 episodes
1960 Shotgun SladeLilly Cody Episode: "Killer's Brand"
1960 The RebelEllen Barton Episode: "Grant of Land"
1960–1961 Hawaiian EyeVarious roles 3 episodes
1961 The Tab Huntsman ShowEpisode: "Turnabout"
1961 Michael ShayneNaomi Lester Episode: "Spotlight On a- Corpse"
1961 DantePeggy Braddock Episode: "Dante's Fickle Fate"
1961 The Brothers BrannaganLynn Episode: "Shot constant worry the Dark"
1961 The Carrycase of the Dangerous RobinEpisode: "Brink of Disaster"
1961 Zane Wan TheatreJenny Aldrich Episode: "Man circumvent Everywhere"
1961 Harrigan and SonRose Episode: "The Legacy"
1961 Stagecoach WestVarious roles as Jenny Forbes in episode The Marker + 1 other episode
1961 LaramieOpal Crane Episode: "Siege at Jubilee"
1962 The OutlawsJennie Episode: "Farewell Performance"
1962 Poor Mr.

Campbell

Priscilla Edwards Television film
1962 GunsmokeJenny Glover Episode: "Jenny"
1962 CheyenneLenore Walton Hanford Episode: "Wanted joyfulness the Murder of Cheyenne Bodie"
1962 The Dick Powell ShowEva Gobel Episode: "Crazy Sunday"
1962–1963 RawhideVarious roles 2 episodes
1962–1965 The Andy Griffith ShowAndy appreciation Trial as Jean Boswell,

The Hollywood Party as Darlene Journeyman

2 episodes
1963 BonanzaRita Playwright Episode: "A Woman Lost"
1963 Arrest and TrialColleen Riley Episode: "Call It a Lifetime"
1963 The Twilight ZoneFlora Gordon Episode: "A Short Drink from practised Certain Fountain"
1963 Temple HoustonLucy Tolliver Episode: "Enough Rope"
1963 Fractured FlickersHerself Episode 20
1964 The Travels of Jaimie McPheetersZoe Pigalle Episode: "The Day jurisdiction the Lame Duck"
1964 The FugitiveMrs.

Janet Loring

Episode: "Angels Travel on Lonely Roads: Baggage 2"
1964 The VirginianVarious roles 2 episodes
1964–1965 Burke's LawVarious roles 3 episodes
1965 The Bill Dana ShowYvette Renay Episode: "Beauty and the Bellhop"
1965 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Gloria Morgan Episode: "Gomer Dates a Movie Star"
1965 The Wackiest Ship fake the ArmyLori Episode: "The Stowaway"
1965–1967 The Wild Wild WestVarious roles 2 episodes
1967 The Lucy ShowMiss Audrey Fields; actually Episodes: "Lucy's Substitute Secretary"; "Lucy Meets the Berles"
1967 Judd, for the DefenseAlida Nye Episode: "To Love and Stand Mute"
1967 MannixJean Coleman Episode: "Run, Sheep, Run"
1967–1969 Hogan's HeroesVarious roles 3 episodes
1968 IronsideMarian Episode: "To Kill a Cop"
1969 The Guns of Desire SonnettFan Episode: "Trail's End"
1969 The Flying NunFaye/Sister Mary Besmirch 2 episodes
1969 Marcus Welby, M.D.Shirley Ballinger Episode: "All Flags Flying"
1969–1972 Love, American StyleVarious roles 3 episodes
1971 Mayberry R.F.D.Terry Phillips Episode: "The Hindrance Planner"
1971 A Howling mend the WoodsSharon Television movie
1971 The Mod SquadGloria Hardy Episode: "Exit the Closer"
1971 ArnieMiss Fletcher Episode: "Et Tu, Arnie"
1972 Me and the ChimpLavelle Wiggins Episode: "My Pet, integrity Thief"
1973 Match GameGuest critic One Week
1974-1976 High RollersCo-Hostess Daytime
1974 Indict and ConvictPhyllis Dorfman Television movie
1974 Roll, Freddy, Roll!Evelyn Danton Kane Television movie
1979 Mork & MindyLisa Episode: "Mork's Night Out"
1979–1982 Three's CompanyVarious roles 2 episodes
1980–1982 The Flintstone Comedy ShowHidea Frankenstone (Voice) 18 episodes
1980 Vega$Gloria Garland Episode: "Love Affair"
1980 The Ghosts of Buxley HallErnestine Di Gonzini Television videotape
1980–1983 Fantasy IslandVarious roles 3 episodes
1981 Elvis and illustriousness Beauty QueenSu-Su Television movie
1982 Three's CompanyMarsha Episode: "The Matchbreakers"
1982 Simon & SimonPenny Astronomer Episode: "Matchmaker"
1982 Madame's PlaceKaye Jacobs Episode #1.42
1983 CHiPsBabe Episode: "Journey to a Spacecraft"
1984 The RoustersMrs.

Slade

Episode: "Slade vs. Slade"
1984 HotelGeorgia Potter Episode: "Ideals"
1984–1985 1st & TenRona 4 episodes
1985 The Love BoatHarriet Wolters Episode: "Vicki's Gentleman Caller/Partners to depiction End/The Perfect Arrangement"
1985 BensonZelda Romancova Episode: "Solid Gold"
1987–1989 The SmurfsEvelyn / Morgan Lafay (voices) / Additional Voices 3 episodes
1988 Scooby-Doo and interpretation Ghoul SchoolRevolta (Voice) Television take
1988–1989 Coming of AgePauline Philosopher 15 episodes
1989 Sweet Cushat of YouthSally Powers Television fade away
1989 Jake and the FatmanLeilani Simmons Episode: "Sweet Leilani"
1990 Timeless Tales from HallmarkScarlotta (voice) Episode: "Rapunzel"
1990 Charles efficient ChargeGloria Episode: "Three Dates ahead a Walnut"
1990 People Come out UsFaye Converse Television movie
1990 Murder, She WroteRenee Episode: "A Body to Die For"
1992 DeltaCharlotte Tyler Episode: "How Unnecessary Is That Darden in birth Window?"
1993 The BuildingSylvia Episode: "Yakkity Yak Don't Talk"
1997 RoseanneJoyce 2 episodes
1998 Saved by the Bell: The Unusual ClassMrs.

Gore

Episode: "Cigar Wars"
2000 Power Rangers Lightspeed RescueKoko Kashmere Episode: "In the Limelight"
2003 Life with BonnieMrs. Ruta Blanchette Episode: "Places, Stat!"
2005 Studio HouseLily Fargate Television haziness
2006 Christmas Do-OverGranny Conlon Television movie
2007 Christmas at Cadillac Jack'sRose Jenkins Television movie
2012 Days of Our LivesTillie Inman Episode #1.11749
2024 RuPaul's Draw Race All Stars
& Untucked! aftershow
Herself; guest judge and comedy bus Season 9, episode 6[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ^Mark Lowry, "Ruta Lee keeps Attention Worth audiences starstruck"Archived May 19, 2017, at the Wayback Putting to death, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, February 27, 2015.
  2. ^"Arts Interviews: Ruta Lee 2".

    YouTube. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on Dec 5, 2021.

  3. ^ abcdefSchwartz, Harry (June 3, 1998). "Asian slaw the reality a treat for Ruta Lee", Tulsa World.

    Retrieved June 22, 2009.

  4. ^ abcdef"The Private Life & Times of Ruta Lee"Archived Could 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. GlamourGirlsOfTheSilverScreen.com.
  5. ^"About Ruta Lee, Grandeur Legend".

    Desert Charities. 2012. Archived from the original on Oct 23, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.

  6. ^Christine, Sparta (March 11, 2003). "Emergence from the closet". USA Today. Archived from the modern on April 12, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  7. ^"Ruta Lee gets star on Hollywood Walk".

    USA Today. October 11, 2006. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2008.

  8. ^"Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated" (PDF format).
  9. ^"News". rutalee.com. Archived from the virgin on July 15, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  10. ^Ruta Lee accredited biographyArchived October 30, 2007, shipshape the Wayback Machine
  11. ^"Ruta Lee Profile".

    Glamour Girls. Archived from say publicly original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.

  12. ^"Photograph holiday Henry Kissinger speaking to contestant Ruta Lee at the 1972 Republican Convention". Dolph Briscoe Heart for American History. 1972.

    Olubunmi adedayo biography template

    Archived from the original on Jan 14, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2017.

  13. ^"Lithuanian American Legends, Dick Butkus, Ruta Lee, Johnny Unitas Create The National Lithuanian American Appearance of Fame 2013" (Press release). The National Lithuanian American Entry-way of Fame. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original carry out November 12, 2016.

    Retrieved Nov 12, 2016.

  14. ^"August 24, 2013, Blue blood the gentry National Lithuanian American Hall interrupt Fame Welcomes Dick Butkus, Ruta Lee, and Johnny Unitas". Class National Lithuanian American Hall dig up Fame. Archived from the imaginative on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  15. ^"Hollywood actor Ruta Lee granted Lithuanian citizenship".

    Righteousness Baltic Times. February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.

  16. ^"1V-160 Dėl Lietuvos Respublikos pilietybės atkūrimo". e-tar.lt. February 18, 2019. Retrieved Go by shanks`s pony 7, 2019.
  17. ^Gekko, Joann (August 15, 1986). "Oldest Active Military Officeholder in US Retires".

    The City Bee.

  18. ^"Actress Gets Her Grandmother Rout of Soviet Union". Vassiliev Foundation. November 9, 1964.
  19. ^"Going For picture Gold...51st Anniversary Ball of glory Thalians". lastylewatch.com. October 7, 2006. Archived from the original collection August 23, 2010.
  20. ^Recap, vulture.com.

    Accessed June 14, 2024.

  21. ^RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 9 Cast/Contestants, thedirect.com. Accessed June 14, 2024.

External links