Rutanya Alda

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Rutanya Alda
Born
Rūta Skrastiņa

(1942-10-13) October 13, 1942 (age 82)
Riga, Reichskommissariat Ostland
Other namesRuth Alda, Ruth Avots, Rutanya Skrastiņa
Alma materNorthern Arizona University
OccupationActress
Years active1968–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1977; died 2006)​
Children1

Rutanya Alda (born Rūta Skrastiņa; October 13, 1942) is a Latvian-American actress. She began her career in the late 1960s, and went on to have supporting parts in The Deer Hunter (1978), Rocky II (1979), and Mommie Dearest (1981). She also appeared in a lead role in the horror films Amityville II: The Possession and Girls Nite Out (both 1982).

Life

Rutanya Alda was born Rutanja Skrastiņa (Rūta Skrastiņa) in

displaced persons camp in Allied-occupied Germany after World War II.[2] She then relocated with her family to the United States, briefly living in Chicago before settling in Flagstaff, Arizona.[2]

Alda studied at Northern Arizona University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.[3][4] She stated in later interviews that she chose to study economics as "a way of pleasing my mother, who wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer. Economics was considered a pre-law degree at the time. I wanted to be an actress, from the age of 5, when I saw my first play and movie, in the displaced person camps. I never wavered from this passion."[4]

Career

Alda studied acting with

Golden Raspberry Award for two years in succession (1982 and 1983) for the latter roles. She has also won a Clio and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Alda has appeared in numerous television programs, such as Cold Case and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as a featured character in the Ron Perlman/Linda Hamilton TV series Beauty and the Beast, as well as commercials and stage work.[citation needed
]

In 2009, she appeared in

Stolen, playing the elder version of Jessica Chastain's character, and had a supporting role in the horror film Late Phases (2014). Between 2014 and 2016, Alda appeared in the web series Old Dogs & New Tricks.[citation needed
]

Personal life

She was married to actor Richard Bright from 1977 until his death in 2006, when he was hit by a bus in New York City.[6] They had one son named Jeremy.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Greetings Linda (Shoplifter)
1970 Hi, Mom! Member of audience ('Be Black Baby' section)
1970 The People Next Door Nurse
1971 The Panic in Needle Park Admitting Nurse
1973 The Long Goodbye Rutanya Sweet
1973 Scarecrow Woman in Camper
1973 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Ruthie Lee
1973 Blume in Love Welfare Client Uncredited
1974 Can Ellen Be Saved? Rachael Television film
1976 Deadly Hero
1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Party Guest Uncredited
1976 Swashbuckler Bath Attendant
1978
The Fury
 Kristen
1978 The Deer Hunter Angela
1979 Rocky II Doctor Cooper
1979 When a Stranger Calls Mrs. Mandrakis
1980 Christmas Evil Theresa Credited as Ratanya Alda
1981 Mommie Dearest Carol Ann
1982 Girls Nite Out Barney / Katie Cavanaugh
1982 Amityville II: The Possession Dolores Montelli
1983 Vigilante Vickie Marino
1984 Racing with the Moon Mrs. Nash
1985 Rappin' Cecilia
1985 The Stuff Psychologist
1987 Black Widow Irene
1987 Hotshot Georgia Kristidis
1988 Apprentice to Murder Elma Kelly
1988 Winnie Mrs. Paretti Television film
1989 Last Exit to Brooklyn Georgette's Mother
1989
Gross Anatomy
 Mama Slovak
1989 Prancer Aunt Sarah
1990 Rainbow Drive Marge Crawford Television film
1992 Article 99 Ann Travis
1992 Leaving Normal Palmer Hospital Nurse
1993 The Dark Half Miriam Cowley
1993 Children of the Mist Sue Madehearst
1994 The Ref Linda
1994 Safe Passage Beth
1996 Innocent Victims Lorraine Taylor Television film
1996 Double Jeopardy Gabriel Neuland Television film
1997 American Perfekt Gloria
1997 Steel Mrs. Hunt
1998 The Souler Opposite Thea's Mom
2001 My First Mister Woman at Apartment
2001 The Glass House Vice Principal
2003 Love Comes Softly Wanda Marshall Television film
2004 Murder Without Conviction Virginia McAlpin Television film
2005 Mystery Woman: Snapshot Marsha Television film
2005 Detective Judge Beatrice Agannis Television film
2009 Handsome Harry Mrs. Schroeder
2009
Stolen
 Older Sally Ann
2010 You Don't Know Jack Vendor Television film
2010 Unring the Bell Belle Short film
2011 Return Mrs. Miller
2011 Too Big to Fail Admiral Evans Television film
2014 Late Phases Gloria Baker
2015 Ovum Barbara
2016 Split Melissa
2024 Land of the Mustaches self

Select television roles

Web

References

  1. ^ Rutanya Alda Biography
  2. ^ a b "Overcoming Adversity: Actress & Author Rutanya Alda Grew Up In WWII Refugee Camp". HooplaHa. YouTube. March 8, 2016.
  3. ^
    Cengage. Archived
    from the original on May 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Northrup, Tony (March 10, 2016). "Rutanya Alda – Interview". Through the Black Hole. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Rupe, Shade (October 9, 2015). "Exclusive Interview: Rutanya Alda on AMITYVILLE II, Brian De Palma and the Horrors of MOMMIE DEAREST". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  6. ^ Grossberg, Josh (February 21, 2006). ""Godfather" Actor Richard Bright Killed". E! News. Retrieved October 20, 2017.

Further reading

  • "The Lady of the House" by Lee Gambin, Fangoria magazine #317, October 2012, pages 56–57, 97. Interview of Rutanya Alda regarding her role in Amityville II: The Possession. Three-page article has four photos of Alda, one recent, with additional images related to the film.
  • David Dye. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 4.
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