Zelda Rubinstein
Zelda Rubinstein | |
---|---|
Born | Zelda May Rubinstein May 28, 1933 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | January 27, 2010 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 76)
Alma mater | |
Occupation(s) | Actress, human rights activist |
Years active | 1978–2010 |
Zelda May Rubinstein
Early life
Rubinstein was born in
She stood just 4 feet 3 inches (1.30 m) tall
Rubinstein won a
Acting career
In 1978, Zelda decided to pursue an acting career. She studied acting at the University of California. Poltergeist was her first major film role.
Film critic Pauline Kael, who essentially dismissed Poltergeist as an "entertaining hash", held special praise for Rubinstein's portrayal of the psychic Tangina, saying she "gives the movie new life and makes a large chunk of it work."[11]
She remained active in film and television thereafter, frequently portraying various
Rubinstein's other film roles included Sixteen Candles, Under the Rainbow, Cages, Teen Witch, The Wildcard, Southland Tales and National Lampoon's Last Resort. She also contributed voice-over work for TV including Hey Arnold!, and The Flintstones. She made numerous guest appearances on network TV shows, including Caroline in the City, Martin, Mr. Belvedere, and had a starring role as Ginny Weedon in the TV series Picket Fences. Her character there was killed off in typical off-beat fashion, by falling into a freezer early in the third season. She also appeared in an episode of Tales From The Crypt in which she played the mother of a girl who has been dead for 40 years.
She also starred in two different roles on Santa Barbara in 1984 and in 1990.
Beginning in 1999, she did
Human rights and activism
Rubinstein became active in the fight against
Death
Rubinstein died in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2010. She was 76. Eric Stevens, Rubinstein's agent for four years, said the actress never recovered from a mild heart attack several months earlier, which he said had left her a patient at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles. "She had several pre-existing conditions that she had been dealing with for years, and unfortunately they began to overtake her," Stevens said. Stevens also said that per Rubinstein's request, no funeral would be held.[12]
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Americathon | Act | |
1981 | Under the Rainbow | Iris | |
1982 | Poltergeist | Tangina Barrons | Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
1982 | Frances | Mental Patient | Credited as Zelda Rubenstein |
1983 | A Chip of Glass Ruby | Daughter | |
1984 | Sixteen Candles | Organist | |
1986 | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Tangina Barrons | Nominated-Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress |
1987 | Anguish | Alice Pressman, the Mother | Alternative title: Angustia |
1988 | Poltergeist III | Tangina Barrons | Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated-Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress |
1989 | Teen Witch | Madame Serena Alcott | |
1991 | Guilty as Charged | Edna | |
1994 | National Lampoon's Last Resort | Old Hermit | Alternative titles: Last Resort, National Lampoon's Scuba School |
1995 | Timemaster | Betting Clerk | |
1996 | Lover's Knot | Woman in Clinic | |
1996 | Little Witches | Mother Clodah | |
1997 | Mama Dolly | Mama Dolly | |
1997 | Critics and Other Freaks | Theatre Director | |
1998 | Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights | Princess Shalazar | |
1999 | Frank in Five | Waitress | |
2000 | Maria & Jose | Doctor | |
2002 | Wishcraft | Medical Examiner | |
2004 | The Wild Card | Mrs. Stanfield | Direct-to-DVD release |
2005 | Cages | Liz | |
2005 | Angels with Angles | Zelda the Angel | |
2006 | Unbeatable Harold | Bunny | |
2006 | Southland Tales | Dr. Katarina Kuntzler | |
2006 | Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon | Mrs. Collinwood | Cameo |
2014 | Strange Matters | Agnes Sampson | Posthumous release (final film role) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Flintstone Comedy Show | Atrocia Frankenstone (Voice) | 1 episode |
1983 | Jennifer Slept Here | 1 episode | |
1983 | Matt Houston | Flower Girl | 1 episode |
1984 | Whiz Kids | Madame Zerleena | 1 episode |
1984 | Santa Barbara | Mental Patient | 1 episode |
1986 | ABC Weekend Special | Ralph's Mother | 1 episode |
1987 | The Tortellis | 1 episode | |
1987 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Old Woman | 1 episode |
1987 | Reading Rainbow | Herself (Voice) | 1 episode |
1987 | Sable | Sister Glory | 1 episode |
1990 | Santa Barbara | Gladys Bittleworth, ghost psychic | 5 episodes |
1990 | Mr. Belvedere | Murphy | 1 episode |
1991 | Darkwing Duck | Darkwing Duck's Mother / Negaduck's Mother | 1 episode |
1991 | The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
|
Butterfingers O'Malley | Television movie |
1992 | Stormy Weathers
|
Rosamund | Television movie |
1992 | Goof Troop | Madame Zeldarina | 1 episode |
1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Nora | 1 episode |
1992–1994 | Picket Fences | Ginny Weedon | 44 episodes |
1993 | Acting on Impulse
|
Nosy Lady | Television movie |
1996 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | Christina | 1 episode |
1997 | Martin | Nurse Froyd | 1 episode |
1997 | Chock 2 - Kött | Mother | Television movie |
1998 | Caroline in the City | Phyllis | 1 episode |
1999 | Hey Arnold! | Patty's Mother (Voice) | 1 episode |
2000 | The Pretender | Pawn shop lady | 1 episode |
2000–2006 | Scariest Places on Earth | Narrator | 41 episodes |
2001 | The Flintstones: On the Rocks | Dr. Schwartzen Quartz (Voice) | Television movie |
References
- ^ "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (January 27, 2010). "Zelda Rubinstein, who played psychic in 'Poltergeist', dies at 76". kdvr.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Obituary London Independent, April 22, 2010.
- ^ a b Broverman, Neal (January 27, 2010). "Poltergeist Star and HIV Activist Zelda Rubinstein Dies at Age 77". Shewired.com. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- ^ a b Rizzo, Frank (February 2, 2010). ""Poltergeist"'s Zelda Rubinstein Dies; Starred in Hartford Project". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ "FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f McLellan, Dennis (January 28, 2010). "Zelda Rubinstein dies at 76; actress played psychic in 'Poltergeist'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
- ^ Thomas-Matej, Elisabeth (2002). "What's in a Diagnosis? A Medical Biography of Michael Dunn". NCTC.net. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
- ^ "Zelda Rubinstein, Iota - University of Pittsburgh". Phisigmasigma.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-250-03357-4.
- ^ a b "'Poltergeist' actress dies at age 76". CNN. January 28, 2010.
- ^ "Actress Zelda Rubinstein taken off life support | LGBT POV". January 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
External links
- Zelda Rubinstein at IMDb