Rutanya Alda

Rutanya Alda (born Rūta Skrastiņa; October 13, 1942) is a Latvian-American actress.

Rutanya Alda
Born
Rūta Skrastiņa

(1942-10-13) October 13, 1942 (age 81)
Other namesRuth Alda, Ruth Avots, Rutanya Skrastiņa
OccupationActress
Years active1968–present
Spouse(s)
Richard Bright
(m. 1977; died 2006)
Children1

Life

Rutanya Alda was born Rūta Skrastiņa in Riga, in German-occupied Latvia, the daughter of Vera (née Ozoliņa), a businesswoman, and Jānis Skrastiņš, a poet.[1] Alda, her grandmother, her mother and her brother spent seven years in a refugee camp in Allied-occupied Germany after World War II.[2] She then moved with her family to the United States, briefly living in Chicago before settling in Flagstaff, Arizona.[2]

Career

She began her career in the late 1960s, and went on to have supporting movie roles in The Deer Hunter (1978), Rocky II (1979), and Mommie Dearest (1981). She also appeared in a lead role in the horror movies Amityville II: The Possession and Girls Nite Out (both 1982).[3] She was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies) as "Worst Supporting Actress" two years in succession (1982 and 1983) for Mommie Dearest and Amityville II: The Possession. She has also won a Clio Award and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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.[4] They had one son, Jeremy.

Filmography

Movies

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 movie
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 Anne
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 movie
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 movie
1996 Double Jeopardy Gabriel Neuland Television movie
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 movie
2004 Murder Without Conviction Virginia McAlpin Television movie
2005 Mystery Woman: Snapshot Marsha Television movie
2005 Detective Judge Beatrice Agannis Television movie
2009 Handsome Harry Mrs. Schroeder
2009 Stolen Older Sally Ann
2010 You Don't Know Jack Vendor Television movie
2010 Unring the Bell Belle Short movie
2011 Return Mrs. Miller
2011 Too Big to Fail Admiral Evans Television movie
2014 Late Phases Gloria Baker
2015 Ovum Barbara
2016 Split Melissa

Television series

Web

References

  1. Rutanya Alda Biography
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Overcoming Adversity: Actress & Author Rutanya Alda Grew Up In WWII Refugee Camp". HooplaHa. YouTube. March 8, 2016.
  3. 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.
  4. Grossberg, Josh (February 21, 2006). ""Godfather" Actor Richard Bright Killed". E! News. Retrieved October 20, 2017.

Other websites