Rutanya Alda
Rutanya Alda (born Rūta Skrastiņa; October 13, 1942) is a Latvian-American actress.
Rutanya Alda | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rūta Skrastiņa October 13, 1942 |
| Other names | Ruth Alda, Ruth Avots, Rutanya Skrastiņa |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
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
- Cannon (1 episode, 1973) – Mrs. Degnan
- ABC Weekend Specials (1986) – Mrs. Linderman
- Spenser: For Hire (1987) – Estelle
- Beauty and the Beast (1988) – Sarah / Mary
- Santa Barbara (5 episodes, 1990) – Mabel Beaufort
- Tales from the Crypt (1991) – Mildred
- Law & Order (2 episodes, 1992-2008) – Ruth Devon / Sara Cheney
- Silk Stalkings (1995) – Jennifer Atkins
- Gun (1997) – Clara Munday
- To Have & to Hold (1998) – Ms. McDougall
- Judging Amy (2001) – Celia Loomis
- John Doe (2002) – Cassie Barker
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (episode "In the Dark", 2004) – Rose
- Mystery Woman (2005) – Marsha
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2005) – Faye Matthews
- Cold Case (2006) – Jenny
Web
- Old Dogs & New Tricks (2014–16) – Barbara Fiere
References
- Rutanya Alda Biography
- "Overcoming Adversity: Actress & Author Rutanya Alda Grew Up In WWII Refugee Camp". HooplaHa. YouTube. March 8, 2016.
- 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.
- Grossberg, Josh (February 21, 2006). ""Godfather" Actor Richard Bright Killed". E! News. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
Other websites
- Rutanya Alda on IMDb
- Rutanya Alda at AllMovie