Ruta Lee

Last updated

Ruta Lee
RutaLeeDec09.jpg
Ruta Lee attending ceremony for Leslie Caron's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, December 8, 2009
Born
Ruta Mary Kilmonis

(1935-05-30) May 30, 1935 (age 88)
Alma mater Los Angeles City College
UCLA
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer
Years active1953–present
Spouse
Webster B. Lowe Jr.
(m. 1976;died 2020)
Website rutalee.com

Ruta Lee (born Ruta Mary Kilmonis; May 30, 1935) is a Canadian-American-Lithuanian actress and dancer who appeared as one of the brides in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers . She had roles in films including Billy Wilder's crime drama Witness for the Prosecution and Stanley Donen's musical comedy Funny Face , and also is remembered for her guest appearance in a 1963 episode of Rod Serling's sci-fi series The Twilight Zone called "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain."

Contents

Lee guest-starred on many television series, and was also featured on a number of game 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 May 30, 1935, in Montreal, Quebec, the only child of Lithuanian Roman Catholic immigrants. [1] [2] Her father was a tailor and her mother a homemaker. [3]

On March 1, 1948, her family moved to the United States and ended up settling in Los Angeles, where she graduated in 1952 from Hollywood High School and began studying acting and appearing in school plays. [3] [4] She attended both Los Angeles City College and the University of California at Los Angeles. [3] She worked as a cashier, [3] usherette, and candy girl at Grauman's Chinese Theater, but when she was $40 short in her cash account at the end of her shift one night, she was fired. [5]

Career

Lee c.1960 RUTALee.jpg
Lee c.1960

Lee then got a break as a guest on two episodes of CBS's The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show . [3] She soon found an agent, who landed her a job in an episode of The Roy Rogers Show , followed by a spot in 1953 on the series Adventures of Superman . That same year, while acting in a small theater production of On the Town , [3] she landed a role as bride Ruth in the Academy Award-nominated musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , while still billed as Ruta Kilmonis. [4] After that success, Lee appeared in several films, including Anything Goes (1956), Funny Face (1957), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Marjorie Morningstar (1958). In 1962, she played the female lead in the Rat Pack comedy/Western film Sergeants 3 starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. She then co-starred with Audie Murphy and Darren McGavin in a Western, Bullet for a Badman (1964).

In addition to films, Lee has appeared in dozens of guest-starring roles on television. For a number of years, she seemed to be everywhere on the small screen. From 1957 to 1959, she was cast in different roles in eight episodes of the CBS crime drama series The Lineup , and also played the leading lady in three episodes of Maverick : "The Comstock Conspiracy" (1957) with James Garner, "The Plunder of Paradise" (1958), and "Betrayal" (1959) with Jack Kelly. In 1959 and 1960, she was cast in four episodes of John Bromfield's syndicated crime drama U.S. Marshal .

She appeared as Ellen Barton in the 1960 episode "Grant of Land" of the ABC Western series, The Rebel , starring Nick Adams. She also made five guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason between 1958 and 1965, including the roles of murderer Connie Cooper in "The Case of the Screaming Woman" (1958), defendant Millie Crest in "The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll" (1959), as Vita Culver in "The Case of the Prudent Prosecutor" (1960), Vivian Cosgrave in the episode "The Case of the Libelous Locket" (1963), and as Irene Prentice in "The Case of 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 three episodes of Hogan's Heroes . Lee appeared in two guest spots of The Andy Griffith Show , in 1962 and 1965.

Also in 1965, she was cast as a movie star named Gloria Morgan in the episode "Gomer Dates a Movie Star" on the sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. . In 1963, she was cast in CBS's The Twilight Zone in the episode "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain" as a woman whose elderly husband undergoes a scientific experiment and then ages "backward".

Lee also began appearing regularly on game shows such as Hollywood Squares , You Don't Say , and Match Game . In the early 1970s, Lee continued to perform in both film and television roles on Love, American Style and The Mod Squad , and had a role in the film The Doomsday Machine (1972). By 1974, Lee had grown frustrated by an increasing lack of roles, and took a job co-hosting the daytime game show High Rollers. [4] She remained with the show until 1976.

During the 1980s, she lent her voice to episodes of The Flintstone Comedy Show and The Smurfs , in addition to guest roles on CHiPs , Fantasy Island , The Love Boat, and Charles in Charge . Lee also performed extensively in the mid-1980s on stage, including the title character in the musical Peter Pan. [6]

From 1988 to 1989, Lee played a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Coming of Age . In 1989, she played the role of Sally Powers in the television movie Sweet Bird of Youth with Elizabeth Taylor. In the 1990s, Lee continued to appear in episodic television, most notably on the sitcom Roseanne . Lee appeared as the girlfriend of Bev Harris (Estelle Parsons), whose character disclosed she was gay. [7]

She played the wife of comedian Jerry Lewis in the British comedy-drama Funny Bones (1995), in which they play the parents of the Oliver Platt's character. In 2002, Lee was presented with one of the Golden Boot Awards for her work in Western television and cinema.

In 2006, Lee received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the television industry. [8] In 1995, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Lee. [9]

In February 2008, Lee appeared as Clairee in a production of Steel Magnolias with Sally Struthers at the Casa Mañana theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. [5] In October 2010, Lee played the role of Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas , also at the Casa Mañana Theatre. [10]

Personal life

In 1976, Lee married Texas restaurant executive Webster B. "Webb" Lowe Jr. [4] They divided their time between their homes in Hollywood, Palm Springs, Fort Worth, and Mexico. [11] Webb died July 1, 2020. They had no children. Lee describes her political views as "conservative" [12] and she appeared at the 1972 Republican National Convention. [13] On August 24, 2013, Lee was inducted into the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame. [14] [15]

In February 2019, Lee had her Lithuanian citizenship restored. [16] [17]

Off-camera

In 1964, Lee called then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, asking him to pardon her grandmother Ludvise Kamandulis, [4] who had been in an internment camp in Siberia since World War II. [5] The pardon was granted, and Lee's grandmother came to live with her in California in 1964. [4] Kamandulis died two years later. [18] Lee again rescued a relative from the former Soviet Union when she secured custody of her 18-year-old cousin, Maryte Kaseta, from Lithuania in 1987. [19]

Lee has been involved with the charitable organization The Thalians for over 50 years. [4] In addition to raising money and providing services for troubled youth and mental-health organizations, Lee, who is also the board chairman, co-produced the annual Ball of the Thalians with the late Debbie Reynolds throughout these five decades. [20] In 2011, after 55 years of involvement with The Thalians, she stepped down and is now a member emerita.

Filmography

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1954 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers RuthCredited as Ruta Kilmonis
1955 The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing Tennis GirlUncredited
1955 The Twinkle in God's Eye Ruthie
1956 Anything Goes GirlUncredited
1956 Gaby Denise
1957 Funny Face Lettie
1957 Witness for the Prosecution Diana
1958 Marjorie Morningstar Imogene Norman
1961 Operation Eichmann Anna Kemp
1962 Sergeants 3 Amelia Parent
1963 The Gun Hawk Marleen
1963 Hootenanny Hoot A.G. Bannister
1964 Bullet for a Badman LottieAlternative title: Renegade Posse
1965Invisible DiplomatsConnie WisnerShort subject produced by AT&T
1972 Doomsday Machine Dr. Marion TurnerAlternative title: Escape from Planet Earth; shot in 1967
1983Rooster: Spurs of Death!Gayly
1983 Cracking Up Ms. Sultry (voice)Alternative title: Smorgasbord
1995 Funny Bones Laura Fawkes
1997 Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills Mrs. Poole
2001 Pretty When You Cry Antique Store PatronAlternative title: Seduced: Pretty When You Cry
2004 Quiet Kill DorisAlternative title: Nightmare Boulevard
2006Sadie and the Slot MachinesSadie SilverShort film
2007A Christmas Too ManyGrandma Direct-to-DVD release
2011Forever Young at HeartShelley FelgersteinShort film

Television

Photo from the television game show Hollywood Squares to celebrate the 2,000th episode in 1974. Pictured are Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver, Rose Marie, John Davidson, George Gobel, Kent McCord, Peter Marshall, Vincent Price and Paul Lynde. Ruta Lee and Sandy Duncan, foreground. Hollywood Squares 2000th show 1974.jpg
Photo from the television game show Hollywood Squares to celebrate the 2,000th episode in 1974. Pictured are Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver, Rose Marie, John Davidson, George Gobel, Kent McCord, Peter Marshall, Vincent Price and Paul Lynde. Ruta Lee and Sandy Duncan, foreground.
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1953 Adventures of Superman TeenagerEpisode: "My Friend Superman"
Credited as Rita Kilmonis
1952–1957 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Various roles2 episodes
1953–1955 Burns and Allen Various roles2 episodes
1954 Lux Video Theatre MarionEpisode: "I'll Never Love Again"
1955 Science Fiction Theatre StudentEpisode: "The Unexplored"
1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ruby BoyentonSeason 1 Episode 13: "The Cheney Vase"
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents AngelSeason 1 Episode 26: "Whodunit"
1956 I Led 3 Lives Louise BurkeEpisode: "New Member"
1956 Dragnet Episode: "The Big Daughter"
1957 Highway Patrol Lea FranklinEpisode: "Armored Car"
1957 Suspicion BettyEpisode: "The Story of Marjorie Reardon"
1957 Captain David Grief RoseEpisode: "The Affair at Les Trois Magots"
1957–1959 Maverick Various roles3 episodes
1957–1959 The Lineup Various roles8 episodes
1958 The Gray Ghost Episode: "Contraband"
1958 Playhouse 90 Episode: "The Right Hand Man"
1958 The Walter Winchell File JoanEpisode: "The Dice of Fortune: File #34"
1958 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Various roles2 episodes
1958 Man with a Camera Dolly MacDermottEpisode: "Second Avenue Assassin"
1958 Rescue 8 Ann DaggetEpisode: "The Cage"
1958 December Bride Carol HodgesEpisode: "Bride's Father-in-Law"
1958–1959 Sugarfoot Various roles2 episodes
1958–1960 M Squad Various roles3 episodes
1958–1962 Gunsmoke Various roles2 episodes including "Jenny"
1958–1964 77 Sunset Strip Various roles5 episodes
1958–1965 Perry Mason Various roles5 episodes
1959 Yancy Derringer Romilly ValeEpisode: "Two of a Kind"
1959 The Restless Gun Lucy CollinsEpisode: "The Painted Beauty"
1959 Peter Gunn Marie GipsonEpisode: "Edie Finds a Corpse"
1959 The Millionaire Angela TempleEpisode: "Millionaire Angela Temple"
1959 Richard Diamond, Private Detective LouiseEpisode: "Jukebox"
1959 Bat Masterson Nellie FontanaEpisode: "The Death of Bat Masterson"
1959 Alcoa Theatre Emily MeadowsEpisode: "Medals for Harry"
1959 The Lawless Years Gloria FallonEpisode: "The Payoff"
1959 Markham Tammy MilesEpisode: "The Duelists"
1959 Johnny Staccato Dee DeeEpisode: "The Naked Truth"
1959 Tightrope! LauraEpisode: "Stand on Velvet"
1959 Whirlybirds GinnyEpisode: "Mr. Jinx"
1959 Hennesey Ruth ThomasEpisode: "Hennesey and Peyton Place"
1959 The Man from Blackhawk Ginnie ThompsonEpisode: "The Legacy"
1959–1960 U.S. Marshal Various roles4 episodes
1959–1960 The Alaskans Various roles2 episodes
1959–1960 Colt .45 Various roles2 episodes
1959–1963 Wagon Train Various roles2 episodes
1960 Shotgun Slade Lilly CodyEpisode: "Killer's Brand"
1960 The Rebel Ellen BartonEpisode: "Grant of Land"
1960–1961 Hawaiian Eye Various roles3 episodes
1961 The Tab Hunter Show Episode: "Turnabout"
1961 Michael Shayne Naomi LesterEpisode: "Spotlight On a Corpse"
1961 Dante Peggy BraddockEpisode: "Dante's Fickle Fate"
1961 The Brothers Brannagan LynnEpisode: "Shot in the Dark"
1961 The Case of the Dangerous Robin Episode: "Brink of Disaster"
1961 Zane Grey Theatre Jenny AldrichEpisode: "Man from Everywhere"
1961 Harrigan and Son RoseEpisode: "The Legacy"
1961 Stagecoach West Various rolesas Jenny Forbes in episode The Marker + 1 other episode
1961 Laramie Opal CraneEpisode: "Siege at Jubilee"
1962The OutlawsJennieEpisode: "Farewell Performance"
1962Poor Mr. CampbellPriscilla EdwardsTelevision film
1962 Gunsmoke Jenny GloverEpisode: "Jenny"
1962 Cheyenne Lenore Walton HanfordEpisode: "Wanted for the Murder of Cheyenne Bodie"
1962 The Dick Powell Show Eva GobelEpisode: "Crazy Sunday"
1962–1963 Rawhide Various roles2 episodes
1962–1965 The Andy Griffith Show Andy on Trial as Jean Boswell,

The Hollywood Party as Darlene Mason

2 episodes
1963 Bonanza Rita MarloweEpisode: "A Woman Lost"
1963 Arrest and Trial Colleen RileyEpisode: "Call It a Lifetime"
1963 The Twilight Zone Flora GordonEpisode: "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain"
1963 Temple Houston Lucy TolliverEpisode: "Enough Rope"
1963 Fractured Flickers HerselfEpisode 20
1964 The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters Zoe PigalleEpisode: "The Day of the Lame Duck"
1964 The Fugitive Mrs. Janet LoringEpisode: "Angels Travel on Lonely Roads: Part 2"
1964 The Virginian Various roles2 episodes
1964–1965 Burke's Law Various roles3 episodes
1965 The Bill Dana Show Yvette RenayEpisode: "Beauty and the Bellhop"
1965 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Gloria MorganEpisode: "Gomer Dates a Movie Star"
1965 The Wackiest Ship in the Army Episode: "The Stowaway"
1965–1967 The Wild Wild West Various roles2 episodes
1967 The Lucy Show Miss Audrey Fields; herselfEpisodes: "Lucy's Substitute Secretary"; "Lucy Meets the Berles"
1967 Judd, for the Defense Alida NyeEpisode: "To Love and Stand Mute"
1967 Mannix Jean ColemanEpisode: "Run, Sheep, Run"
1967–1969 Hogan's Heroes Various roles3 episodes
1968 Ironside MarianEpisode: "To Kill a Cop"
1969 The Guns of Will Sonnett FanEpisode: "Trail's End"
1969 The Flying Nun Faye/Sister Mary Grace2 episodes
1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. Shirley BallingerEpisode: "All Flags Flying"
1969–1972 Love, American Style Various roles3 episodes
1971 Mayberry R.F.D. Terry PhillipsEpisode: "The City Planner"
1971 A Howling in the Woods SharonTelevision movie
1971 The Mod Squad Gloria HardyEpisode: "Exit the Closer"
1971 Arnie Miss FletcherEpisode: "Et Tu, Arnie"
1972 Me and the Chimp Lavelle WigginsEpisode: "My Pet, the Thief"
1973 Match Game Guest PanelistOne Week
1974-1976 High Rollers Co-HostessDaytime
1974Indict and ConvictPhyllis DorfmanTelevision movie
1974 Roll, Freddy, Roll! Evelyn Danton KaneTelevision movie
1979 Mork & Mindy LisaEpisode: "Mork's Night Out"
1979–1982 Three's Company Various roles2 episodes
1980–1982 The Flintstone Comedy Show Hidea Frankenstone (Voice)18 episodes
1980 Vega$ Gloria GarlandEpisode: "Love Affair"
1980 The Ghosts of Buxley Hall Ernestine Di GonziniTelevision movie
1980–1983 Fantasy Island Various roles3 episodes
1981 Elvis and the Beauty Queen Su-SuTelevision movie
1982 Three's Company MarshaEpisode: "The Matchbreakers"
1982 Simon & Simon Penny RussellEpisode: "Matchmaker"
1982 Madame's Place Kaye JacobsEpisode #1.42
1983 CHiPs BabeEpisode: "Journey to a Spacecraft"
1984 The Rousters Mrs. SladeEpisode: "Slade vs. Slade"
1984 Hotel Georgia PotterEpisode: "Ideals"
1984–1985 1st & Ten Rona4 episodes
1985 The Love Boat Harriet Wolters1 episode
1985 Benson Zelda RomancovaEpisode: "Solid Gold"
1987-1989 The Smurfs Evelyn / Morgan Lafay2 episodes
1988 Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School Revolta (Voice)Television movie
1988–1989Coming of AgePauline Spencer15 episodes
1989 Sweet Bird of Youth Sally PowersTelevision movie
1989 Jake and the Fatman Leilani SimmonsEpisode: "Sweet Leilani"
1990 Timeless Tales from Hallmark Scarlotta (voice)Episode: "Rapunzel"
1990 Charles in Charge GloriaEpisode: "Three Dates and a Walnut"
1990People Like UsFaye ConverseTelevision movie
1990 Murder, She Wrote ReneeEpisode: "A Body to Die For"
1992 Delta Charlotte TylerEpisode: "How Much Is That Darden in the Window?"
1993 The Building SylviaEpisode: "Yakkity Yak Don't Talk"
1997 Roseanne Joyce2 episodes
1998 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Mrs. GoreEpisode: "Cigar Wars"
2000 Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue Koko KashmereEpisode: "In the Limelight"
2003 Life with Bonnie Mrs. Ruta BlanchetteEpisode: "Places, Stat!"
2005Studio HouseLily FargateTelevision movie
2006 Christmas Do-Over Granny ConlonTelevision movie
2007Christmas at Cadillac Jack'sRose JenkinsTelevision movie
2012 Days of Our Lives Tillie InmanEpisode #1.11749

See also

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