Latvian-American actress
Rutanya Alda
|
---|
Born
| R?ta Skrasti?a
(
1942-10-13
)
October 13, 1942
(age 81)
|
---|
Other names
| Ruth Alda, Ruth Avots, Rutanya Skrasti?a
|
---|
Alma mater
| Northern Arizona University
|
---|
Occupation
| Actress
|
---|
Years active
| 1968?present
|
---|
Spouse
|
(
m.
1977; died 2006)
|
---|
Children
| 1
|
---|
Rutanya Alda
(born
R?ta Skrasti?a
; 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
[
edit
]
Rutanya Alda was born Rutanja Skrasti?a (R?ta Skrasti?a) in
Riga
, in
German-occupied
Latvia
, the daughter of Vera (
nee
Ozoli?a), a businesswoman, and J?nis Skrasti??, a
poet
.
[1]
Alda, her grandmother, her mother, and her brother spent seven years in a
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
[
edit
]
Alda studied acting with
Barbara Loden
and
Paul Mann
in New York City.
[3]
With a career spanning nearly 50 years in show business and over 100 roles, Alda might be best known for her performances in
The Deer Hunter
as Steven's wife, Angela, as well as for the
cult classic
Mommie Dearest
, as loyal Crawford housekeeper Carol Ann, and
Amityville II: The Possession
,
[5]
having been nominated for the
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
Film
[
edit
]
Select television roles
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Rutanya Alda Biography
- ^
a
b
"Overcoming Adversity: Actress & Author Rutanya Alda Grew Up In WWII Refugee Camp"
.
HooplaHa
. YouTube. March 8, 2016.
- ^
a
b
"Alda, Rutanya"
.
Encyclopedia.com
.
Cengage
.
Archived
from the original on May 7, 2023.
- ^
a
b
Northrup, Tony (March 10, 2016).
"Rutanya Alda ? Interview"
.
Through the Black Hole
.
Archived
from the original on May 7, 2023.
- ^
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
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
- "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.
External links
[
edit
]