Zelda May Rubinstein[1](May 28, 1933[2]– January 27, 2010) was an American actress andhuman rights activist,known as eccentricmediumTangina Barrons in thePoltergeistfilm series.[3]Playing "Ginny", she was a regular onDavid E. Kelley'sEmmy Award-winning television seriesPicket Fencesfor two seasons. She also made guest appearances in the TV showPoltergeist: The Legacy(1996), asseerChristina, and was the voice ofSkittlescandies in their long-running "Taste the Rainbow" ad campaign. Rubinstein was also known for her outspoken activism forlittle peopleand her early participation in the fight againstHIV/AIDS.[4]
Zelda Rubinstein | |
|---|---|
 Rubinstein in 1985 | |
| Born | Zelda May Rubinstein May 28, 1933 Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 2010(aged 76) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, human rights activist |
| Years active | 1978–2010 |
Zelda Rubinstein andHeather O'Rourkewere the only cast members to have appeared in all threePoltergeistfilms.
Early life
editRubinstein was born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania,on May 28, 1933, toJewishimmigrant parents fromPoland,Dolores and George Rubinstein.[5][6]She was the youngest of three children and the onlyshort-statured personin her family (she has been incorrectly[citation needed]referred to as adwarf).[7]Rubinstein did not become comfortable with her short stature until she was an adult.[7]In a 1992 interview with theChicago Sun-Times,Rubinstein told the newspaper that she "had a rough childhood, [but] I became very verbally facile... I learned to meet everyone head-on."[7]
She stood 4 feet 3 inches (1.30 m) tall[8]due to a deficiency of theanterior pituitary gland,which producesgrowth hormone.Commenting in 2002 on the challenges of being a very short-statured person, Rubinstein said, "Midgets aresocietallyhandicapped. They have about two minutes to present themselves as equals—and if they don't take advantage of that chance, then people fall back on the common assumption that 'less' is less. "[9]
Rubinstein won ascholarshipto theUniversity of Pittsburgh,where she earned herbachelor's degreeinbacteriologyand became a sister of the national sororityPhi Sigma Sigma.[7][10]She moved toBerkeley, California,at the age of 25,[5]studied at theUniversity of California, Berkeley,[8]and worked as amedical lab technicianatblood banks.[7]
Acting career
edit
In 1978, Zelda decided to pursue an acting career. She studied acting at the University of California.Poltergeistwas her first major film role.
Film criticPauline Kael,who essentially dismissedPoltergeistas 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 variouspsychiccharacters, such as her appearance onJennifer Slept Here.She also narrated the horror television seriesScariest Places on Earth,which aired in the U.S. onABC Familyand in Canada onYTV.[7]
Rubinstein's other film roles includedSixteen Candles,Under the Rainbow,Cages,Teen Witch,The Wildcard,Southland TalesandNational Lampoon's Last Resort.She also contributed voice-over work for TV includingHey Arnold!,andThe Flintstones.She made numerous guest appearances on network TV shows, includingCaroline in the City,Martin,Mr. Belvedere,and had a starring role as Ginny Weedon in the TV seriesPicket 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 ofTales From The Cryptin which she played the mother of a girl who has been dead for 40 years.
She also starred in two different roles onSanta Barbarain 1984 and in 1990.
Beginning in 1999, she didvoiceoversin television starting with the Fox Family reality TV showScariest Places on Earth,commercials promoting movies such asLady in the Water,and products includingSkittlescandy. Her last film role came in 2007 when she made a cameo appearance in the horror filmBehind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.She also appeared in a cameo as herself at theRevenge of the Mummyride inUniversal Studios Floridaon the screens which shows various actors from the films warning the people to leave, telling them about the curse of Imhotep.
Human rights and activism
editRubinstein became active in the fight againstHIV/AIDSin 1984. She appeared in a series of advertisements, directed towardsgaymen specifically, promoting safer sex and AIDS awareness.[4]Rubinstein did so at risk to her own career, especially so shortly after her rise to fame, and admitted later that she did "pay a price, career-wise." "I lost a friend to AIDS, one of the first public figures that died of AIDS," the actress said in an interview withThe Advocate."I knew it was not the kind of disease that would stay in anybody's backyard. It would climb the fences, get over the fences into all of our homes. It was not limited to one group of people."[12]She attended the first AIDS Project Los AngelesAIDS Walk.[13]
Death
editRubinstein 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 atBarlow Respiratory Hospitalin 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
editFilms
edit| 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
edit- ^"FamilySearch.org".FamilySearch.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
- ^McLellan, Dennis (January 27, 2010)."Zelda Rubinstein, who played psychic in 'Poltergeist', dies at 76".kdvr. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 27,2010.
- ^ObituaryLondon Independent,April 22, 2010.
- ^abBroverman, Neal (January 27, 2010)."PoltergeistStar and HIV Activist Zelda Rubinstein Dies at Age 77 ".Shewired.RetrievedJanuary 31,2010.
- ^abRizzo, Frank (February 2, 2010).""Poltergeist" 's Zelda Rubinstein Dies; Starred in Hartford Project ".Hartford Courant.Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 26,2010.
- ^"FamilySearch.org".FamilySearch.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
- ^abcdefMcLellan, Dennis (January 28, 2010)."Zelda Rubinstein dies at 76; actress played psychic in 'Poltergeist'".Los Angeles Times.Archived fromthe originalon January 30, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 26,2010.
- ^abFox, Margalit (January 29, 2010)."Zelda Rubinstein, 76, 'Poltergeist' Actress".New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 26,2010.
- ^Thomas-Matej, Elisabeth (2002)."What's in a Diagnosis? A Medical Biography of Michael Dunn".NCTC.net.Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2017.RetrievedJune 8,2008.
- ^"Zelda Rubinstein, Iota - University of Pittsburgh".Phisigmasigma.org. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 16,2012.
- ^Kael, Pauline(2011) [1991].5001 Nights at the Movies.New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 588.ISBN978-1-250-03357-4.
- ^ab"'Poltergeist' actress dies at age 76 ".CNN.January 28, 2010.
- ^"Actress Zelda Rubinstein taken off life support | LGBT POV".January 2, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2010.RetrievedApril 22,2023.
