Rutanya Alda Biography (1942?-)
Original name, Rutanya Skrastins; born October 13, 1942 (some sources say 1945), in Riga, Latvia; immigrated to the United States; daughter of Janis (a poet) and Vera (a businesswoman; maiden name, Ozolins) Skrastins; married Richard Bright (an actor), June 11, 1977. Addresses: Agent: Michael Greene& Associates, 7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1017, Hollywood, CA 90028.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, director
- Birth Details
- October 13, 1942?
- Riga, Latvia
Famous Works
- CREDITS
- Film Appearances
- (Debut; as Ruth Alda) Linda, Greetings, Sigma III, 1969
- (As Ruth Alda) "Be Black Baby" audience, Hi Mom (also known as Blue Manhattan, Confessions of a Peeping John, and Son of Greetings), Sigma III, 1970
- Love and Kisses, 1970
- Nurse Anne, Panic in Needle Park, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1971
- Hippie, Scarecrow, Warner Bros., 1973
- Rutanya Sweet, The Long Goodbye, 1973
- Assassination Team B, Executive Action, National General, 1973
- Ruthie Lee, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1973
- Apple Mary, Deadly Hero, Avco-Embassy, 1976
- (Uncredited) Party guest, Next Stop, Greenwich Village, 1976
- Bath attendant, Swashbuckler (also known as Scarlet Buccaneer), 1976
- Kristen, The Fury, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978
- Angela, The Deer Hunter, Universal, 1978
- Mrs. Mandrakis, When a Stranger Calls, Columbia, 1979
- Theresa, You Better Watch Out (also known as Christmas Eviland Terror in Toyland), 1980
- Carol Ann, Mommie Dearest, Paramount, 1981
- Dolores, Amityville II: The Possession, Orion, 1982
- Vicki, Vigilante (also known as Street Gang), Films Aroundthe World, 1982
- Mrs. Nash, Racing with the Moon, Paramount, 1983
- Barney/Katie Cavanaugh, Girls' Nite Out (also known as The Scaremaker), Aries International, 1984
- Cecilia, Rappin', Cannon Films, 1985
- Psychologist, The Stuff, 1985
- Georgia Kristidis, Hot Shot (also known s El rey del futbol), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1986
- Irene, Black Widow, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1986
- Alma, The Long Lost Friend, 1986
- Mrs. Vandemeer, Defense Play, 1988
- Elma Kelly, Apprentice to Murder, New World, 1988
- Aunt Sarah, Prancer, Orion, 1989
- Mama Slovak, Gross Anatomy (also known as A Cut Above), Buena Vista, 1989
- Georgette's Mother, Last Exit to Brooklyn (also known as Letzteausfahrt Brooklyn), 1989
- Nurse, Leaving Normal, Universal, 1992
- Ann Travis, Article 99, Orion, 1992
- Miriam Cowley, The Dark Half, Orion, 1993
- Linda, The Ref (also known as Hostile Hostages), Buena Vista, 1994
- Beth O'Neal, Safe Passage, 1994
- Mrs. Hunt, Steel, 1997
- Gloria, American Perfekt, 1997
- Thea's mom, The Souler Opposite, 1998
- Coach's wife, Wirey Spindell, WinStar Cinema, 2000
- Woman at apartment, My First Mister, Paramount Classics, 2001
- Vice principal, The Glass House, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2001
- Also appeared in The Nap (short film).
- Television Appearances
- Series
- Mabel Beauford, Santa Barbara, 1990
- Miniseries
- Lorraine Taylor, Innocent Victims, ABC, 1996
- Beth, Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story (also known asMurderous Passion: The Diane Borchardt Story), NBC, 1996
- Movies
- Rachael, Can Ellen Be Saved?, ABC, 1975
- Jess, Battered, NBC, 1978
- Dr. Kroyden, Laguna Heat, HBO, 1987
- Mrs. Paretti, Winnie (also known as Winnie: My Life in the Institution), NBC, 1988
- Marge Crawford, Rainbow Drive (also known as City of Angels), Showtime, 1990
- Sue Madelhurst, They (also known as They Watched, The Lost Souls, and Children of the Mist), Showtime, 1993
- Minnie Sayre, Zelda, TNT, 1993
- Gabriel Neuland, Double Jeopardy, CBS, 1996
- Maureen, Childhood Sweetheart?, CBS, 1997
- Wanda Marshall, Love Comes Softly, The Hallmark Channel, 2003
- Dr. Virginia McAlpin, Murder Without Conviction, The Hallmark Channel, 2004
- Also appeared in Nobody Ever Died of Old Age, PBS.
- Specials
- Mrs. Linderman, The Day the Kids Took Over, 1986
- Episodic
- Mrs. Degnan, "The Perfect Alibi," Cannon, CBS, 1973
- Estelle, "Gone Fishin," Spenser: For Hire, 1987
- Sarah, "Ozymandias," Beauty and the Beast, 1988
- Mildred, "Deadline," Tales from the Crypt, 1991
- Sara Cheney, "Vengeance," Law & Order, NBC, 1994
- Kimberly Snow, "Family Affairs," Silk Stalkings, 1995
- Clara Munday, "The Hole," Gun, ABC, 1996
- Elaine Harridan, "Heroes," JAG, CBS, 1996
- Ms. McDougall, "Since I Don't Know You," To Have & To Hold, 1998
- Celia Loomis, "Surprised by Gravity," Judging Amy, CBS, 2001
- Cassie Barker, "Idaho," John Doe, Fox, 2002
- Rose, "In the Dark," Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NBC, 2004
- Also appeared in Doc Elliot, ABC; As the World Turns, CBS;and General Hospital, ABC.
- Stage Appearances
- (Debut) Ellen, Sunday in New York, Yarmouth Playhouse, Cape Cod, MA, 1965
- The Castro Complex, Stairway Theatre, New York City, 1970
- Teresa, Every Place Is Newark, Theatre at St. Clements, New York City, 1980
- Also appeared as Julia, A Thing Called Child and Sister Johanna, The Cradle Song, both at the Berkshire Playhouse, MA; Ellen, Luv, Cellar Theatre, Los Angeles; the actress, The Exercise, Actors Studio, Los Angeles; Falidia, (also director) And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers, Inner City Cultural Center, Los Angeles; Jennifer, Middle ClassWhite, Los Angeles Actors Theatre; Esther, A Cat in the Ghetto, Whole Theatre Company, Montclair, NJ; Miss Gilpin, The Straw, Barbara Loden Workshop, New York City; and Ern, Sacraments, Harold Clurman Theatre, New York City.
- SIDELIGHTS
- Rutanya Alda earlier told CTFT: "Growing up in a displaced personscamps after World War II, I saw my first play, a fairy tale, done in the camps. It showed a better life than I was living in, it was magical and I said to myself then and there, that's what I want to do ... My favorite role is theone I'm currently working on, whatever it may be. But there are some that stand out--Angela in The Deer Hunter, Linda in Greetings, the `BeBlack Baby' sequence in Hi Mom, Carol Ann in Mommie Dearest, and Alma in The Long Lost Friend."