ALDA, Rutanya 1942(?)–

(Ruth Alda)

PERSONAL

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. Education: University of Northern Arizona, B.S.; studied acting with Barbara Loden and Paul Mann in New York City.

Addresses: Agent—Michael Greene & Associates, 7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1017, Hollywood, CA 90028.

Career: Actress and director.

Member: Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.

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 Evil and 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 Around the 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 Letzte ausfahrt 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.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Lorraine Taylor, Innocent Victims, ABC, 1996.

Beth, Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story (also known as Murderous Passion: The Diane Borchardt Story), NBC, 1996.

Television Appearances; 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.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Mrs. Linderman, The Day the Kids Took Over, 1986.

Television Appearances; 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 Class White, 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 persons camps 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 the one 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 'Be Black Baby' sequence in Hi Mom, Carol Ann in Mommie Dearest, and Alma in The Long Lost Friend."