Certainly
one of Hollywood's most glamorous ladies, Ruta Lee, is also
one of its most multifaceted and top-notched civic contributors.
Born in Montreal, Lee is the daughter of a Lithuanian tailor.
While at Hollywood High, Lee's career in show business began
at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre… as an usherette,
then candy girl. She was quickly promoted to box office cashier
and just as quickly fired. Her dancing was better than her
math. She vowed to return to that famous courtyard! Time,
talent and serendipity placed her star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame, directly in front of that box office.
Soon after, she was signed by MGM as the youngest of the Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers and subsequently in Funny
Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn, as Tyrone
Power's secret love in Witness for Prosecution,
and Frank Sinatra's leading lady in Sergeant's Three,
to name but a few of the many films in her credits.
Simultaneously, Lee launched into television, with over 2000
appearances on shows from Perry Mason to Power
Rangers, Twilight Zone to Murder She Wrote,
Hogan's Heroes to Love Boat, and Roseanne.
Lee was also co-host on NBC's High Rollers with
Alex Trebek, a regular on Hollywood Squares
with Peter Marshall and made several television movies. She
had series leads in CBS' Coming of Age and HBO's
1st and Ten. Her stints on the Bonnie
Hunt Show remain among her favorites.
As
a young starlet, Ruta made international headlines when she
convinced Khrushchev to release her 90 year old grandmother
from Siberia. She brought her to the U.S. where she lived her
remaining years in the sunshine of freedom. She is grateful
to all for the prayers that helped in that effort.
Lee has headlined around the country in many musicals as
Dolly, Annie, Molly, Peter Pan, Mame, Irene, Nelly, Irma, Rose,
The Woman of the Year, and Madame in the
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, these are just
a few of her leading lady roles.
Critics have raved about all of her stage roles, but two stand
out as favorites, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and
Goodbye Charlie. Lee's performance in the former
was described by composer Meredith Willson as "the greatest
Molly of them all and had Ruta Lee created the role on Broadway,
the original production would still be running."
Recently she took a star turn in Reprise's Babes in Arms,
followed by critically acclaimed Steel Magnolias
at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater and Funny Business
at the Coronet. She returned for a 3rd season to the
hit musical revue, Senior Class at the Annenberg
Theater, Palm Springs and is currently appearing at selected
venues in the 5 Star Revue with Gary Collins,
Mary Ann Mobley, Steve Rossi, and Ronnie Schell.
Lee
spends a great deal of time and energy raising funds for The
Thalians, a charitable organization which helps to
provide for mentally disabled persons from pediatric to geriatric
at The Thalians Community Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai
in Los Angeles. She has been either chairman or president
for over 45 years, roles . between herself and Debbie
Reynolds. The Thalians honored Ruta Lee
for her many years of service and dedication to mental health,
where she joined the ranks of previous honorees, Gene
Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Mary Tyler Moore, Whoopi
Goldberg, and Angela Lansbury, to name
just a few.
She has served as commissioner on the Los Angeles Board of
Environmental Quality and as a member of the Economic Development
Board of Los Angeles, acted as a national spokesperson for
the American Cancer Society, was honored Woman
of the Year by B'nai B'rith, received the Humanitarian
Award from the Beverly Hills Business Women's Association
as well as top honors from the City of Hope.
Ruta is very proud to be the recipient of the prestigious
Yellow Rose of Texas from President George
W. Bush. Recently, she received Lithuania's highest
honors from President Valdas Adamkus at a magnificent
ceremony in the Vilnius Presidential Palace. Ruta is also
the proud recipient of a star in the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, which added to her stars in the Palm
Springs Walk of Stars and the Celebrity Walk
at the Thalians Mental Health Center, Cedars-Sinai,
makes it a Triple Crown for a super gal.
Lee and husband Webb Lowe reside in Hollywood, Palm Springs,
Fort Worth, and Las Hadas, Mexico… She says, "We
sleep around!" Ruta considers the Metroplex her home,
having played Casa Manana and other venues for over 30 years.
She has a home in Ridgelea. She loves Texas & Texans!!
She currently has new films in release. "Quiet Bill",
"A Christmas Too Many", costarring with Mickey Rooney,
"Christmas Redo", an ABC Family Film, "Love's
Pure Light" and "Christmas at Cadillac Jacks",
films for Hallmark.
