Ruta Lee


Ruta Lee is a Canadian-American actress and dancer of Lithuanian descent who appeared as one of the brides in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She had roles in films including Billy Wilder's crime drama Witness for the Prosecution and Stanley Donen's musical comedy Funny Face and also is remembered for her guest appearance in a 1963 episode of Rod Serling's sci-fi series The Twilight Zone called "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain".
Lee guest-starred on many television series, and was also featured on a number of game shows, including Hollywood Squares, What's My Line?, Match Game and as Alex Trebek's co-host on High Rollers.

Early life

Ruta Lee was born on May 30, 1935, in Montreal, Quebec, the only child of Lithuanian Roman Catholic immigrants. Her father was a tailor and her mother a homemaker.
On March 1, 1948, her family moved to the United States and ended up settling in Los Angeles, where she graduated in 1954 from Hollywood High School and began studying acting and appearing in school plays. She attended both Los Angeles City College and the University of California at Los Angeles. She worked as a cashier, usherette, and candy girl at Grauman's Chinese Theater; but, when she was $40 short in her cash account at the end of her shift one night, she was fired. She is a naturalized United States citizen.

Career

Lee then got a break as a guest on two episodes of CBS's The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. She soon found an agent, who landed her a job in an episode of The Roy Rogers Show, followed by a spot in 1953 on the series Adventures of Superman. That same year, while acting in a small theater production of On the Town, she landed a role as bride Ruth in the Academy Award-nominated musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, still billed as Ruta Kilmonis. After that success, Lee appeared in several films including Anything Goes, Funny Face, Witness for the Prosecution, and Marjorie Morningstar. In 1962, Lee had the female lead in the Rat Pack comedy/Western film Sergeants 3 starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford. She then co-starred with Audie Murphy and Darren McGavin in a Western, Bullet for a Badman.
In addition to films, Lee has appeared in dozens of guest-starring roles on television. For a number of years, she seemed to be everywhere on the screen. From 1957 to 1959, she was cast in different roles in eight episodes of the CBS crime drama series, The Lineup and also played the leading lady in three episodes of Maverick, "The Comstock Conspiracy" with James Garner and "The Plunder of Paradise," and "Betrayal" with Jack Kelly. In 1959 and 1960, she was cast in four episodes of John Bromfield's syndicated crime drama, U.S. Marshal.
She appeared as Ellen Barton in the 1960 episode "Grant of Land" of the ABC Western series, The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. She also made five guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason between 1958 and 1965, including murderer Connie Cooper in "The Case of the Screaming Woman", defendant Millie Crest in "The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll", also in 1959, she appeared as Vita Culver in "The Case of the Prudent Prosecutor". Lee starred as Vivian Cosgrave in the episode "The Case of the Libelous Locket".
On December 10, 1962, Lee was cast as Lenore Walton Hanford in "Wanted for the Murder of Cheyenne Bodie", the penultimate episode of the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, Cheyenne, with Clint Walker in the starring role. In the storyline, Bodie is mistaken for a notorious gunfighter and framed for his "own" murder.
In 1963, Lee guest starred as Lucy Tolliver in the twelfth episode "Enough Rope" of the NBC/WB Western series, Temple Houston, with Jeffrey Hunter as an historical figure, the frontier lawyer Temple Lea Houston, youngest son of Sam Houston. Temple Houston was canceled after twenty-six weeks. Of Hunter, Lee said, "He was one of the prettiest people that ever was put on the screen, God, he was gorgeous."
Lee was further cast on Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Maverick, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Sugarfoot, M Squad, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, The Alaskans, Colt.45, Wagon Train, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide, The Wild Wild West, Ironside, The Fugitive and three episodes of Hogan's Heroes. Lee appeared in two guest spots of The Andy Griffith Show in 1962 and 1965.
Also in 1965 she was cast as a movie star named Gloria Morgan in the episode “Gomer Dates a Movie Star” on the sitcom Gomer Pyle. In 1963, she was cast in CBS's The Twilight Zone in the episode "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain", as a woman whose elderly husband undergoes a scientific experiment and then ages backward.
Lee also began appearing regularly on game shows such as Hollywood Squares, You Don't Say and Match Game. In the early 1970s, Lee continued to perform in both films and television roles on Love, American Style, The Mod Squad, and a role in the film The Doomsday Machine. By 1974, Lee had grown frustrated by an increasing lack of roles, and took a job co-hosting the daytime game show High Rollers. She remained with the show until 1976.
During the 1980s, she lent her voice to episodes of The Flintstone Comedy Show and The Smurfs, in addition to guest roles on CHiPs, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat and Charles in Charge. Lee also performed extensively in the mid-1980s on stage, including the title character in the musical Peter Pan.
From 1988 to 1989, Lee had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom, Coming of Age. In 1989, she played the role of Sally Powers in the television movie Sweet Bird of Youth with Elizabeth Taylor. In the 1990s, Lee continued to appear in episodic television, most notably on the sitcom Roseanne. Lee appeared as the girlfriend of Bev Harris whose character disclosed she was gay.
She played the wife of comedian Jerry Lewis in the British comedy-drama Funny Bones, in which they play the parents of the Oliver Platt's character. In 2002, Lee was presented one of the Golden Boot Awards for her work in western television and cinema.
In 2006, Lee received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the television industry. In 1995, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Lee.
In February 2008, Lee appeared as Clairee in a production of Steel Magnolias with Sally Struthers at the Casa Mañana theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. In October 2010, Lee played the role of Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, also at the Casa Mañana Theatre.

Personal life

In 1976, Lee married Texas restaurant executive Webster B. "Webb" Lowe Jr. They divide their time between their homes in Hollywood, Palm Springs, Fort Worth and Mexico. She has no children. Lee describes her political views as "conservative" and she appeared at the 1972 Republican National Convention. On August 24, 2013, Lee was inducted into the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame.
In February 2019, Lee acquired Lithuanian citizenship.

Off-camera

In 1964, Lee called then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, asking him to pardon her grandmother Ludvise Kamandulis, who had been in an internment camp in Siberia since World War II. The pardon was granted, and Lee's grandmother came to live with her in California in 1964. Kamandulis died two years later. Lee again rescued a relative from the former Soviet Union when she secured custody of her 18-year-old cousin, Maryte Kaseta, from Lithuania in 1987.
Lee has been involved with the charitable organization The Thalians for over 50 years. In addition to raising money and providing services for troubled youth and mental health organizations, Lee, who is also the board chairman, co-produced the annual Ball of the Thalians with the late Debbie Reynolds throughout these five decades. In 2011, after 55 years of involvement with The Thalians, she stepped down and is now a member emerita.

Filmography

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1950Adventures of SupermanTeenagerEpisode: "My Friend Superman"
Credited as Rita Kilmonis
1952–1957Schlitz Playhouse of StarsVarious roles2 episodes
1953–1955Burns and AllenVarious roles2 episodes
1954Lux Video TheatreMarionEpisode: "I'll Never Love Again"
1955Science Fiction TheatreStudentEpisode: "The Unexplored"
1955–1956Alfred Hitchcock PresentsVarious rolesEpisodes: "Whodunit", "The Cheney Vase"
1956I Led Three LivesLouise BurkeEpisode: "New Member"
1956DragnetEpisode: "The Big Daughter"
1957Highway PatrolLea FranklinEpisode: "Armored Car"
1957SuspicionBettyEpisode: "The Story of Marjorie Reardon"
1957Captain David GriefRoseEpisode: "The Affair at Les Trois Magots"
1957–1959MaverickVarious roles3 episodes
1957–1959The LineupVarious roles8 episodes
1958The Gray GhostEpisode: "Contraband"
1958Playhouse 90Episode: "The Right Hand Man"
1958The Walter Winchell FileJoanEpisode: "The Dice of Fortune: File #34"
1958Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerVarious roles2 episodes
1958Man with a CameraDolly MacDermottEpisode: "Second Avenue Assassin"
1958Rescue 8Ann DaggetEpisode: "The Cage"
1958December BrideCarol HodgesEpisode: "Bride's Father-in-Law"
1958–1959SugarfootVarious roles2 episodes
1958–1960M SquadVarious roles3 episodes
1958–1962GunsmokeVarious roles2 episodes
1958–196477 Sunset StripVarious roles5 episodes
1958–1965Perry MasonVarious roles5 episodes
1959Yancy DerringerRomilly ValeEpisode: "Two of a Kind"
1959The Restless GunLucy CollinsEpisode: "The Painted Beauty"
1959Peter GunnMarie GipsonEpisode: "Edie Finds a Corpse"
1959The MillionaireAngela TempleEpisode: "Millionaire Angela Temple"
1959Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveLouiseEpisode: "Jukebox"
1959Bat MastersonNellie FontanaEpisode: "The Death of Bat Masterson"
1959Alcoa TheatreEmily MeadowsEpisode: "Medals for Harry"
1959The Lawless YearsGloria FallonEpisode: "The Payoff"
1959MarkhamTammy MilesEpisode: "The Duelists"
1959Johnny StaccatoDee DeeEpisode: "The Naked Truth"
1959TightropeLauraEpisode: "Stand on Velvet"
1959WhirlybirdsGinnyEpisode: "Mr. Jinx"
1959HenneseyRuth ThomasEpisode: "Hennesey and Peyton Place"
1959The Man from BlackhawkGinnie ThompsonEpisode: "The Legacy"
1959–1960United States MarshalVarious roles4 episodes
1959–1960The AlaskansVarious roles2 episodes
1959–1960Colt.45Various roles2 episodes
1959–1963Wagon TrainVarious roles2 episodes
1960Shotgun SladeLilly CodyEpisode: "Killer's Brand"
1960The RebelEllen BartonEpisode: "Grant of Land"
1960–1961Hawaiian EyeVarious roles3 episodes
1961The Tab Hunter ShowEpisode: "Turnabout"
1961Michael ShayneNaomi LesterEpisode: "Spotlight On a Corpse"
1961DantePeggy BraddockEpisode: "Dante's Fickle Fate"
1961The Brothers BrannaganLynnEpisode: "Shot in the Dark"
1961The Case of the Dangerous RobinEpisode: "Brink of Disaster"
1961Zane Grey TheaterJenny AldrichEpisode: "Man from Everywhere"
1961Harrigan and SonRoseEpisode: "The Legacy"
1961Stagecoach WestVarious roles2 episodes
1961LaramieOpal CraneEpisode: "Siege at Jubilee"
1962The OutlawsJennieEpisode: "Farewell Performance"
1962Poor Mr. CampbellPriscilla EdwardsTelevision film
1962GunsmokeJenny GloverEpisode: "Jenny" aired 13 October 1962
1962CheyenneLenore Walton HanfordEpisode: "Wanted for the Murder of Cheyenne Bodie"
1962The Dick Powell ShowEva GobelEpisode: "Crazy Sunday"
1962–1963RawhideVarious roles2 episodes
1962–1965The Andy Griffith ShowVarious roles2 episodes
1963BonanzaRita MarloweEpisode: "A Woman Lost"
1963Arrest and TrialColleen RileyEpisode: "Call It a Lifetime"
1963The Twilight ZoneFlora GordonEpisode: "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain"
1963Temple HoustonLucy TolliverEpisode: "Enough Rope"
1963Fractured FlickersHerselfEpisode 20
1964The Travels of Jaimie McPheetersZoe PigalleEpisode: "The Day of the Lame Duck"
1964The FugitiveMrs. Janet LoringEpisode: "Angels Travel on Lonely Roads: Part 2"
1964The VirginianVarious roles2 episodes
1964–1965Burke's LawVarious roles3 episodes
1965The Bill Dana ShowYvette RenayEpisode: "Beauty and the Bellhop"
1965Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Gloria MorganEpisode: "Gomer Dates a Movie Star"
1965The Wackiest Ship in the ArmyEpisode: "The Stowaway"
1965–1967The Wild Wild WestVarious roles2 episodes
1967The Lucy ShowMiss Audrey Fields; herselfEpisodes: "Lucy's Substitute Secretary"; "Lucy Meets the Berles"
1967Judd, for the DefenseAlida NyeEpisode: "To Love and Stand Mute"
1967MannixJean ColemanEpisode: "Run, Sheep, Run"
1967–1969Hogan's HeroesVarious roles3 episodes
1968IronsideMarianEpisode: "To Kill a Cop"
1969The Guns of Will SonnettFanEpisode: "Trail's End"
1969The Flying NunFaye/Sister Mary Grace2 episodes
1969Marcus Welby, M.D.Shirley BallingerEpisode: "All Flags Flying"
1969–1972Love, American StyleVarious roles3 episodes
1971Mayberry R.F.D.Terry PhillipsEpisode: "The City Planner"
1971A Howling in the WoodsSharonTelevision film
1971The Mod SquadGloria HardyEpisode: "Exit the Closer"
1971ArnieMiss FletcherEpisode: "Et Tu, Arnie"
1972Me and the ChimpLavelle WigginsEpisode: "My Pet, the Thief"
1973Match GameGuest PanelistOne Week
1974-1976High RollersCo-HostessDaytime
1974Indict and ConvictPhyllis DorfmanTelevision film
1974Roll, Freddy, Roll!Evelyn Danton KaneTelevision film
1979Mork & MindyLisaEpisode: "Mork's Night Out"
1979–1982Three's CompanyVarious roles2 episodes
1980–1982The Flintstone Comedy ShowHidea Frankenstone 18 episodes
1980Vega$Gloria GarlandEpisode: "Love Affair"
1980The Ghosts of Buxley HallErnestine Di GonziniTelevision film
1980–1983Fantasy IslandVarious roles3 episodes
1981Elvis and the Beauty QueenSu-SuTelevision movie
1981The SmurfsAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1982Three's CompanyMarshaEpisode: "The Matchbreakers"
1982Simon & SimonPenny RussellEpisode: "Matchmaker"
1982Madame's PlaceKaye JacobsEpisode #1.42
1983CHiPsBabeEpisode: "Journey to a Spacecraft"
1984The RoustersMrs. SladeEpisode: "Slade vs. Slade"
1984HotelGeorgia PotterEpisode: "Ideals"
1984–19851st & TenRona4 episodes
1985The Love BoatHarriet Wolters1 episode
1985BensonZeldaEpisode: "Solid Gold"
1988Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul SchoolRevolta Television movie
1988–1989Coming of AgePauline Spencer15 episodes
1989Sweet Bird of YouthSally PowersTelevision movie
1989Jake and the FatmanLeilani SimmonsEpisode: "Sweet Leilani"
1990Timeless Tales from HallmarkVoice roleEpisode: "Rapunzel"
1990Charles in ChargeGloriaEpisode: "Three Dates and a Walnut"
1990People Like UsFaye ConverseTelevision film
1990Murder, She WroteReneeEpisode: "A Body to Die For"
1992DeltaCharlotte TylerEpisode: "How Much Is That Darden in the Window?"
1993The BuildingSylviaEpisode: "Yakkity Yak Don't Talk"
1997RoseanneJoyce2 episodes
1998'Mrs. GoreEpisode: "Cigar Wars"
2000'Koko KashmereEpisode: "In the Limelight"
2003Life With BonnieMrs. Ruta BlanchetteEpisode: "Places, Stat!"
2005Studio HouseLily FargateTelevision movie
2006Christmas Do-OverGranny ConlonTelevision movie
2007Christmas at Cadillac Jack'sRose JenkinsTelevision movie
2012Days of Our LivesTillie InmanEpisode #1.11749