Rutanya Alda facts for kids

Rutanya Alda (born Rūta Skrastiņa; October 13, 1942) is an actress from Latvia who also became an American citizen. She started her acting career in the late 1960s. She is known for her supporting roles in movies like The Deer Hunter (1978), Rocky II (1979), and Mommie Dearest (1981). Rutanya Alda also played main characters in the horror films Amityville II: The Possession and Girls Nite Out, both released in 1982.

Early Life and Education

Rutanya Alda was born as Rūta Skrastiņa in Riga, which was part of Latvia but occupied by Germany during World War II. Her mother, Vera, was a businesswoman, and her father, Jānis Skrastiņš, was a poet.

After World War II, Rutanya, her grandmother, her mother, and her brother lived for seven years in a camp for people who had lost their homes. This camp was in Germany, which was then controlled by the Allied forces. Later, her family moved to the United States. They lived for a short time in Chicago before settling down in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Alda went to Northern Arizona University. She earned a degree in economics there. She later shared that she chose economics to make her mother happy, as her mother wanted her to be a doctor or a lawyer. At that time, economics was seen as a good step towards studying law. However, Rutanya always wanted to be an actress. She knew this from the age of five, after seeing her first play and movie while living in the displaced persons camp. She never stopped wanting to act.

Acting Career

Rutanya Alda studied acting in New York City with teachers like Barbara Loden and Paul Mann. Her career in show business has lasted for almost 50 years, and she has acted in over 100 different roles.

She is perhaps best known for her roles in:

• The Deer Hunter, where she played Angela, the wife of a character named Steven.
• The popular movie Mommie Dearest, where she played Carol Ann, a loyal housekeeper.
• Amityville II: The Possession, a horror film.

Rutanya Alda has also won a Clio Award, which is given for excellence in advertising. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is the group that gives out the Oscars.

Besides movies, Alda has appeared in many television shows. These include popular series like Cold Case and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She was also a special character in the TV series Beauty and the Beast, which starred Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. She has also worked in commercials and on stage plays.

In 2009, she appeared in the movie Stolen, playing the older version of a character played by Jessica Chastain. She also had a supporting role in the horror film Late Phases in 2014. From 2014 to 2016, Alda was part of a web series called Old Dogs & New Tricks.

Personal Life

Rutanya Alda was married to actor Richard Bright. They were married from 1977 until his passing in 2006. They had one son together, named Jeremy.

See also

In Spanish: Rutanya Alda para niños