Zelda Rubinstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zelda Rubinstein
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Rubinstein in 1985
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Zelda May Rubinstein
May 28, 1933 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | January 27, 2010 (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, human rights activist |
| Years active | 1958–2010 |
Zelda May Rubinstein (May 28, 1933 – January 27, 2010) was an American actress. She was also a human rights activist. Many people remember her as Tangina Barrons, a special medium, in the Poltergeist movies.
She also played "Ginny" in the TV show Picket Fences. Zelda was the voice for Skittles candies in their "Taste the Rainbow" ads. She was known for speaking up for little people. She also helped fight against HIV/AIDS early on.
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Early Life and Education
Zelda Rubinstein was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 28, 1933. Her parents, Dolores and George Rubinstein, were Jewish immigrants from Poland. She was the youngest of three children. Zelda was the only person in her family who was short-statured. She was about 4 feet 3 inches (1.30 m) tall. This was because of a problem with her anterior pituitary gland. This gland makes growth hormone.
Zelda did not feel comfortable with her height until she was an adult. In an interview, she said she had a "rough childhood." But she learned to speak up for herself. She said she learned to "meet everyone head-on."
Rubinstein won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh. There, she earned a degree in bacteriology. She also joined the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. At age 25, she moved to Berkeley, California. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She also worked as a medical lab technician at blood banks.
Becoming an Actress
In 1978, Zelda decided to become an actress. She studied acting at the University of California. The movie Poltergeist was her first big film role. In the movie, she played a psychic named Tangina. A film critic named Pauline Kael praised Zelda's acting. She said Zelda "gives the movie new life."
After Poltergeist, Zelda kept acting in movies and on TV. She often played characters who had special psychic abilities. She also narrated the scary TV show Scariest Places on Earth. This show was on ABC Family in the U.S.
Zelda was in other movies like Sixteen Candles and Teen Witch. She also did voice work for cartoons like Hey Arnold! and The Flintstones. She made many guest appearances on TV shows. These included Caroline in the City and Martin. She had a main role as Ginny Weedon in Picket Fences. Her character was written off the show by falling into a freezer.
She also appeared in an episode of Tales From The Crypt. In 1999, she started doing more voiceovers for TV. She narrated Scariest Places on Earth. She also did commercials for movies and for Skittles candy. Her last film role was a small part in the horror movie Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon in 2007. She also appeared as herself at the Revenge of the Mummy ride at Universal Studios Florida.
Helping Others: Human Rights and Activism
Zelda Rubinstein started helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS in 1984. She appeared in commercials to teach people about AIDS. These ads were especially for gay men. Zelda took a risk with her career by doing this. She later said she "paid a price" for it.
She told The Advocate that she lost a friend to AIDS. She knew the disease would spread. She said, "It would climb the fences, get over the fences into all of our homes." She attended the first AIDS Project Los Angeles AIDS Walk. She was a brave voice for those affected by the disease.
Later Life and Passing
Zelda Rubinstein passed away in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2010. She was 76 years old. Her agent, Eric Stevens, said she never fully recovered from a mild heart attack. She had other health issues that got worse over time. Stevens said that Zelda did not want a funeral.
Images for kids
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Rubinstein in 1985
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Rubinstein in the film Poltergeist II: The Other Side
See also
In Spanish: Zelda Rubinstein para niños
