Zelda Rubinstein American character actress and civic activist Date of Birth: 28.05.1933 Country: USA

Biography of Zelda Rubinstein

Zelda Rubinstein was an American character actress and civil activist, best known for her role as the eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the film "Poltergeist" (1982) and its sequels "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986) and "Poltergeist III" (1988). She also appeared as a guest star in the television spin-off of the film, "Poltergeist: The Legacy" (1996), playing the clairvoyant Christina.

In addition to her acting career, Rubinstein was an active human rights advocate, participating in events against AIDS and serving as a spokesperson for "little people," as she herself was a dwarf. She was born on May 28, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Polish immigrant parents. Rubinstein struggled with her physical imperfections throughout her childhood and into adulthood.

She won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in bacteriology and became a member of the women's society "Phi Sigma Sigma." At the age of 25, she moved to California to attend the University of California, Berkeley, one of the top American universities, and worked as a medical laboratory technician in a blood bank. She also lived in London, UK, for several years.

In 1978, at the age of 45, Rubinstein began to consider a career in acting. She studied acting at the University of California and made her debut in the comedy film "Under the Rainbow" (1981), which also featured other dwarf actors. Her role as Tangina in "Poltergeist" the following year not only became her first major role but also her signature role. Since then, she frequently appeared in films and on television, playing more than 50 roles from 1980 to 2006, including voice acting roles.

Rubinstein often portrayed characters with mental illnesses, such as in the supernatural series "Jennifer Slept Here" with Ann Jillian. She also served as a narrator in the supernatural reality show "Scariest Places on Earth," working on the project from 1999 to 2006, voicing 15 episodes. Her last work was in the horror film "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" (2006).

Among Rubinstein's notable works are the teen comedy "Sixteen Candles" (1984), the Singaporean drama "Cages" (2005), the comedy "Teen Witch" (1989), the crime thriller "The Wild Card" (2004), the sci-fi comedy-thriller "Southland Tales" (2006), and the comedy "National Lampoon's Last Resort" (1994).

Rubinstein also lent her voice to characters in the animated series "Hey Arnold!" and "The Flintstones." She appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows, including "The Pretender," "Caroline in the City," "Martin," "Mr. Belvedere," "Santa Barbara," "Tales from the Crypt," and played Ginny Weedon in "Picket Fences."

In 1984, Rubinstein actively participated in the fight against AIDS, appearing as a mother in a series of social advertisements targeting gay men and promoting safe sex. Although this could have had a negative impact on her career, she persevered.

She passed away on January 27, 2010, at the age of 76, in a Los Angeles hospital, where she had spent her final years. The cause of death was complications following a heart attack she had suffered two months prior. Rubinstein was survived by her daughter and five grandchildren.