Zelda Rubinstein

Zelda May Rubinstein (May 28, 1933 – January 27, 2010) was an American actress and human rights activist, known as eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the Poltergeist film series. Playing "Ginny", she was a regular on David E. Kelley's Emmy Award-winning television series Picket Fences for two seasons. She also made guest appearances in the TV show Poltergeist: The Legacy, as seer Christina, and was the voice of Skittles candies in their long-running "Taste the Rainbow" ad campaign. Rubinstein was also known for her outspoken activism for little people and her early participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She was the youngest of three children.

She was the only dwarf in her family. Her stature was due to a deficiency of the anterior pituitary gland,

Rubinstein won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her bachelor's degree in bacteriology and became a sister of the national sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. At age 25, where she also studied acting.

Career

Rubenstein worked as a medical laboratory technician at blood banks. Rubenstein remained active in film and television thereafter, frequently portraying various psychic characters, such as her appearance on Jennifer Slept Here. She also narrated the horror television series Scariest Places on Earth, which aired in the US on ABC Family and in Canada on YTV. She attended the first AIDS Project Los Angeles AIDS Walk.

Personal life and death

Rubinstein lived in London for several years when she worked as a laboratory technician. After returning to the US, she lived in the Greater Los Angeles, California, area for many years.

Rubinstein died in Los Angeles on January 27, 2010. She was 76 years old. Eric Stevens, Rubinstein's agent of four years, said the actress never recovered from a mild heart attack several months earlier, which he said had left her a patient at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles. "She had several pre-existing conditions that she had been dealing with for years, and unfortunately they began to overtake her," Stevens said. Stevens also said that at Rubinstein's request, no funeral would be held.

Filmography Films + List of film credits Year Title Role Notes 1979 Americathon Act 1981 Under the Rainbow Iris 1982 Poltergeist Tangina Barrons Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress 1982 Frances Mental Patient Credited as Zelda Rubenstein 1983 Daughter 1984 Sixteen Candles Organist 1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side Tangina Barrons Nominated-Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1987 Anguish Alice Pressman, the Mother Alternative title: Angustia 1988 Poltergeist III Tangina Barrons Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated-Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1989 Teen Witch Madame Serena Alcott 1991 Guilty as Charged Edna 1994 National Lampoon's Last Resort Old Hermit Alternative titles: Last Resort, National Lampoon's Scuba School 1995 Timemaster Betting Clerk 1995 Lover's Knot Woman in Clinic 1996 Little Witches Mother Clodah 1997 Mama Dolly Mama Dolly 1997 Critics and Other Freaks Theatre Director 1998 Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights Princess Shalazar 1999 Frank in Five Waitress 2000 Maria & Jose Doctor 2002 Wishcraft Medical Examiner 2004 Mrs. Stanfield Direct-to-DVD release 2005 Cages Liz 2005 Angels with Angles Zelda the Angel 2006 Unbeatable Harold Bunny 2006 Southland Tales Dr. Katarina Kuntzler 2006 Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon Mrs. Collinwood Cameo 2014 Strange Matters Agnes Sampson Posthumous release (final film role)

+ List of television credits Year Title Role Notes 1980 The Flintstone Comedy Show Atrocia Frankenstone (Voice) 1 episode 1983 Jennifer Slept Here 1 episode 1983 Matt Houston Flower Girl 1 episode 1984 Whiz Kids Madame Zerleena 1 episode 1984 Santa Barbara Mental Patient 1 episode 1986 ABC Weekend Special Ralph's Mother 1 episode 1987 1 episode 1987 Faerie Tale Theatre Old Woman 1 episode 1987 Reading Rainbow Herself (Voice) 1 episode 1987 Sable Sister Glory 1 episode 1990 Santa Barbara Gladys Bittleworth, ghost psychic5 episodes 1990 Mr. Belvedere Murphy 1 episode 1991 Darkwing Duck Darkwing Duck's Mother / Negaduck's Mother 1 episode 1991 Butterfingers O'Malley Television movie 1992 Stormy Weathers Rosamund Television movie 1992 Goof Troop Madame Zeldarina 1 episode 1992 Tales from the Crypt Nora 1 episode 1992–1994 Picket Fences Ginny Weedon 44 episodes 1993 Acting on Impulse Nosy Lady Television movie 1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy Christina 1 episode 1997 Martin Nurse Froyd 1 episode 1997 Chock 2 - Kött Mother Television movie 1998 Caroline in the City Phyllis 1 episode 1999 Hey Arnold! Patty's Mother (Voice) 1 episode 2000 Pawn shop lady 1 episode 2000–2006 Scariest Places on Earth Narrator 41 episodes 2001 Dr. Schwartzen Quartz (Voice) Television movie