Zelda Rubinstein

Zelda Rubinstein "NNDB: Zelda Rubinstein". http://www.nndb.com/people/464/000032368/.  (May 28, 1933)^[1],^[2]) is an American actress, best known as eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the movies Poltergeist (1982) and its sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), and Poltergeist III (1988). She also made guest appearances in the TV spin-off Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996), as a seer, Christina.

Biography

Rubinstein was born on May 28, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended the University of California and the University of Pittsburgh.^[3] She stands just 4 feet 0 inches (122 cm) due to a deficiency of the anterior pituitary gland, which produces growth hormone. Commenting in 2002 on the challenges of being a very short statured person, Rubinstein said, "Little People are societally handicapped. They have about two minutes to present themselves as equals—and if they don’t take advantage of that chance, then people fall back on the common assumption that 'less' is less."^[4]

She entered the film industry comparatively late, upon returning to the United States after living in Africa for several years. Poltergeist was her first minor film role. She has remained active in film ever since, frequently portraying various psychic characters. She is also the spooky-voiced announcer on the television series, Scariest Places on Earth, which airs in the US on ABC Family and in Canada on YTV.

Rubinstein's other minor/major film roles include Cages, Teen Witch, The Wildcard, Southland Tales and National Lampoon's Last Resort. She has also done voice-over work for TV including Hey Arnold!, and The Flintstones. She has made numerous guest appearances on network TV shows, including Caroline in the City, Martin, Mr. Belvedere, and had a starring role on Picket Fences. She also appeared in an episode of Tales From The Crypt in which she played the mother of a girl who has been dead for 40 years.

Since 2006, she has done voiceovers in television commercials promoting movies such as Lady in the Water and products including Skittles candy. Her most recent film role came in 2007 when she made a cameo appearance in the horror film Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.

References

External links

• Zelda Rubinstein at the Internet Movie Database