RUTA LEE

Ruta Lee was born Ruta Mary Kilmonis in Montreal, Quebec, and was the only child of two Lithuanian immigrants. Her dad was a tailor, and her mother was a homemaker. In 1948, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where she attended high school at Hollywood High School, and started studying acting and performing in high school. She attended Los Angeles City College and the University of California in Los Angeles, but never received a degree.

Before working in movies, she worked as a cashier, an usherette, and a candy girl at the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. For over five decades, Lee supported The Thalians, a mental health organization. She was the board chairman until she stepped down in 2011. She is also passionate about her Lithuanian heritage and restored her citizenship in 2019. The 85-year-old is set to star in the upcoming comedy-drama film Senior Moment.