Ruta Lee Talks Not Sleeping With the Rat Pack, Her Friend Lucille Ball & Fond Memories of ‘Funny Face’ Star Audrey Hepburn (Exclusive)
Ruta Lee, one of Hollywood’s most diverse actors, has done it all: movies, TV, stage, and she has done it all with charm, grace, and laughter. She is most remembered for her roles in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Funny Face, as well as over 200 guest appearances on TV shows. She was a staple guest on ’70s and ’80s game shows, which she loved to appear on and play. Ruta also gives back through her charitable organization, The Thalians, which is committed to caring for returning veterans. Additionally, she authored her memoir, Consider Your Ass Kissed, where she shares even more stories. Ruta Lee chatted with ReMIND ahead of her 90th birthday celebration on May 30th, where she will be doing a sold-out, one-night-only show called “Consider Your Ass Kissed” at The El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles.
Let’s just jump right in. How excited are you about your 90th coming up?
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Ruta: Well, I’m not excited about being 90. I don’t like birthdays anyway. I know people say you should celebrate everything, but I somehow don’t celebrate the passage of time. But I figured the only way to get through my 90th, my 91st, or my 100th is to work my way through it. Because nothing is as enjoyable to me as being on stage and performing with a live audience. Feeling everybody breathes back at you and hopefully smiles, applauds, and cheers. That’s the way to face your birthday.
I loathe with a passion that ridiculous song that those two old ladies made a billion dollars from, and [singing] “Happy Birthday” and we make it Happy Bar Mitzvah to You … Happy First Communion to You … Happy Anniversary to You. Oh my God – so, I don’t allow anybody to sing that song anywhere near me.
Out of all your guest appearances on TV, what was your favorite?
Ruta: That’s an impossible question to answer, because basically, whatever show I’m doing at the time is my favorite. But when I think about it and really look back over it, of course, being on Hollywood Squares and or any of the game shows was the most fun. But when it came to performances, there are two that stand out in my mind. One of them was The Twilight Zone that I really loved doing.
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The other was a Bonanza, I had a very interesting role and I got to play an alcoholic. I mean, I love my drinks, but I’m not a drinker. When you have to kind of stretch [as an actor] and find ways to make a show work. If I had been smart enough and wise enough and rich enough, I probably would have plugged for some kind of notice on that show because it got such good reviews and remarks from everybody who saw it. It could have been one of those things where you go for an Emmy, but I never did. How wonderful that I’ve had this long and fruitful life in show business. To be doing what I love so much and to get a check at the end of the week. Wow, that’s pretty damn good.
How was it working with your friend Lucy?
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All of that was one of the greatest treats of my life. I had worked with her many times. I was often asked to come and do some of her specials and her shows. Lucy became a lovely, close personal friend. I could call on Lucy to be our honoree for the Thalians, or to help out with the City of Hope. Whatever I asked her to do, she did for me. Lucy was a very interesting person; she would take no foolishness when she was working. I say foolishness, I don’t mean that she didn’t like to laugh, she did. But when you worked, you really had to know your stuff and be prepared to snap too. She appreciated that and maybe that’s why I worked so often with her. On the other hand, when she was off the set and not working. She was an entirely different human being.
How was it working with the Rat Pack?
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All foolishness was accepted there. I felt sorry for our director trying to wrangle all these crazy actors, all of whom had wonderful personalities, with fast-talking mouths, and the jokes flying constantly. Who was basically the funniest of them all was Dean Martin. What an innately funny man he was. He should have been the funny man in the team with Jerry [Lewis]. I adored Jerry, too. Ohh God, what fun and Frank Sinatra was probably the most generous human being put on this earth. He did so many things for so many people that nobody knew about. He would quietly pay hotel tabs or hospital tabs or whatever tabs got paid – without people even knowing. I just adored him and unfortunately, I didn’t have an affair with any one of the guys in The Rat Pack. Damn it. Just think of the book I could have written.
Any funny moments or memories from Funny Face?
Well, of course, the precious moments were the ones that I got to spend with the wonderful Fred Astaire and, of course, that glorious Audrey Hepburn. I learned something from Audrey that I sometimes pass on. I asked, ‘How do you stay as spelt and thin as you are, Audrey?’ She [Audrey] grew up during wartime in Europe and food was scarce. She told me, “When I got to a place in my life and career where I could afford to have almost anything that I wanted, I would order everything I wanted on the menu and I would take one bite of it and that’s it. So, I could satisfy my taste but not gain weight.” She was just wonderful.
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Of course, Fred was always kind of reticent and shy. He became a friend, and I used to get little notes from him saying, ‘Loved what you did on such and such, or don’t play that part that way again on another one.’ Did I keep any of those? No, because you’re young and stupid and you think that’s the rest of your life, you’re going to be spending that way. So, I didn’t keep those notes and just think of the book I could have done. Ohh, what a lovely, lovely friend he turned out to be.
Now you have done a lot of Aaron Spelling shows: Vegas, The Love Boat, The Mod Squad. How was it working for Aaron and any memories from those shows?
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Working for Aaron was very, very simple, because I met him when he was still married to Carolyn Jones [from The Addams Family]. Caroline and Aaron had become very good friends, and they had a little house in those days before he was THE AARON SPELLING. He was a mediocre actor, and he was the first to admit that – he was from Texas, as was Carolyn. He was doing a lot of writing and started producing. They had a house in the valley, and I used to go out to have dinner with them occasionally. Then Aaron and Carolyn took a house in Palm Springs, and it was around the corner from my house, and we literally used to drive or walk over to each other’s houses to borrow a cup of vodka or a glass of wine or a cup of sugar, it didn’t matter. How fun to have known them, besides just working with them.
OK, I have to ask about The Smurfs, because you voiced a couple of Smurfs. I love The Smurfs. How was it working and voicing The Smurfs?
To me, that is the loveliest job in the world. Basically, you walk into the studio and you sit down on the stool with the mic, sometimes it’s with a group of people, sometimes it’s just by yourself. You make strange noises; you laugh and carry on and you get paid. I think it’s the easiest job in the world. I just loved it. I love that so many young people watch those shows, and many not-so-young people watch them. What fun to play the Wild Witch on Smurfs and laugh your way through others and do-little girl voices for something else. I don’t really do-little girl voices, I always get ‘Yes, Sir’ on the telephone, you know!
To find out more about Ruta Lee check out her website.
Hollywood Glamour
May 2020
Celebrate the most glamorous leading ladies from the Golden Age of Hollywood
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