---
name: "Ruta Lee"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruta-lee"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 May 1935"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-20T02:51:01.343935+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ruta Lee

Actor. Born 30 May 1935 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 May 1935, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- **Active:** 1954–1963
- **Also known as:** Rita Kilmonis, Ruta Kilmonis, Ruta Mary Kilmonis
- **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 82 (3), 1960s 84 (1)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Mystery 3, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $14m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruta_Lee, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q459211, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498181/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10929

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Seven Brides for Seven Brothers*](https://film.one/film/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Ruta Lee (born Ruta Mary Kilmonis) is a Canadian-born American actress and dancer of Lithuanian descent. She was born on 30 May 1935 in Montreal, Quebec.

She made her film debut as bride Ruth Jensen in the 1954 musical *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers*, credited as Ruta Kilmonis. Subsequent film roles include Lettie in *Funny Face* (1957) and Diana in *Witness for the Prosecution* (1957).

Lee has appeared in numerous television series, including episodes of *The Twilight Zone* (1963), *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, *Hogan's Heroes*, *Three's Company* and *Murder, She Wrote*. She has also featured on game shows such as *Hollywood Squares*, *What's My Line?* and *High Rollers*, and serves as chairman of the mental health charity The Thalians.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *The Fugitive* (1963), Fi1m 84, as Mrs. Janet Loring — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), Fi1m 84, as Flora Gordon — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Witness for the Prosecution* (1957), Fi1m 87, as Diana — [page](https://film.one/film/witness-for-the-prosecution.md)
- *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers* (1954), Fi1m 76, as Bride Ruth Jensen — [page](https://film.one/film/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers.md)

## Complete filmography (104)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Senior Moment* (2021), as Diego's Neighbor
- *Christmas at Cadillac Jack's* (2007), as Rose Jenkins
- *A Christmas Too Many* (2007), as Grandma
- *Christmas Do-Over* (2006), as Granny Conlon
- *Quiet Kill* (2004), as Doris
- *Life with Bonnie* (2002), series, as Mrs. Ruta Blanchette
- *Pretty When You Cry* (2001), as Antique Store Patron
- *Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills* (1997), as Mrs. Poole
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Funny Bones* (1995), as Laura Fawkes
- *Saved by the Bell: The New Class* (1993), series, as Mrs. Gore
- *Power Rangers* (1993), series, as Koko Kashmere
- *Delta* (1992), series, as Charlotte Tyler
- *Timeless Tales: Rapunzel* (1990), Actor
- *People Like Us* (1990), as Faye Converse
- *Sweet Bird of Youth* (1989), as Sally Powers
- *Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School* (1988), as Revolta (voice)
- *Coming of Age* (1988), series, Actor
- *Jake and the Fatman* (1987), series, Actor
- *1st & Ten* (1984), series, as Rona, Rona (uncredited)
- *Charles in Charge* (1984), series, as Gloria
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Renee
- *Smorgasbord* (1983), as Ms. Sultry (voice)
- *Madame's Place* (1982), series, as Kaye Jacobs
- *Hotel* (1982), series, Actor
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor
- *Elvis and the Beauty Queen* (1981), as Su-Su
- *The Ghosts of Buxley Hall* (1980), as Ernestine Di Gonzini
- *The Flintstone Comedy Show* (1980), series, as Hidea Frankenstone
- *The Frankenstones* (1980), series, as Hidea Frankenstone (voice)
- *CHiPs* (1977), series, Actor
- *Three's Company* (1977), series, as Marsha Whitewood
- *Rooster: Spurs of Death!* (1977), as Gayly
- *Roll, Freddy, Roll!* (1974), as Evelyn Danton
- *Indict and Convict* (1974), as Phyllis Dorfman
- *Me and the Chimp* (1972), series, Actor
- *Doomsday Machine* (1972), as Dr. Marion Turner
- *A Howling in the Woods* (1971), as Sharon
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Joan Landers, Nancy
- *Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1969), series, as Shirley Ballinger
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Gloria Hardy
- *Mannix* (1967), series, as Jean Coleman
- *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, Actor
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Marian Lord
- *Hogan's Heroes* (1965), series, as Dr. Suzette Lechay, Leslie Smythe-Beddoes
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Laurie Morgan
- *Invisible Diplomats* (1965), as Connie Wisner
- *Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.* (1964), series, as Gloria Morgan
- *Bullet for a Badman* (1964), as Lottie
- *The Bill Dana Show* (1963), series, Actor
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Laura Jean, Margot Davis, Ulla Swenson
- *Temple Houston* (1963), series, as Lucy Tolliver
- *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Mrs. Janet Loring — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Colleen Riley
- *The Gun Hawk* (1963), as Marleen
- *Hootenanny Hoot!* (1963), as A.G. Bannister
- *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Audrey Fields, Ruta Lee
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Judith Holly, Jane Carlyle
- *Sergeants 3* (1962), as Amelia Parent
- *Operation Eichmann* (1961), as Anna Kemp
- *Tallahassee 7000* (1961), series, Actor
- *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Della Bell
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Jean Boswell, Darlene Mason
- *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor
- *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, as Stella Hughes, Laura Lytton
- *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Ellen Barton
- *The Alaskans* (1959), series, Actor
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Flora Gordon — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Johnny Staccato* (1959), series, Actor
- *Tightrope* (1959), series, as Laura Brahn
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Sheila Delancey, Lorraine
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Katie Moran, Melissa Mateneau, Diane Adams
- *Man with a Camera* (1958), series, Actor
- *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Nellie Fontana
- *Yancy Derringer* (1958), series, as Romilly Vale
- *Peter Gunn* (1958), series, Actor
- *Marjorie Morningstar* (1958), as Imogene Norman
- *Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer* (1958), series, as Shelly Lewis, Susan Jarrad
- *Witness for the Prosecution* (1957), as Diana — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/witness-for-the-prosecution.md)
- *Maverick* (1957), series, as Ellen Bordeen, Dolly, Laura Dillon
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Connie Cooper, Millie Crest, Vita Culver, Vivian Cosgrave, Irene Prentice
- *M Squad* (1957), series, as Ora Kane, Connie Meston
- *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Lucy Barron
- *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Louise Thompson
- *Funny Face* (1957), as Lettie
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Jenny
- *Gaby* (1956), as Denise
- *The Twinkle In God's Eye* (1955), as Ruthie
- *Crossroads* (1955), series, as Gambler's Wife (uncredited)
- *Highway Patrol* (1955), series, Actor
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Ruby Boyenton, Angel
- *The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing* (1955), as Tennis Girl (uncredited)
- *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Jennie Lane, Jenny
- *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Angela Temple McLaughlin
- *December Bride* (1954), series, Actor
- *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers* (1954), as Bride Ruth Jensen — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers.md)
- *I Led Three Lives* (1953), series, Actor
- *Adventures of Superman* (1952), series, as Claire - High School Girl
- *Dragnet* (1951), series, Actor
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Marian
- *Mamie Exposed! The Life and Loves of the Last Blonde Bombshell*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![A promotional shot of Ruta Lee](https://film.one/media/person/385245/gallery-e418b8c585c2.jpg) A promotional shot of Ruta Lee — Studio Publicity, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/RUTALee.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ruta Lee at a ceremony for Leslie Caron to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/385245/gallery-0d2033d311ac.jpg) Ruta Lee at a ceremony for Leslie Caron to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/RutaLeeDec09_%28lighter_crop%29.jpg/1280px-RutaLeeDec09_%28lighter_crop%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruta Lee at a ceremony for Leslie Caron to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/385245/gallery-e90af7dc5c21.jpg) Ruta Lee at a ceremony for Leslie Caron to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/RutaLeeDec09.jpg/1280px-RutaLeeDec09.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruta Lee](https://film.one/media/person/385245/gallery-d51c671ba53f.jpg) Ruta Lee — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruta Lee](https://film.one/media/person/385245/gallery-f533e7bc9aa9.jpg) Ruta Lee — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ruta-lee