---
name: "Zelda Rubinstein"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zelda-rubinstein"
fi1m_id: "zelda-rubinstein"
imdb_id: "nm0748289"
tmdb_id: 10091
wikidata_id: "Q187345"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "28 May 1933"
died: "27 January 2010"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T23:36:00.884284+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."
---

# Zelda Rubinstein

## Identity

Zelda Rubinstein

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zelda-rubinstein
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zelda-rubinstein
- **IMDb ID:** nm0748289
- **TMDB ID:** 10091
- **Wikidata ID:** Q187345
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelda_Rubinstein, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q187345, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0748289/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10091

Actor. Born 28 May 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 27 January 2010.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 28 May 1933, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 27 January 2010
- **Also known as:** Zelda Rubenstein
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelda_Rubinstein, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q187345, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0748289/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10091

## Biography

Zelda Rubinstein was an American actress. She is best known for her role as the eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the *Poltergeist* film series, appearing in all three entries: *Poltergeist* (1982), *Poltergeist II: The Other Side* (1986) and *Poltergeist III* (1988).

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 28 May 1933, Rubinstein worked as a medical laboratory technician before beginning her acting career in her forties. Her film debut was in *Under the Rainbow* (1981). She also appeared in *Sixteen Candles* (1984) and played Ginny in the television series *Picket Fences*.

Rubinstein was an activist for little people and took part in early campaigns against HIV/AIDS. She died in Los Angeles on 27 January 2010.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, latimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Poltergeist* (1982), Fi1m 84, as Tangina Barrons — [page](https://film.one/film/poltergeist.md)

## Complete filmography (42)

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

- *Southland Tales* (2007), as Dr. Katarina Kuntzler
- *Cages* (2007), as Liz
- *Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon* (2006), as Mrs. Collinwood
- *The Wild Card* (2004), as Mrs. Stanfield
- *Wishcraft* (2002), as Medical Examiner
- *The Flintstones: On the Rocks* (2002), as Psychiatrist (voice)
- *Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights* (1998), as Micha
- *Little Witches* (1996), as Mother Clodah
- *Hey Arnold!* (1996), series, Actor
- *The Pretender* (1996), series, as Pawn Shop Lady
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Lover's Knot* (1996), as Woman in Clinic
- *Poltergeist: The Legacy* (1996), series, as Christina
- *Caroline in the City* (1995), series, as Phyllis
- *Timemaster* (1995), as Betting Clerk
- *National Lampoon's Last Resort* (1994), as Old Hermit
- *Acting on Impulse* (1993), as Nosy Lady
- *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Ginny Weedon
- *Goof Troop* (1992), series, as Madame Zeldarina (voice)
- *Martin* (1992), series, as Nurse Froyd
- *Stormy Weathers* (1992), as Rosamund
- *The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw* (1991), as Butterfingers O'Malley
- *Darkwing Duck* (1991), series, as Darkwing Duck's Mother / Negaduck's Mother (voice)
- *Guilty as Charged* (1991), as Edna
- *Shades of L.A.* (1990), series, Actor
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Nora
- *Teen Witch* (1989), as Madame Serina
- *Poltergeist III* (1988), as Tangina Barrons
- *The Dancing Princesses* (1987), as Old Woman
- *Anguish* (1987), as Alice Pressman, the Mother
- *The Mouse and the Motorcycle* (1986), as Ralph's Mother (voice)
- *Poltergeist II: The Other Side* (1986), as Tangina Barrons
- *Sixteen Candles* (1984), as Organist
- *Jennifer Slept Here* (1983), series, Actor
- *Frances* (1982), as Mental Patient
- *Matt Houston* (1982), series, Actor
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as The Old Woman
- *Poltergeist* (1982), as Tangina Barrons — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/poltergeist.md)
- *Under the Rainbow* (1981), as Iris
- *The Flintstone Comedy Show* (1980), series, as Atrocia Frankenstone
- *The Frankenstones* (1980), series, as Atrocia Frankenston (voice)
- *Americathon* (1979), Actor

## Gallery

- ![Zelda Rubinstein](https://film.one/media/person/117718/gallery-241e6a760ff2.jpg) Zelda Rubinstein — Marsha Traeger, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Zelda_Rubinstein%2C_1985.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zelda Rubinstein](https://film.one/media/person/117718/gallery-549cbdeb292f.jpg) Zelda Rubinstein — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1989: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Poltergeist III*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Poltergeist II: The Other Side*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/zelda-rubinstein