Pittsburgh native, Zelda Rubinstein, was an actress best known for her roles in the Poltergeist films, Teen Witch, and Sixteen Candles. She was also an outspoken activist for people with dwarfism and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Rubenstein won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her Bachelor’s in bacteriology and became a sister of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. At 25 she moved to California where she attended the University of California, Berkley, and decided to pursue acting.
Her first role was in the 1978 comedy, Americathon, and from there, her career took off. Rubenstein’s most famous role was as Tangina Barrons, the eccentric medium in the Poltergeist film series. Her final film role was in 2007 in the movie, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
In 1984 Rubenstein became active in the HIV/AIDS fight by appearing in ads that were directed at gay men to promote safe sex and awareness of AIDS. She attended the first AIDS Walk Los Angeles in 1985 to show support and help raise money for the cause.
Zelda passed away in 2010 at age 76.