Certainly one of Hollywood's most glamorous ladies, Ruta Lee is also one of its most multi-faceted performers and top-notch civic contributors. Her sunny, outgoing personality, lively wit and disarming candor continue to make her a unique personality and a favorite of the media.

Lee's versatility as an actress has won her the respect of her colleagues and the affection of audiences who know her from her countless appearances on television, the stage and motion pictures, in roles that range from serious drama to zany comedy to classical musicals.

Born Ruta Mary Kilmonis in Montreal, Canada, Lee is the daughter of a Lithuanian tailor, the late Joseph Kilmonis and his wife, Mary. Deeply proud of her background, she made headlines all over the world when in 1964 she journeyed behind the "Iron Curtain" to free her 90 year-old grandmother from a Siberian work camp. Continuing the process, she freed a 17 year-old orphan girl in 1988 who has become the daughter she never had.

Lee's career in show business began as a cashier at the famed Graumann's Chinese Theater, and soon after she landed her first role on the Burn's & Allen television show. Her career quickly escalated when she was signed by MGM as the youngest of the brides in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and subsequently in Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn, as Tyrone Power's secret love in Witness for the Prosecution and Frank Sinatra's leading lady in Sergeant's Three.

Simultaneously, Lee launched her career in television, to date, making more than 1500 guest appearances on many television shows including, Perry Mason, Hotel, Love American Style, Twilight Zone, Hogan's Heros, Jake & the Fatman, Benson, The Love Boat, First & 10, Golden Girls and Charles in Charge just to name a few. Lee also made a long-standing appearance as co-host on NBC's game show, High Rollers and on several made-for-television movies.

With her customary tenacity and resourcefulness, Lee made a career change into theater. She hit the road to star in touring companies of hit musicals and ultimately becoming a box office draw whose name on the marquee virtually guaranteed gargantuan ticket sales at auditoriums like Fort Worth's Casa Manana and Kansas City's Starlight Theater.

Lee has headlined in many musicals including, Annie Get Your Gun, Bells Are Ringing, Hello Dolly!, Irene, Peter Pan, Mame, Irma La Douce, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Pajama Game, On the Town, Showboat, Kiss Me Kate, Call Me Madam, Gypsy, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Woman of the Year among others. The critics have raved about all of her stage roles, but two stand out as favorites, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Goodbye Charlie. Lee's performance in the latter was described as "the greatest Molly of them all" and further commented that "had Ruta Lee created the role on Broadway, the original production would still be running." In Goodbye Charlie, Lee was hailed for her "bounce and energy," "amazing control of movement" and "sheer force and verve of personality."

Lee spends a great deal of time and energy raising funds for the Thalians, a charitable organization which helps to provide for mentally disabled persons through the Thalians Community Health Center at Cedar-Sinai in Los Angeles. She has been the chairman of the board for the past 9 years and 7 terms as president, roles exchanged between herself and actress, Debbie Reynolds. Lee is also a member of the board of the Associates for Troubled Children, has served as a city commissioner on the Los Angeles Environmental Quality Board as a member of the Economic Development Board of Los Angeles, acted as a national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, was honored Woman of Year by B'nai B'rith and recently was given the Humanitarian Award by the Beverly Hills Business Women's Association.

Lee resides in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with her husband, Webb Lowe.

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