Sometimes all that glitters is gold. Actress, dancer, philanthropist, pisser, Ruta Lee, is one bodacious, bawdy broad, absolutely gorgeous, inside and out.

This was not the time to be having a bad hair day and wardrobe issues. Sitting across the virtual desk from this stunner I felt like an ill-kempt man. I couldn’t take my eyes off the perfectly coiffed and made-up woman whose lipstick never lost its luster through an hour of conversation, whilst mine disappeared faster than

Florence Griffith-Joyner at the starting gate. And yet, Ruta, at every turn, was warm, inclusive, and oh so kind to me. Literally giddy with her attention, I consider my ass well kissed.

And, what a conversation it ’twas! From her earliest days in Montreal with her adoring Lithuanian parents who sacrificed everything to get their Ruta to Hollywood. Dance lessons, acting classes, and live theatre swiftly led to teenage Ruta being featured on The Burns and Allen Show, The Adventures Superman, to starring in the Academy Award Nominated, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Ruta talked about Frank Sinatra and how he unknowingly led to her casting in Witness for the Prosecution, and then knowingly her starring role opposite him and the rest of the Rat Pack in Sergeants 3. Frank, Dean, Sammy, and Peter, oh my! We got stories! About meeting Marilyn, sitting across the table from Elizabeth Taylor (with whom she later co-starred in Sweet Bird of Youth), Milton Berle, and John Wayne. What a story that is! Meeting Debbie Reynolds with whom she shared 50 years of great friendship and philanthropy. The Thalians, a huge part of both of their lives which has changed more lives than can be counted. Playing charades with Lucy, getting Clint, being adored by George Burns, kissing more Hollywood stars than you can shake a stick at, and getting the reveal on who were two of her favorites. *sigh*

We talked Perry Mason, High Rollers, and Alex Trebeck, Match Game, Hollywood Squares, Johnny Carson, leaving us with a tear, yet we barely scratched the Ruta surface. There’s a promised Part 2 in both of our futures.

As soon as I mentioned her recently dropped memoir, Consider Your Ass Kissed, https://amzn.to/3mB2ZAy she hit it back to me, giving a nod to my, Don’t Jump. Generosity seeps from this woman’s pores. I can’t wait to dive into her juicy tome. What a life she’s lived and continues to savor, and wow, can this woman tell a tale.

I’ll be volunteering at the Ruta Lee fan club, devouring her book, jumping to schedule another sit-down, and, I hope sharing many more moments and belly laughs with this Hollywood glamour puss. Ruta Lee defies age and gravity. I’d kill to have what she’s having.

Ruta Lee Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 11/3/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/2ZPJACWv

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best dressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt