Fox News reports that Actress
Zelda Rubinstein, star of the horror film
Poltergeist, died at the age of 76 Wednesday morning.
According to her agent Eric Stevens, Rubinstein died shortly before 2 a.m. at the Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles after spending months under professional care.
Last month, Rubinstein was reportedly taken off of life support after two of her major organs failed.
The petite actress, who stood just 4 feet, 3 inches, had been suffering from various health problems following a heart attack last year.
Rubinstein is best known for playing psychic medium Tangina in the 1982 Steven Spielberg-produced and written blockbuster
Poltergeist and became something of a cult figure for her soft-spoken voice.
The actress was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1933 and worked as a lab technician for years before becoming a famous star in her 40s. After her breakout turn in
Poltergeist, she appeared in other successful films including
Teen Witch,
Sixteen Candles and
Cages.
Our thoughts go out to her family.
Really sad news for Poltergeist fans. Actress Zelda Rubenstein passed away.