'Poltergeist' Star Zelda Rubinstein Dies at 76

By PopEater Staff
From: http://www.popeater.com/

Actress Zelda Rubinstein, who played spirit talker Tangina in Steven Spielberg's cult 1982 film 'Poltergeist,' has passed away. Her agent, Eric Stevens, confirmed she passed away of natural causes at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 27. She was 76-years-old.

Stevens tells RadarOnline.com, "She had ongoing health issues and unfortunately they finally overtook her."

"At 1:59 this morning Zelda left us. She was very much at peace when she finally rested. I'm so sad right now, but I'm glad I was here to be with her and hold her hand," a friend of the actress said.

She was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December after two of her major organs failed. According to reports, friends and family insisted Rubinstein was on the mend earlier this month.

A friends adds, "She was very much at peace when she finally rested... The world has definitely lost someone very special."

'Poltergeist' was Rubinstein's big break in Hollywood, but she also appeared in 'Poltergeist II: The Other Side,' 'National Lampoon's Last Resort' and 'Sixteen Candles.' Her other credits include 'Caroline in the City,' 'Picket Fences' and 'Mr. Belvedere.'