Zelda Rubinstein (born May 28, 1936 ) is an American actress, known as eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the movies Poltergeist (1982) and its sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), and Poltergeist III (1988). She also made guest appearances in the TV spin-off Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996), as a seer, Christina.

Rubinstein was born in Pittsburgh and attended the University of California and the University of Pittsburgh. She stands just 4’ 3” (130 cm) due to a deficiency of the anterior pituitary gland, which produces growth hormone. Commenting in 2002 on the challenges of being a very short statured person, Rubinstein said, "Little People are societally handicapped. They have about two minutes to present themselves as equals—and if they don’t take advantage of that chance, then people fall back on the common assumption that ‘less’ is less." Thomas-Matej, E. What’s in a diagnosis? A medical biography of Michael Dunn. 2002. The Wild, Wild West fan site of Hazard, Nebraska. blank">http://www.nctc.net/hazard/conrad/michaeldunn/biography/

She entered the film industry comparatively late, upon returning to the _United States after living in Europe for several years, in the early 1980s. Poltergeist was her first major film role. She has remained active in film ever since, frequently portraying various psychic characters. She is also the spooky-voiced announcer on the television series, Scariest Places on Earth, which airs in the US on ABC Family and in Canada on YTV.

Rubinstein's other major film roles include Cages, Sixteen Candles, Teen Witch, The Wildcard, and National Lampoon's Last Resort. She has also done voice-over work for TV including Hey Arnold!, and The Flintstones. She has made numerous guest appearances on network TV shows, including Caroline in the City, Mr. Belvedere, and had a starring role on Picket Fences. She also appeared in an episode of Tales From The Crypt in which she played the mother of a girl who was been dead for 40 years.

More recently, she has done voiceovers in television commercials promoting movies such as Lady in the Water and products including Skittles candy.

Filmed a scene in Casper (1995) wherein she portrayed her character from Poltergeist (1982) being shot from a chimney while yelling "Don't go into the light!" It didn't make the final cut, however.

During the filming of Poltergeist III (1988), she was doing a photo shoot when she paused and lurched. Director Gary Sherman (I) was present and asked her what was wrong, she responded with a comment like "I don't know, was just a jolt. I'm fine." Several minutes later Sherman was pulled aside and told they would have to let Rubenstein go from the film -- her mother had just died. After developing the film from the photo shoot, it was discovered that every photo had come out fine, except one, which had an inexplicable cloud of light clouding into the photo from Rubenstein's left, covering half of her with a semi-transparent haze. Rubenstein said she knew the jolt had to have been her mother's passing - she said they always had a particularly strong bond, in a way some identical twins have. Sherman, who had witnessed it, agrees it could not have been anything else. Both Rubenstein and Sherman were already very well aware of the tragic events which had plagued the film series.

Attended the University of California and the University of Pittsburgh.