Consider Your Ass Kissed

By: Ruta Lee

Narrated by: Ruta Lee

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Ruta Lee’s memoir is a treasure trove of wonderful personal stories and anecdotes with rare firsthand and authentic memories of the entertainment industry.

Ruta Lee is Hollywood! She tells the fascinating stories of her life as a rising star in the golden years of Hollywood, a career that spans seven decades. You will meet the famous actors, dancers, and singers who are now legends that Ruta worked with and whose stories of life behind the scenes intertwined with Ruta’s. The stories of Ruta’s life are told here with truth, with humor, and with an honesty that is Ruta Lee.

In Consider Your Ass Kissed, Ruta discusses her starring roles in films such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Face, Bullet for a Badman, Witness for the Prosecution, and Sergeants 3.

Ruta has worked with Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, Charles Bronson, James Garner, Johnny Carson, Fred Astaire, Robin Williams, Howard Keel, Bob Crane, Frank Sinatra, and the rest of the Rat Pack—the list goes on! The iconic ladies she called friends include Rona Barrett, Phyllis Diller, Julie Newmar, Lucille Ball, Sally Fields, Gypsy Rose Lee (no relation), and her best friend and founder of Thalians, Debbie Reynolds.

During Ruta’s thriving film career, she launched into television success with more than 2,000 appearances, starring and guest starring in shows like Perry Mason, the George Burns and Gracie Allen show, the Andy Griffith show, Dragnet, Peter Gun, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Marcus Welby MD, The Twilight Zone, Ironside, The Flying Nun, Hogan’s Heroes, Mork & Mindy, Benson, The Love Boat, Murder She Wrote, Roseanne, Days of Our Lives, Power Rangers, and, of course, 77 Sunset Strip and The Lucy Show. She even auditioned for the role of Ginger on Gilligan’s Island.

Lee was also cohost on NBC’s High Rollers with Alex Trebek, a regular on Hollywood Squares with Peter Marshall, and made several television movies. She had series leads in CBS’ Coming of Age and HBO’s 1st and Ten. Her stints on the Bonnie Hunt Show remain among her favorites.

Thalians founder Debbie Reynolds and Ruta were the Leading Ladies of “Hollywood for Mental Health” and raised millions for The Thalians Mental Health Center with star-studded events.

©2020 Ruta Lee (P)2022 Skyboat Media, Inc.

Revealing her touching life’s story!

This was a book that I couldn’t wait to read. Ruta Lee is a living icon (as of 2024) & was everywhere in my formative years - and beyond. She tells her life story in a professional, detailed & humorous way, that only Ruta can deliver. She’s from the “old school” of Hollywood & TV where only hard work would make you successful. With only one exception (!) she ALWAYS showed up. And boy does she deliver! She was in (almost) every major production in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and beyond. She tell’s about her times with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack with unflinching honesty. Her stories about the Thalians & her bestie Debbie Reynolds revealed both her philanthropic and hard working ethic. How she got her grandmother from communist Lithuania to America is a testament to her tenacity & love of family. Plus the full story of her life’s love husband will warm your romantic heart. So glad that Ruta found the love that she deserved! Also her love of animals, esp. her many dogs, is another example of her caring tender heart that may not otherwise be seen under her hard working, professional (& beautiful) exterior. What a joy to see life from a true icon’s view! Thank you Ruta - and whomever is interested in these eras and Hollywood from a wonderful woman’s view, this is for you! And to Ruta, I wish that I could meet you & give you a big warm hug of thanks for all that you’ve done. You are one of the greatest and deserve all of the best in life - as you’ve given to others! Brava Ruta!

Ruta Lee is a joy. She’s had quite a life and she tells it all!

Ruta Lee is a strong, talented and funny woman with quite a history. Her stories are not only juicy but also important, interesting and worthwhile. Her story concerning her perseverance about getting her Grandmother out of Siberia is enough to make you realize this is a woman to be reckoned with. She is not only interesting but grateful which is lovely to hear. You will be privy to her opinion on everything from Frank Sinatra’s “manhood” to the enormous heart of Debbie Reynolds. Her charitable work is profound, spectacular and a gift to this world. To hear of her dedication to the Thalians along with Debbie Reynolds as president, chairman, co president and everything in between is enough to earn her the respect of everyone on this planet. But as you know, there’s much more to this energetic, positive, beautiful, talented dynamo. There’s movies like SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and MANY MORE. There’s more episodic TV shows that I could possibly write here in this space. There’s enough game shows and interview shows to fill Fort Knox and that doesn’t cover the years and years of staring in numerous regional theatre productions (Did you know that she was courted to replace Elaine Stritch in the original Broadway company of…COMPANY?) She’s funny, she’s straight forward, she’s a hoot and she’s the real thing! Some (as well as she herself) refer to her as a great broad (she doesn’t use the great before broad but others do). She’s salty and profound and wise and funny and has a list of dear friends that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood. And she’s got memories of all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book. If you have a love of classic movies, classic TV, charitable organizations that change the world and make lives better for those in need, have a deep love of family and friends or Just plain love some GREAT STORIES…you will love this book as well.

Light but warm-hearted Autobiography

My mom used to love to watch Miss Ruta on all the game shows. It's a fun listen to hear the author talk about her life in her own sexy voice. Lots of fun, backstage background on her. I wearied a bit with the name dropping, and how EVERYONE is a "very good friend." She could have benefited by the use of a savvy book editor. Her strong commitment to her Lithuanian background is what drew me to the piece. It was a light, pleasant listen.

She is so funny entertaining just a wonderfully pleasant person 

I loved the way she spoke about her husband Webb. I loved the stuff about Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. I’d love the jokes the funny witty.


Loved It!

I felt like I was sitting across the table from this legend as she shared stories of her family, how she got started in the movies, and how she found the lover her life, Webb.

Also, if you’re interested in “old” Hollywood, this is a fun book. Ruta shares some great stories involving her and some celebrity “A” listers.

Light & funny book

Entertaining, light and funny memoir. Book contains bunch little stories from her life.
Loved Rutas’ voice, she easily can narrate more books:)

The Legend Pack it all into her Book

Ruta is exactly as she seems. She’s a wonderful, kind and lovely human. She is the best!!! You will love this book.

Atrocious

I’ve listen to dozens of memoirs read by the author, this is the least enjoyable one I’ve ever experienced. I found her arrogant and laughably ridiculous. Her flowery over sold style feels off putting and insincere. She’s had some interesting experiences but thats overshadowed by her delivery and attitude.

By contrast, Joan Collins’s recent memoir is the opposite experience. She came off as sincere, humorous, at times self deprecating, and a very human individual. I was left regretting the time spent listening to her outdated golden days of yore mumbling.

R.L. is the queen of cameos, a real Legend. Just ask her, she’ll tell you.

Narration great, content a little light

Narration by author was great. The content was interesting when Ruta spoke of her own life but then it also falls back on providing a laundry list of "best friends", a recital of who she knows...ok but not particularly interesting.