Iván Ruttkay (3 February 1926 – 30 June 2013), sometimes spelled Iván Ruttkai, was a Hungarian film and stage actor and competitive speed skater. He represented Hungary in the 1948 Winter Olympics. His siblings were the actress Éva Ruttkai and the actor Ottó Ruttkai.
Contents
Early life
Ruttkay was born Iván Russ on 3 February 1926 in Budapest, Hungary. His parents were Emma Podrabsky and Miklós "Márk" Russ. His family was Jewish.
During World War II, Ruttkay was conscripted into the Hungarian Labor Service, unit number 101/322. In addition enduring forced labor, Ruttay also survived the Kiskunhalas massacre, where the Schutzstaffel (Nazi SS) killed 196 of his fellow labor servicemen.
Speed skating
Ruttkay was a competitive speed skating champion. He represented Hungary in numerous events in the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. At the Olympics, he finished 10th in the 1500 metres event, 13th in the 5000 metres competition, 15th in the 10000 metres event, and 37th in the 500 metres competition.
Acting
Ruttkay was a film actor and also performed on the stage in Budapest. He started his acting career as a child, learning his craft and performing at Lakner bácsi Gyermekszínházána (Uncle Lakner's Children's Theater) in Budaest. His first film was A titokzatos idegen (The Mysterious Stranger) in 1936, followed by A szív szava {The World of the Heart) and Mámi (Mommy) in 1937. After World War II, Ruttkay returned to acting, with a role as Jani in Rózsafabot (Rosewood) in 1940. This was his best known role.
In 1941, Ruttkay's films included Ma, tegnap, holnap (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow); Balkezes angyal (The Left-Handed Angel); and Bob herceg (Prince Bob). He had a role in Mese a 12 találatról (The Tale of the 12 Hits) in 1956. Rottkay was cast in the four-part television film, Villa Lidón (The Villa), in 1971.
Personal life
Ruttakay's siblings were the noted Hungarian film and stage actress Éva Ruttkai and the stage actor Ottó Ruttkai (sometimes spelled Ruttakay).
For the last few decades of his life, Ruttakay lived in Sweden. Ruttakay died in Stockholm, Sweden on 30 June 2013 at the age of 87 years.