Ruth Kobart

Ruth Kobart
Kobart in Annie (1981)
Born
Ruth Maxine Kohn

(1924-04-24)April 24, 1924
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 2002(2002-12-14) (aged 78)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1959–1995

Ruth Maxine Kohn[1][2][3] (/kɑːn/ KAHN;[a] April 24, 1924 – December 14, 2002), known professionally as Ruth Kobart, was an American performer, whose six-decade career encompassed opera, Broadway musical theatre, regional theatre, films, and television.

Life and career

Born Ruth Maxine Kohn on April 24, 1924, in Des Moines, Iowa,[9][10][11][3][12] Kobart was youngest of three children born to Missouri native Sadie (née Finkelstein) and Lithuanian-born, Des Moines-based building contractor Morris Louis Kohn.[8][13] She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1942.[14][15]She attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where she earned a bachelor of music degree in 1945.[16][17] She made her professional debut as the Witch in an off-Broadway production of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel.[11]

On February 23, 1948, in Times Hall, Kobart gave her first New York recital. A review in The New York Times commented that her voice improved as the evening progressed, as "the richness in the middle registers spread through the whole voice" and later she had "top tones ringing out with splendid quality".[18] Her debut with the New York City Opera (NYCO) occurred on April 11, 1958, as Augusta in The Ballad of Baby Doe.[19]

She frequently toured with the NBC Opera Theatre (NBCOT) and the NYCO. With the NBCOT she notably created the role of Agata in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's Maria Golovin at the Expo '58 in Brussels on August 20, 1958; later the same year she portrayed the role on Broadway. For the NBC, she also created the role of Arina in the premiere of Bohuslav Martinů's The Marriage. She played Madame Pace in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall's Six Characters in Search of an Author at the NYCO in 1959. Regarding her role as Madame Pernelle in Tartuffe at the Geary Theater, she wrote: "I had a big voice and a big body ... I came out on stage and shouted my head off, and believe it or not, I found my way."[20]

In 1955, Kobart made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream. She understudied leading lady Helen Traubel and played her role forty two times during the show's run. Additional Broadway credits included How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Flea in Her Ear, and Three Sisters. She was nominated for the 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Forum.

Kobart's association with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater began with its first season in 1967 and lasted through 1994. Her appearances with them included The House of Bernarda Alba, Sunday in the Park with George, Arsenic and Old Lace, A Little Night Music, and Home.

In the 1970s she took an extended leave from the company to portray Nurse Ratched in the 18-month-long San Francisco production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Her national tour credits included Forty Carats, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Annie. She portrayed Miss Hannigan on the first tour of Annie and in a long Chicago run (in succession to originator Dorothy Loudon).

She voiced the main villain, Malicia, in the 1994 video game King's Quest VII.

Kobart was Jewish and was a member of the Temple Israel of Hollywood.[21]

Films and television

On screen she appeared in the feature film adaptation of How to Succeed, as well as Petulia, Dirty Harry, The Hindenburg, and Sister Act and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Her television credits include a regular role on Bob (which starred Bob Newhart) and guest appearances on The Streets of San Francisco, CHiPs, Archie Bunker's Place, St. Elsewhere, Matt Houston, Remington Steele, Midnight Caller, and Murphy Brown. She portrayed the hijacked school bus driver in Dirty Harry.

Death

Kobart died of pancreatic cancer at her home in San Francisco, California, aged 78, seven months after being diagnosed with the illness.[22] Predeceased, just barely, by her eldest of her two brothers, Dr. Robert I. Kahn, Rabbi of Houston,[23] she was survived by the other, Howard S. Kahn of Minneapolis, as well as by six nieces and nephews.[24] (As previously noted, both of Kobart's brothers had, for practical reasons, long since abandoned the original, somewhat problematic spelling of their family name, K-o-h-n, in favor of the one more readily associated with the name's correct pronunciation.[b]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1967How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingMiss Jones
1968PetuliaNun
1971Dirty HarryMarcella Platt, Bus Driver
1975The HindenburgHattieUncredited
1992Sister ActChoir Nun #7
1993Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Notes

  1. ↑ In March 2004, more than 15 months after her death, a piece entitled "Famous Iowans", published with little fanfare in the Des Moines Register, includes a brief, offhand disclosure–"Kobart's two older brothers later took the name Kahn to reflect the pronunciation of the name"[4]–that belatedly sheds some light on the question of Kobart's actual birth name, and the curious disconnect between that name's spelling and pronunciation; in short, it is spelled K-o-h-n, but evidently pronounced as if K-a-h-n, thus leaving Kobart's two siblings in a quandary. With adulthood rapidly approaching, and put in the position of constantly having to either correct people's pronunciation or hurriedly offer preemptive lecture/demonstrations, both of Kobart's siblings—Howard C. and soon-to-be Rabbi Robert I. Kohn—finally just threw in the towel, figuratively speaking, and traded in their old family name for the more familiar version. Hence, more than half a century later, the predictably misleading presence of survivor Howard S. Kahn in Kobart's 2002 obit.)[5][6][7][8]
  2. ↑ See above.

References

  1. ↑ "Singer Here Appears in New York 'Lemonade Opera'". The Des Moines Register. August 17, 1947. p. E11. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. A Des Moines singer, who hides her blonde prettiness under the putty nose and bushy brows of a witch, is appearing this summer in New York's new summer music group Lemonade opera. Miss Ruth Kobart (her real name is Ruth Kohn) sings the role of the witch in a simplified opera version of 'Hansel and Gretel,' during a six-week run of production at Greenwich, Playhouse.
  2. ↑ "Ruth Kobart Of 'Lemonade Opera' Here". Des Moines Tribune. February 25, 1949. p. 6. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ruth Kobart, a singer in New York City's unique Lemonade Opera Co., is home for a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris L. Kohn, 1069 Polk blvd. Miss Kobart, a soprano, will give a concert at 8:15 p. m. Sunday at the clubhouse of Tifereth Israel synagogue,[...] sponsored by the 'Hadassah society for the benefit of Hadassah Medical organization, which operates a general hospital in Israel.
  3. 1 2 "NEWS of SOCIETY and CLUBS in IOWA: Birthday Anniversary". Des Moines Tribune. April 24, 1934. p. 20. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Ruth Maxine Kohn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris L. Kohn, 535 Waterbury circle, is celebrating her tenth birthday anniversary Tuesday with a party from 4 to 7:30 p. m.
  4. ↑ "Famous Iowans". Des Moines Register. March 28, 2004. p. B1. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Kobart was born in Des Moines, the daughter of Morris Kohn, a building contractor, and his wife, Sadie, of 535 Waterbury Circle. Kobart's two older brothers later took the name Kahn to reflect the pronunciation of the name. Kobart received 'a very thorough grounding in music' at Callanan Junior High School, then graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1942 and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago in 1945. Independent-minded Kobart moved to New York City and joined other young show-business aspirants to found the Lemonade Opera Co. in 1947. Kobart later performed with the NBC Opera Co., the New York City Opera and the Little Orchestra Society. Kobart returned to Des Moines about once a year for visits. In June 1954, in honor of her late grandmother, Anna Finkelstein, Kobart gave a benefit concert at Hoyt Sherman Place.
  5. ↑ "Robert Kohn Attends College in Cincinnati, Ohio". Des Moines Register. May 30, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Robert Irving Kohn, left, older son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris L. Kohn, left recently for Cincinnati for his sophomore year at the University of Cincinnati and the Hebrew Union college. Howard, center, is a junior at Roosevelt High school.
  6. ↑ "Louise Orwig to Leave Saturday on Trip West". Des Moines Register. May 30, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Kohn, Miss Ruth and Howard Kohn, 535 Waterbury circle, have returned from Cincinnati, O., where they attended the ordination of their son and brother, Robert, at Hebrew Union college. He since has been elected junior rabbi for Temple Beth Israel at Houston, Tex., which position he will take Aug. 1. Howard Kohn left Tuesday evening for Minneapolis, Minn., to finish his school work at the University of Minnesota. Rabbi Robert Kohn will arrive next week for a visit in his parents' home.
  7. ↑ "Many Visitors Arrive to Spend Holidays Here". Des Moines Register. December 24, 1941. p. 12. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Miss Ruth Maxine Kohn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris L. Kohn, 535 Waterbury circle, is spending the holiday vacation visiting her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Howard S. Kohn in Wilmington, Del. While in the east, Miss Kohn will spend a few days in New York and Philadelphia, Penn.
  8. 1 2 "Morris L. Kohn Services Held". Des Moines Tribune. November 18, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. Services for Morris L. Kohn, 82, a long-time Des Moines home builder, were held here Sunday. He died Friday. Kohn moved here from Des Moines in 1954 after an Iowa contracting career that began in 1920. [...] Survivors include his wife, Sadie; two sons, Rabbi Robert I. Kahn of Houston, Tex., and Howard Kahn of Minneapolis; a daughter, Ruth Kobart of San Francisco; a brother, Jack Kohn of Ankeny, Ia.
  9. ↑ Herbert, Ian, ed. (1977). Who's Who in the Theatre : A Biographical Record of the Contemporary Stage. London: Pitman. p. 823. ISBN 0-273-00163-9. "KOBART, Ruth (née Ruth Maxine Kohn), actress, singer; b Des Moines, lowa, 24 Apr 1924; d of Morris L Kohn and his wife Sadie (Finkelstein); e American Conservatory of Music, Chicago (B Mus, 1945), Hunter College (MA 1959)."
  10. ↑ Ragan, David, ed. (1992). Who's Who in Hollywood : The Largest Cast of International Film Personalities Ever Assembled, Volume 1: A–L. London: Pitman. p. 823. ISBN 0-273-00163-9. "KOBART, RUTH (S. Cal.) Character. Onscreen from 1966. IN: How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Petulia, The Hindenburg, more. BORN: Ruth Maxine Kohn; April 24, 1924; Des Moines, Iowa."
  11. 1 2 Rigdon, Walter, ed. (1976). Who's Who in Hollywood : Notable names in the American theatre. Clifton, N.J. : J. T. White. p. 892. ISBN 0-273-00163-9. "KOBART, RUTH. Singer, actress b Ruth Maxine Kohn, Apr. 24, 1924, Des Moines, Iowa, to Morris L. and Sadie (Finkelstein) Kohn. Father, building contractor. Grad. Theodore Roosevelt H.S., Des Moines, 1942; American Conservatory of Music. Chicago, 111., B. Mus. 1945; Hunter Coll., grad. study, 1959. Studied singing with Suzanne Sten, N.Y.C Member of AEA; AGMA; AFTRA; SAG; Mu Phi Epsilon. Address: 2109 Broadway, New York, NY 10023, tel. (212) SU 7-3300. Theatre. Miss Kobart first performed in a dance recital in Des Moines (Iowa) Community Center (1934); made her professional debut in N.Y.C. with the Lemonade Opera, as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel (Greenwich Mews Th., June 27, 1947); with the same company and at the same theatre, played the title role in The Duenna (June 1, 1948); Clarissa in The Man in the Moon (June 7, 1949); the Mother in The Stranger(Aug. 30, 1949); and Manuela in Don Pedro(June 1, 1953); with the Little Orchestra Society, at Hunter Coll. Aud., she appeared as the Old Lady in Babar, the Elephant (Dec. 28, 1953) and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel (Feb. 20, 1954)."
  12. ↑ Benjamin, Ruth; Rosenblatt, Arthur (2025). Who Sang What on Broadway, 1866–1996. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 428. ISBN 9781476632322. "5206. Ruth Kobart (Apr. 24, 1924–Dec. 14, 2002) B: Des Moines, IA.) B: New Haven, CT."
  13. ↑ "Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7BSP-XH2M : Tue Apr 08 01:33:17 UTC 2025), Entry for Morris Louis Kohn and Sadie Finkelstein, 17 Jun 1943.
  14. ↑ "Roosevelt High School June Graduates". Des Moines Tribune. June 1, 1942. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "Singer Here Appears in New York 'Lemonade Opera'". Des Moines Sunday Register. August 17, 1947. p. E 11. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Morris L. Kohn, 4615 Waveland". Des Moines Tribune. May 21, 1945. p. 4.
  17. ↑ "Miss Kobart to Sing For Hadassah Event". Poughkeepsie New Yorker. May 14, 1946. p. 14. Retrieved July 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Ruth Kobart Gives First Recital Here". The New York Times. February 24, 1948. p. 21. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Ruth Kobart in Debut: Sings Role of Augusta in 'The Ballad of Baby Doe' Here". The New York Times. April 12, 1958. p. 13. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ Theatermania: Notice of the death of Ruth Kobart
  21. ↑ "Read recent and archived obituaries and memorial notices from Minneapolis StarTribune". Star Tribune.
  22. ↑ Associated Press (December 19, 2002). "Ruth Kobart, ACT actress, dies of cancer at age 78". The Salinas Californian. p. 2C. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. American Conservatory Theater actress Ruth Kobart, who participated in the theater's first San Francisco production, died Saturday. She was 78. Kobart died at her home in San Francisco, surrounded by friends and family. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer seven months ago
  23. ↑ Wall, Lucas (November 22, 2002). "Rabbi Kahn, integration on leader, dies". The Houston Chronicle. p. 41A. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Kahn is also survived by son Alfred and daughter Sharon of Houston; brother Howard of Minneapolis; sister Ruth Kobart of San Francisco, and three grandchildren.
  24. ↑ Winn, Steven (December 19, 2002). "OBITUARIES: Ruth Kobart - ACT, Broadway actress". San Francisco Chronicle. p. A30. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. She is survived by her brother, Howard S. Kahn of Minneapolis, and six nieces and nephews. She was to be buried at the family plot in Minnesota. ACT is planning a memorial service.
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