Thalians To Honor Ruta Lee, Pay Tribute to Jack Haley Jr. at 46th Annual Ball.

Entertainment Editors

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

Oct. 1, 2001

Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra Jr. to Appear

Gala Benefits Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai

Actress Ruta Lee will receive the "Ms. Wonderful" award for her 33 years of service by leading the Thalians in raising over $30 million for the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the 46th annual Thalians Ball on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001.

One of the organization's original founders, the late Jack Haley Jr. (producer, "That's Entertainment"), will be given a special tribute produced by his nephew, Barry Bregman. Haley's one-time fiancee Nancy Sinatra serves as honorary chair and Liza Minnelli, once wed to Jack Haley Jr., will perform. Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens and Nancy Sinatra will perform a special number. The event will be held at the Century Plaza Hotel; to purchase tickets, phone 310/423-1040.

The evening will be produced by Leslee Scallon and celebrities scheduled to appear include Stephanie Zimbalist, Carol Lynley, Tony Franciosa, Connie Stevens, Angie Dickinson, Ronn Lucas, Jack Carter, Michelle Phillips and Frank Sinatra Jr. The musical direction will be provided by Tony Martin, Jr. and his mother, Cyd Charisse, will also attend. Two of Jack Haley Jr.'s fellow Thalians founding members, Richard Donner and David Wolper, will also be on hand for the festivities.

Each year, the Thalians honor Hollywood's most prolific humanitarians. Aside from her dedication to the Thalians, Ruta Lee has raised millions for organizations that range from the City of Hope and the United Jewish Federation to Catholic Charities, Associates for Breast Cancer and Founders for Diabetic Research and the United Way. Lee joins a select group of Hollywood legends who have been named "Ms./Mr. Wonderful" including Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Liza Minnelli, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Angela Lansbury, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart and others.

Ruta Lee is best known as the youngest bride in MGM's "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"; her role in "Funny Face" with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn; as Tyrone Power's secret love in "Witness for the Prosecution" and Frank Sinatra's leading lady in "Sergeant's Three" and Jerry Lewis' wife in "Funny Bones." She made a long-standing appearance as co-host on NBC's game show, "High Rollers" with Alex Trebek and has appeared on television favorites from "Twilight Zone" and "Murder She Wrote" to "Hollywood Squares," "Roseanne" and "Power Rangers."

The Thalians is the world's first celebrity charity created in 1955 by Hugh O'Brian, Nicky Blair, Jack Haley Jr., David Wolper, Richard Donner and others who wanted to change the image of celebrities. Now headed by Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee, their legacy eventually raised approximately $30 million to build The Thalians Mental Health Center at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 1973. Named after the Muse of Comedy, `Thalia,' The Thalians has attracted most of Hollywood's mega-stars. Unlike any organization of its kind, The Thalians serves as a star-fraternity, boasting a rich archive featuring some of the world's most adored of the silver screen.

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