Ruth Silo

Ruth Silo (December 29, 1921 – October 13, 2012) was an American stage actress, Hollywood studio executive assistant, and community philanthropist.^[1] She began as a stage performer in New York City before reinventing herself in Hollywood as an assistant to writer-director-producers at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).^[1] Alongside her husband, character actor Jon Silo, she was involved in community and therapeutic volunteering, pioneering the "Laugh Therapy" program for physical rehabilitation patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.^[2]

Ruth Silo was born on December 29, 1921, in the Bronx, New York City.^[1] She began her professional life as an actress in the New York theater scene.^[1][3]

Following expanded professional opportunities for her husband Jon, the family relocated to Los Angeles.^[2][1] In California, Silo pivoted her career from the stage to behind-the-scenes studio operations.^[1] She joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) as an executive assistant, where she became known as a coordinator for high-profile filmmakers.^[1] She served as a key assistant to writer-director-producers, collaborating with people including Franco Zeffirelli and television producer James Komack.^[1]

In her later years, Silo became involved in clinical community service.^[2] Around 1990, her husband underwent a triple-bypass operation and suffered a mild stroke.^[2] During his recovery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the couple's optimistic and resilient disposition impressed their physician, Harry Glassman.^[2] Glassman recruited the couple to share their philosophy with other patients.^[2] Prior to the Silos' involvement, the hospital's physical rehabilitation unit utilized pre-recorded comedy videos to boost patient morale.^[2] Ruth and Jon replaced these recordings with interactive, live comedy workshops, establishing the formal "Laugh Therapy" program.^[4]

Operating on a bimonthly schedule, the Silos led live sessions for groups of physical rehabilitation patients.^[2] The participants were predominantly elderly, and the Silos made specialized individual room visits to patients who were completely confined to their beds.^[2] Silo frequently differentiated their volunteer work from standard comedy entertainment, stating: "An audience in the theater comes to you.^[2] At Cedars-Sinai, we come to the audience".^[2] The curriculum relied on the Silos sharing humorous anecdotes and personal tales from their decades in show business to foster a relaxed, clinical environment.^[2] Once a rapport was built, patients were systematically encouraged to vocalize positive or amusing highlights from their own lives.^[2]

On October 9, 1941, Silo married Austrian-born stage, film, and television actor Jon Silo.^[1] He died on August 4, 1996.^[1] The couple had one child, a daughter named Susan, who was raised in New York City^[1] and became a child performer in the late 1950s and 1960s.^[5] She was later a voiceover artist in American animation.^[6][7]

Silo died on October 13, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.^[1] Her legacy of community service through humor was recognized in both her and her husband's retrospective profiles.^[1]

• Ruth Silo at IMDb