Zina Bethune Dead: Former Ballerina And Actress Killed When Attempting To Help Wounded Animal (PHOTOS)

LOS ANGELES -- Renowned former ballet dancer, actress and teacher Zina Bethune was hit by two vehicles and killed after getting out of her car in an apparent attempt to help a wounded animal, authorities said Monday.

Bethune, 66, whose married name is Zina Feeley, left her Lincoln Towncar running on Forest Lawn Drive early Sunday and got out to help what turned out to be a dead opossum, police Sgt. Jeffrey Siggers told the Los Angeles Times.

She was hit by an eastbound vehicle, then thrown into the opposite lane, where she was hit by another vehicle that dragged her body more than 600 feet, police said. She had severe head injuries and died at the scene.

Police have not identified the car that was involved in the second collision, Siggers said. The driver may have fled or may have been among the many drivers interviewed by investigators at the scene.

Bethune trained under famed dance instructor George Balanchine and began dancing with the New York City Ballet at age 14 despite suffering from scoliosis and lymphedema.

"I was born to dance, in my heart, but not in my body," she told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 1999.

Starting in 1982, she taught dance to thousands of disabled Southern California children through her nonprofit dance company.

She also sang and danced on Broadway, and appeared in many TV soap operas, including "The Guiding Light" in the 1950s and "Santa Barbara" in the 1980s.

On the big screen she was best known for appearing opposite Harvey Keitel in director Martin Scorsese's 1967 feature debut, "Who's That Knocking At My Door."

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Photos of Zina Bethune with the children she mentored, courtesy of Infinite Dreams.

Comments

[WSS61]

08:56 PM on 05/08/2012

What is also sad, is that this article failed to recognize that Zina, had a co-starring role with actress Shirl Conway, in an early 60s TV drama titled "The Nurses." She played student nurse Gail Lucas, for 3 years! May she RIP.

[Pink birrd]

03:36 AM on 02/27/2012

What a shame. I respect that Zina Bethune was trying to do the 'right thing' in her mind, I just wish she had exercised more caution. (I try to help injured animals too but more often than not, they are already dead.)
I wish the driver of the car was paying more attention. It's simply a very sad accident.

[carolhm]

04:32 AM on 02/24/2012

So sad when I heard the news. Zina Bethune devoted her art and time to help many people. I read a touching article from her friend Nancy Bianconi, http://nohoartsdistrict.com/index.php/north-hollywood-news/item/1011-zina-bethune-a-loss-to-noho-and-the-world

[rockysparks]

02:46 AM on 02/21/2012

I had forgotten about Zina Bethune, I'm sorry to say. The starred in "The Nurses" in the 1960s and was quite charming. I found this clip of her appearance on "The Judy Garland Show" back around 1963. She was very charming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_TrNjmvjO0

[Sultry]

07:20 PM on 02/17/2012

Lets not address the fact that what she did was really foolish, not only did she get herself killed, she could have caused a chain reaction that killed others including children in the process. She may have been a kind woman, but she was also a foolish woman that got herself killed, over a dead or dying possum. The freeways in CA are no place to be pulling over for any reason.

[Pink birrd]

03:33 AM on 02/27/2012

It's a drive not a freeway and if a person is so unobservant as to hit a person while driving, then that person could just as easily hit a child, should a child dart out in front of their car.
You're only adding insult to injury calling a deceased woman, 'foolish'.
Next time I have a flat tire on a road, I'll remember your words, "the freeways in CA are no place to be pulling over for any reason."
People rear-end NYS Trooper cars on the shoulder of highways and you can see their lights for miles.
Some people need to be more aware of their driving and less on 'autopilot', or God save anyone or anything that gets in the path of their car.

[IndependentAndProud]

12:52 AM on 02/16/2012

It's hard to express how sad this story is. She was trying to do a noble deed and she lost her because of it. How do you explain such a thing? Rest in peace, Zina.

[Katzfey]

12:43 AM on 02/16/2012

What an awesome, kind, generous, passionate, and loving lady, even in her last caring act. The photos tell so much of who she was....for me an inspiration, and her passing a tragic loss. My condolences to her loved ones.

[gunnergoz]

11:44 PM on 02/15/2012

This is truly sad. She was remarkable and will be missed. RIP Zina.

[j72144]

08:10 PM on 02/15/2012

So very sad ,she was an inspiritation in all she did ,a lovely person ,who gave all she had to make others see the value in thier own lives May she rest with her re newed body and soul

[faith]

06:02 PM on 02/15/2012

What an amazing woman ! The photo captions tell us so much about the human spirit ! I will spend the rest of this day thinking positive and productive thoughts. A great loss to this age, but thank you Huff Po for presenting a stirring and positive portrayal of this woman.

[Former Icon]

04:30 PM on 02/15/2012

Her performance in "Who's That Knocking At My Door" was memorable. A lovely woman of many talents, not the least of which were tolerance and mindfulness.

[makebofapay]

04:21 PM on 02/15/2012

She was obviously a very loving and compassionate woman. The world has lost another angel and we need all the help we can get down here.

[DennisTheMenance]

05:39 AM on 02/15/2012

What a Shame-
But It's just Like a Woman Driver will Swerve out of the Way into Oncomming Traffic to avoid hitting a Squirrel, but hit someone Head On..
-Or Slam on the brakes to avoid Hitting a Squirrel and then Get Hit In the Rear..
-How about Do you hit a Bike Rider that Swings out in front of you from riding off the Road? Or do you swing to the Left and Into On Comming Traffic to avoid htting them, but Hit another Vehicle Head On? Ans? If U can't stop in time, You Hit the Biker..
-Always go to the Right-! Always Avoid Hitting someone else Head On!

What a Shame

[Jospeh Moose]

12:29 PM on 02/15/2012

I've done this very thing, that is, swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision. I did hit the biker, but the biker survived without serious injury. One must choose between the lesser of two evils.

[zfire]

12:44 PM on 02/15/2012

Really? Just like a woman driver? I've hit many a squirrel to avoid an accident on mountain roads and if you slam on your breaks (for any reason) and someone hits you, they are at fault because the law states that ten feet of distance is required for safety. If you leave ten feet between you and the biker as the law requires, you will have time to stop unless you are not paying attention or your brakes are not maintained.

[mlaiuppa]

03:53 PM on 02/15/2012

Not ten feet. One car length for every ten miles per hour of your speed. That would be 6 car lengths for 60 mph.

[Kai Ferano]

05:35 AM on 02/15/2012

Heaven gives its favorites early death, and nowadays 66 is young. Zina Bethune seemed like an angel on earth, yet she died a horrific death. One would think that "early Sunday morning" is the least likely time to die by auto. Seems like we've lost a great lady.

[catslegl]

07:57 AM on 02/15/2012

In LA County, the roads are always busy with traffic.
RIP Ms. Bethune.

[sobachka]

05:28 PM on 02/15/2012

"Heaven gives its favorites early death"
A ridiculous adage. On the other hand, popes are always old men ... hmm.

[Kai Ferano]

05:40 PM on 02/15/2012

Wasn't Pope John Paul a beloved religious leader? I believe he was. I'm not sure where the adage comes from. It sounds like Shakespeare. Sometimes it does seem that "the good die young." (another one!)

[Minnielee]

05:12 AM on 02/15/2012

How tragic. I remember her from when I was young and I was first starting to take ballet lessons. For the damage done here, the drivers must have been exceeding the speed limit. Also, ironic that she is killed when stopping to help an injured animal and someone hit her and left her die. Ugly world we live in today.