Ruby Elizabeth Smith-Merovitz Friedman is an ex-actress, fashion designer, writer, chef and a wine consultant who voiced Badger in Franklin from 1997-2002. She was replaced by Melinda Chrysalis for the sixth season in 2003-2004 after Smith-Merovitz had aged out of the role.
Ruby was born into a theatrical family with a set and costume-designer mother, and an actor/singer/playwright father. Naturally, she fell into the performing arts herself, and her childhood was a swirl of dance classes, music lessons, membership in the prestigious Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, and a successful professional acting career from the age of 8 to 18.
In 2004, though she was set on pursuing a career in the fashion industry, Ruby took a job working at Lee restaurant for the highly influential Chinese-Canadian chef Susur Lee, where she fell hard for the world of food and wine. This chapter catapulted her into a career working in wine and hospitality, which has now spanned over fifteen years.
Ruby now resides in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Other projects[]
- The Magic School Bus (1994-1997) - Student calling the producer (voiceover only) and Carmen
- Angela Anaconda (1999-2001) - Nanette Manoir
- Elliot Moose (1998-2000) - Socks
- Birdz (1998–1999) - Spring Robin
- Family of Cops series (first 2 movies) - Maya Fein
- Freaky Stories (1997-1999) - Narration ("Sweet Dreams") (voiceover only)
- How To Be A Gentlewoman by Lotte Jeffs (audiobook) - Narration (voiceover only)
Trivia[]
- Outside of the show, she uses the same voice tone as Badger for the voice of Socks in Elliot Moose.
Gallery[]
