A distinguished stage actress through much of the first half of the century, Gordon was also a prolific playwright and screenwriter. Married to writer-director Garson Kanin in 1942, she collaborated with him on several George Cukor films, including the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn classics "Adam's Rib" (1949) and "Pat and Mike" (1952).
Though relatively inactive in the 1950s and 60s, her career picked up again in 1968 after her infamously diabolical role as Minnie Castavets in "Rosemary's Baby", for which she won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. Gordon is perhaps best remembered as the octogenarian partner of 20-year old Bud Cort in Hal Ashby's black comedy "Harold and Maude" (1971).
- Also Credited As:
Ruth Gordon Jones
- Born:
October 30, 1896 in Wollaston, Massachusetts, USA
- Died:
August 28, 1985.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter
Family
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Son: Jones Harris. illegitimate son by theatrical producer Jed Harris; born in 1929
Significant Others
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Companion: Jed Harris. father of Gordon s son Jones
Education
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American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York, New York
Milestones
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1915 Feature debut, The Whirl of Life
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1915 Stage debut in a production of Peter Pan
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1940 Returned to film after a 24 year hiatus, featured as Mary Todd Lincoln in her first sound film, Abe Lincoln in Illinois
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1941 First collaboration with George Cukor as an actress, Two-Faced Woman
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1945 First non-acting feature credit, Over 21, from her play
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1947 Screenwriting debut for George Cukor s, A Double Life
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1953 Final screenplay credit from her play Years Ago and last collaboration with George Cukor, The Actress
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1966 TV-movie debut, Blithe Spirit
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1974 Had recurring role on the TV series Rhoda
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1980 Wrote first and only screenplay for a TV-movie, Hardhat and Legs
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1982 Final TV-movie, Dont t Go to Sleep
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1987 Final feature appearance, The Trouble With Spies