Ruth Gordon

Acting

Ruth Gordon

Born
Died
(aged 88)
Birthplace
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA
Credits
64 titles

Biography

Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Gordon began her career performing on Broadway at age nineteen. Known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, she gained international recognition and critical acclaim for film roles that continued into her seventies and eighties. Her later work included performances in Rosemary's Baby (1968), Where's Poppa? (1970), Harold and Maude (1971), Every Which Way but Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can (1980).

In addition to her acting career, Gordon wrote numerous plays, film scripts, and books, most notably co-writing the screenplay for the 1949 film Adam's Rib. Gordon won an Oscar, an Emmy, and two Golden Globe Awards for her acting, as well as received three Academy Award nominations for her writing.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 54

YearTitleRole
1987 The Trouble with Spies Film Mrs. Arkwright
1987 The Ten-Year Lunch Film Herself - Participant
1985 Maxie Film Mrs. Lavin
1984 The Secret World of the Very Young Film Mary
1984 Delta Pi Film Mugsy
1984 Voyage of the Rock Aliens Film The Sheriff
1982 Don't Go to Sleep Film Bernice
1982 Jimmy the Kid Film Bernice
1982 Newhart TV Blanche Devane (2 ep)
1982 Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady Film Self
1982 Night of 100 Stars Film Self
1980 Any Which Way You Can Film Ma Boggs
1980 My Bodyguard Film Gramma
1980 Hardhat & Legs Film Grandmother
1979 Scavenger Hunt Film Arvilla Droll
1979 Boardwalk Film Becky Rosen
1978 Every Which Way but Loose Film Ma Boggs
1978 Taxi TV Dee Wilcox (1 ep)
1978 Perfect Gentlemen Film Ms. Cavagarno
1977 The Love Boat TV Mrs. Warner (1 ep)
1977 The Prince of Central Park Film Mrs. Miller
1976 Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby Film Minnie Castevet
1976 The Great Houdinis Film Cecilia Weiss
1976 The Big Bus Film Old Lady
1975 Saturday Night Live TV Self - Host (1 ep)
1975 Medical Story TV Emily Dobson (1 ep)
1974 Rhoda TV (1 ep)
1973 Kojak TV Miss Eudora Temple (1 ep)
1973 Isn't It Shocking? Film Marge Savage
1972 Emergency! TV Lenore (1 ep)
1971 Harold and Maude Film Maude
1971 Film '72 TV Self (1 ep)
1971 Columbo TV Abigail Mitchell (1 ep)
1970 Where’s Poppa? Film Mrs. Hocheiser
1970 The Flip Wilson Show TV Self (1 ep)
1969 What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? Film Mrs Dimmock
1968 Rosemary's Baby Film Minnie Castevet
1968 The Dick Cavett Show TV Self - Guest (1 ep)
1966 Blithe Spirit Film Madame Arcati
1966 Lord Love a Duck Film Stella Bernard
1966 Inside Daisy Clover Film The Dealer - Mrs. Clover
1962 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson TV Self (2 ep)
1961 The Mike Douglas Show TV Self (3 ep)
1954 The Matchmaker Film Mrs. Levi
1953 The Oscars TV Self (1 ep)
1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV Madame Arcati (1 ep)
1948 The Ed Sullivan Show TV Self (1 ep)
1943 Action in the North Atlantic Film Mrs. Sarah Jarvis
1943 Edge of Darkness Film Anna Stensgard
1941 Two-Faced Woman Film Ruth Ellis
1940 Information Please Series 2, No. 2 Film Self - Guest Expert
1940 Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet Film Mrs. Ehrlich
1940 Abe Lincoln in Illinois Film Mary Todd Lincoln
1915 The Whirl of Life Film Dancer

Crew credits 11

YearTitleJob
1980 Hardhat & Legs Film Screenplay
1973 Adam's Rib TV Story, Creator (2 ep)
1967 Rosie! Film Theatre Play
1953 The Actress Film Writer
1952 Pat and Mike Film Screenplay
1952 The Marrying Kind Film Writer
1949 Adam's Rib Film Screenplay
1948 Years Ago Film Writer
1948 The Ford Theatre Hour TV Writer (1 ep)
1947 A Double Life Film Screenplay
1945 Over 21 Film Theatre Play
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