Ruth Gordon first stepped onto the public stage as an infant in an advertisement for Mellin's Food for Infants and Invalids. Over the following seven decades, she established a professional profile that bridged the transition from silent film extra in New Jersey to a major award-winning performer in theatre, television, and film.
Early Career and Theatre
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1896, Gordon pursued acting after receiving encouragement from stage performer Hazel Dawn. She moved to New York in 1914 to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her Broadway debut arrived in 1915 with a revival of Peter Pan, where she played Nibs. She gained notice through her work in Seventeen in 1918 and Maxwell Anderson's Saturday's Children in 1927. During the 1930s, her stage career flourished with roles in Ethan Frome, The Country Wife, and Ibsen's A Doll's House.
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In 1942, Gordon married her second husband, writer Garson Kanin. The couple formed a creative partnership, co-writing the screenplays for Adam's Rib in 1949 and Pat and Mike in 1952, both featuring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Their screenwriting efforts earned them multiple nominations, including recognition for A Double Life in 1947. Beyond these scripts, she adapted her own autobiographical play, Years Ago, into the 1953 film The Actress.
Film Resurgence and Awards
Gordon saw a career resurgence during her 70s. She earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her role in the 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby. She continued appearing in notable films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Where's Poppa?, Harold and Maude, Every Which Way but Loose, and My Bodyguard. In 1979, she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Final Years
In addition to her film work, Gordon remained active as a writer, publishing three volumes of memoirs—My Side, Myself Among Others, and An Open Book—along with her 1982 novel, Shady Lady. She received the Crystal Award in 1983. Gordon died in 1985 in Edgartown and was buried in Hancock Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1896, Quincy
- Died: 1985, Edgartown
- Education: American Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: 1969
- Primetime Emmy Award: 1979
- Burial location: Hancock Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What were some of Ruth Gordon's most significant acting roles?
Her most recognized performances include Rosemary's Baby, Harold and Maude, and her supporting role in Inside Daisy Clover.
Did Ruth Gordon write for cinema as well as act?
Yes, she co-wrote several screenplays with her husband Garson Kanin, most notably Adam's Rib and Pat and Mike.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress — 1969
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — 1979
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture — 1969
- Educated at American Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Worked as screenwriter, playwright and stage actor
