Ruth Gordon.

Ruth Gordon Jones

Born 30 Oct 1896 Quincy, United States

Died 28 Aug 1985 Edgartown, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 129 yr If Living

10 min read

Reading time

1,857

Words

Sep 25, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Ruth Gordon won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1969 for her role as Minnie Castevet in Rosemary’s Baby. She also starred in the cult classic Harold and Maude 1971 and earned a Primetime Emmy for her role on Taxi in 1979. Gordon began her career on Broadway in 1915 and later wrote screenplays with her husband Garson Kanin for films like Adam’s Rib 1949. She died in 1985 at age 88.

Identity & family.

KIN · 2

Names, aliases, and relatives of Ruth Gordon — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Ruth Gordon Jones

Spouses: Garson Kanin Gregory Kelly

At a glance.

STATS

Ruth Gordon by the numbers — life, work, and family.

88 Years lived

4 Awards

2 Marriages

Who was Ruth Gordon?

BIOGRAPHY

Ruth Gordon — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Ruth Gordon was born on October 30, 1896 in Quincy, Massachusetts, to a sea captain father and Annie Tapley. Inspired by a performance of The Pink Lady starring Hazel Dawn, she convinced her father to let her pursue acting. She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1914, and made her Broadway debut as Nibs in Peter Pan in 1915. That same year, she acted in silent films shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey, before dedicating herself to the stage for the next two decades.

Career

Ruth Gordon returned to films in the early 1940s with a performance as Mary Todd in Abe Lincoln in Illinois 1940 before leaving Hollywood to focus on writing. With her second husband Garson Kanin, she co-wrote screenplays for Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, including Adam’s Rib 1949. After a 22-year absence from the screen, she returned in the mid-1960s, though her part in The Loved One 1965 was cut. She persisted and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rosemary’s Baby 1968, playing the nosy neighbor Minnie Castevet. She followed with another role as the eccentric Maude in Harold and Maude 1971. In 1979, she won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on Taxi 1978.

Personal life

Ruth Gordon married actor Gregory Kelly in 1918; he died in 1927. Her second marriage was to playwright and screenwriter Garson Kanin in 1942, with whom she collaborated professionally. In 1929, she gave birth to an illegitimate son, Jones Harris, whose father was producer Jed Harris. Gordon was a close friend of Bud Cort, her co-star in Harold and Maude. Natalie Wood named her as godmother of her daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner. Gordon was investigated by the FBI in the 1950s for signing a pledge to boycott segregated theaters in Washington, D.C.

Legacy

Ruth Gordon is the only actress to have won both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Two of her films, Rosemary’s Baby 1968 and Harold and Maude 1971, have been selected for the National Film Registry for their cultural and historical significance. She also co-wrote Adam’s Rib 1949, which is also in the Registry. A character based on her was portrayed by Jean Simmons in The Actress 1953. Gordon is remembered for her Oscar-winning performance in Rosemary’s Baby and her role in Harold and Maude.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 4

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Ruth Gordon — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Crystal Award
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 7

A wall of memorable lines from Ruth Gordon — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

The Great Have No Friends. They Merely Know a Lot of People.
Why Should Ruts Be so Comfortable and so Unpopular?
The Kiss. There Are All Sorts of Kisses, Lad, from the Sticky Confection to the Kiss of Death. of Them All, the Kiss of an Actress Is the Most Unnerving. How Can We Tell If She Means It or If She’s Just Practicing?
The Best Impromptu Speeches Are the Ones Written Well in Advance.
Never Give Up, and Never, Under Any Circumstances, No Matter What – Never Face the Facts.
If You Believe, Then You Hang On. If You Believe, It Means You’ve Got Imagination, You Don’t Need Stuff Thrown Out on a Blueprint, and Don’t Face Facts-what Can Stop You? If I Don’t Make It Today, I’ll Come in Tomorrow.
All I Wanted Out of a Career Was to Look Like Hazel Dawn and Wear Pink Feathers.

Did you know?

FACTS · 19

Little-known facts about Ruth Gordon — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Bud Cort, her co-star in Harold and Maude in 1971, was a close friend of Ruth Gordon.
She was excited about returning to films after 22 years for The Loved One in 1965, but her part was cut from the final print, a major disappointment. She persevered and won an Academy Award three years later for Rosemary’s Baby in 1968.
Natalie Wood named Gordon as the godmother of her firstborn child, Natasha Gregson Wagner.
Two of her films have been selected for the National Film Registry: Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 and Harold and Maude in 1971. She also wrote one film in the registry: Adam’s Rib in 1949.
Twice married, she gave birth to her only child at age 32, an illegitimate son, Jones Harris, born October 16, 1929, fathered by Jed Harris.
Her only grandchild was Jack Gwynne Emmet Harris, born March 17, 1972.
A character based on Gordon was portrayed by Jean Simmons in the film The Actress in 1953.
In the 1950s, she was investigated by the FBI for signing a pledge to boycott Washington, D.C. theaters that banned African Americans.
Her obsession with acting was partly inspired by seeing Hazel Dawn perform in The Pink Lady at a Boston theater.
She is the only actress to have won both the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 and the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy Award for Taxi in 1979.
She was nominated for Broadway’s 1956 Tony Award as Best Actress for portraying Dolly Levi in Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker.
She was the earliest born host of Saturday Night Live in 1975.
There is a 2009 biography of the Kanin family: A Family Affair: The Kanins in Hollywood and on Broadway, written by Josh Kanin and Wayne Lindholm.
She was the 65th actress to receive an Academy Award, winning Best Supporting Actress for Rosemary’s Baby at the 41st Annual Academy Awards on April 14, 1969.
She was an alumna of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Class of 1914.
She married two men with the same initials G.K.: Gregory Kelly and Garson Kanin.
She is the great-aunt of Brian Laporte, who was named Brian Ruth Laporte in her honor.
Her biography appears in The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume One: 1981-1985, pages 330-332.
She never appeared in a film nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 35

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Ruth Gordon.

When was Ruth Gordon born?

Ruth Gordon was born on October 30, 1896. She was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA.
Where was Ruth Gordon born?

She was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA. Her father was a sea captain.
When did Ruth Gordon die?

She died on August 28, 1985. She was 88 years old at the time of her death.
How old was Ruth Gordon when she died?

Ruth Gordon was 88 years old when she died on August 28, 1985. She was born in 1896.
Where did Ruth Gordon die?

She died in Edgartown, Massachusetts, USA. The cause of death was a stroke.
How did Ruth Gordon die?

Ruth Gordon died from a stroke. She passed away in Edgartown, Massachusetts on August 28, 1985.
What was Ruth Gordon's birth name?

Her full birth name was Ruth Gordon Jones. She was known professionally as Ruth Gordon.
What was Ruth Gordon's occupation?

She was an actor, writer, and soundtrack artist. She had a career spanning over seven decades.
What nationality was Ruth Gordon?

Ruth Gordon was American. She was born in Quincy, Massachusetts and held United States citizenship.
What language did Ruth Gordon speak?

Her native language was English. She was born and raised in the United States.
Who was Ruth Gordon married to?

She was married twice: to actor Gregory Kelly from 1918 until his death in 1927, and to playwright Garson Kanin from 1942 until her death in 1985.
Where did Ruth Gordon go to school?

She attended Quincy High School and later the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1914.
What awards did Ruth Gordon win?

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rosemary’s Baby in 1968, a Golden Globe for the same film, a Primetime Emmy for Taxi in 1979, and a Crystal Award.
How many major awards did Ruth Gordon win?

She won at least four major awards: one Academy Award, one Golden Globe, one Emmy, and one Crystal Award.
What is Ruth Gordon best known for?

She is best known for her Oscar-winning role in Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 and her starring role in Harold and Maude in 1971. She also won an Emmy for Taxi in 1978.
How tall was Ruth Gordon?

Ruth Gordon was 5 feet 0 inches, or 1.52 meters tall.
Did Ruth Gordon have children?

Yes, she had one son, Jones Harris, born on October 16, 1929. The father was producer Jed Harris, to whom she was not married.
Was Ruth Gordon a writer?

Yes, she wrote plays and co-wrote screenplays with her husband Garson Kanin, including the film Adam’s Rib in 1949 starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
Did Ruth Gordon win an Oscar?

Yes, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 at the 41st Academy Awards in 1969.
Did Ruth Gordon win an Emmy?

Yes, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Dee Wilcox on Taxi in 1979.
Who was Ruth Gordon's son?

Her son was Jones Harris, born in 1929. He was the result of her relationship with producer Jed Harris.
Was Ruth Gordon friends with Bud Cort?

Yes, she was a close friend of actor Bud Cort, with whom she co-starred in the film Harold and Maude in 1971.
What film did Ruth Gordon win an Oscar for?

She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Minnie Castevet in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby in 1968.
What TV show did Ruth Gordon win an Emmy for?

She won a Primetime Emmy for her role on the sitcom Taxi, playing Dee Wilcox in the episode Ruth Gordon’s in 1979.
How many films of Ruth Gordon are in the National Film Registry?

Two films she appeared in are in the registry: Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 and Harold and Maude in 1971. She also wrote one registered film, Adam’s Rib in 1949.
What was Ruth Gordon's first Broadway role?

She made her Broadway debut in 1915 as Nibs in Peter Pan.
Did Ruth Gordon have any grandchildren?

Yes, her grandson is Jack Gwynne Emmet Harris, born on March 17, 1972.
Was Ruth Gordon investigated by the FBI?

Yes, in the 1950s she was investigated by the FBI for signing a pledge to boycott theaters in Washington, D.C. that practiced racial segregation.
Who portrayed Ruth Gordon in a film?

A character based on Ruth Gordon was portrayed by Jean Simmons in the 1953 film The Actress.
What was Ruth Gordon's connection to Saturday Night Live?

She hosted Saturday Night Live in 1975, making her the earliest-born host of the show.
Did Ruth Gordon write any books?

Yes, she wrote several books during the mid-1970s, though the source does not specify their titles.
What was the name of Ruth Gordon's husband?

Her husbands were Gregory Kelly, from 1918 to 1927, and Garson Kanin, from 1942 to 1985. Both had the initials G.K.
How long was Ruth Gordon's acting career?

She began acting in silent films in 1915 and continued until her death in 1985, a career of 70 years.
Was Ruth Gordon ever nominated for a Tony?

Yes, she was nominated in 1956 for Best Actress for her role as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder.
What was Ruth Gordon's height?

She was 5 feet 0 inches, or 1.52 meters tall.

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Audited & updated by

Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on September 25, 2026

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