
Ruth Gordon
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.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Ruth Gordon
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (65 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | The Trouble with Spies | Mrs. Arkwright | Movie | 1987 |
![]() | The Ten-Year Lunch | Herself - Participant | Movie | 1987 |
![]() | Maxie | Mrs. Lavin | Movie | 1985 |
![]() | The Secret World of the Very Young | Mary | Movie | 1984 |
![]() | Delta Pi | Mugsy | Movie | 1984 |
![]() | Voyage of the Rock Aliens | The Sheriff | Movie | 1984 |
![]() | Don't Go to Sleep | Bernice | Movie | 1982 |
![]() | Jimmy the Kid | Bernice | Movie | 1982 |
![]() | Newhart | Blanche Devane | TV Series | 1982 |
![]() | Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady | Self / Appearance | Movie | 1982 |
![]() | Night of 100 Stars | Self | Movie | 1982 |
![]() | Any Which Way You Can | Ma Boggs | Movie | 1980 |
![]() | My Bodyguard | Gramma | Movie | 1980 |
![]() | Hardhat & Legs | Grandmother | Movie | 1980 |
![]() | Hardhat & Legs | Screenplay | Movie | 1980 |
![]() | Scavenger Hunt | Arvilla Droll | Movie | 1979 |
![]() | Boardwalk | Becky Rosen | Movie | 1979 |
![]() | Every Which Way but Loose | Ma Boggs | Movie | 1978 |
![]() | Taxi | Dee Wilcox | TV Series | 1978 |
![]() | Perfect Gentlemen | Ms. Cavagarno | Movie | 1978 |
![]() | The Love Boat | Mrs. Warner | TV Series | 1977 |
![]() | The Prince of Central Park | Mrs. Miller | Movie | 1977 |
![]() | Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby | Minnie Castevet | Movie | 1976 |
![]() | The Great Houdinis | Cecilia Weiss | Movie | 1976 |
![]() | The Big Bus | Old Lady | Movie | 1976 |
![]() | Saturday Night Live | Self - Host | TV Series | 1975 |
![]() | Medical Story | Emily Dobson | TV Series | 1975 |
![]() | Rhoda | Self / Appearance | TV Series | 1974 |
![]() | Kojak | Miss Eudora Temple | TV Series | 1973 |
![]() | Isn't It Shocking? | Marge Savage | Movie | 1973 |
![]() | Adam's Rib | Story | TV Series | 1973 |
![]() | Adam's Rib | Creator | TV Series | 1973 |
![]() | Emergency! | Lenore | TV Series | 1972 |
![]() | Harold and Maude | Maude | Movie | 1971 |
| Film '72 | Self | TV Series | 1971 | |
![]() | Columbo | Abigail Mitchell | TV Series | 1971 |
![]() | Where’s Poppa? | Mrs. Hocheiser | Movie | 1970 |
![]() | The Flip Wilson Show | Self | TV Series | 1970 |
![]() | What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? | Mrs Dimmock | Movie | 1969 |
![]() | Rosemary's Baby | Minnie Castevet | Movie | 1968 |
![]() | The Dick Cavett Show | Self - Guest | TV Series | 1968 |
![]() | Rosie! | Theatre Play | Movie | 1967 |
![]() | Blithe Spirit | Madame Arcati | Movie | 1966 |
![]() | Lord Love a Duck | Stella Bernard | Movie | 1966 |
![]() | Inside Daisy Clover | The Dealer - Mrs. Clover | Movie | 1966 |
![]() | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self | TV Series | 1962 |
![]() | The Mike Douglas Show | Self | TV Series | 1961 |
| The Matchmaker | Mrs. Levi | Movie | 1954 | |
![]() | The Actress | Writer | Movie | 1953 |
![]() | The Oscars | Self | TV Series | 1953 |
![]() | Pat and Mike | Screenplay | Movie | 1952 |
![]() | The Marrying Kind | Writer | Movie | 1952 |
![]() | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Madame Arcati | TV Series | 1951 |
![]() | Adam's Rib | Screenplay | Movie | 1949 |
![]() | The Ford Theatre Hour | Writer | TV Series | 1948 |
![]() | The Ed Sullivan Show | Self | TV Series | 1948 |
![]() | A Double Life | Screenplay | Movie | 1947 |
![]() | Over 21 | Theatre Play | Movie | 1945 |
![]() | Action in the North Atlantic | Mrs. Sarah Jarvis | Movie | 1943 |
![]() | Edge of Darkness | Anna Stensgard | Movie | 1943 |
![]() | Two-Faced Woman | Ruth Ellis | Movie | 1941 |
| Information Please Series 2, No. 2 | Self - Guest Expert | Movie | 1940 | |
![]() | Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet | Mrs. Ehrlich | Movie | 1940 |
![]() | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | Mary Todd Lincoln | Movie | 1940 |
![]() | The Whirl of Life | Dancer | Movie | 1915 |





































































