Ruth Gordon
Biography
Ruth Gordon's career as an actress, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist stretched across seven decades. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her Broadway debut at nineteen in a revival of Peter Pan, after appearing as an extra in silent films. On stage in the 1930s she played roles in Ethan Frome and The Country Wife, then moved into Hollywood supporting parts, including Greta Garbo's final movie, Two-Faced Woman (1941). She and Garson Kanin wrote the screenplays for Adam's Rib (1949) and Pat and Mike, receiving Academy Award nominations. Her screen acting brought a Golden Globe for Inside Daisy Clover (1965), an Oscar and another Golden Globe for Rosemary's Baby (1968), and a Golden Globe nomination for Harold and Maude (1971). She later won an Emmy for an episode of Taxi and appeared in Every Which Way But Loose (1978), Any Which Way You Can (1980), and My Bodyguard (1980).
88years old at death
- Born Quincy
- Died Edgartown
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Ruth Gordon Jones (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 20
- Career span
- 47 years1940 to 1987
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Behind the award
Ruth Gordon won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Rosemary's Baby at age 72, after 50 years in the business, and thanked the academy by saying, "I can't tell you how encouraging a thing like this is ..."
First role
In 1915, Ruth Gordon played Nibs, one of the Lost Boys, in a Broadway revival of Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. She shared the stage with Maude Adams and got a favorable mention from critic Alexander Woollcott.
Early training
Ruth Gordon asked several actresses she admired to send autographed pictures while she was still a student at Quincy High School. A reply from Hazel Dawn, whom she had watched in The Pink Lady on stage, led her to pursue acting.
Ruth Gordon movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
James Fargo directed two of these films. Roddy McDowall appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Roddy McDowall's page
Irving Bacon's page
Clint Eastwood's page
Ned Beatty's page
Geoffrey Lewis's page
Robert Morley's page
James FargoDirector, 2 films, 1978 to 1984
All films by James Fargo
Also two films together12 more actors
- Roy JensonAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- Bill McKinneyAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- Raymond MasseyAction in the North Atlantic (1943) and Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
- Harold GouldThe Big Bus (1976) and Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
- Louis Jean HeydtAbe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) and Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940)
- Barnard HughesMaxie (1985) and Where’s Poppa? (1970)
- John QuadeAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- Richard MulliganScavenger Hunt (1979) and The Big Bus (1976)
- Sondra LockeAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- William O'ConnellAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- Dan VadisAny Which Way You Can (1980) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
- Louis AdlonAction in the North Atlantic (1943) and Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Ruth Gordon's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$221 million
7 of the 20 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 20 films: 7 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 9 figure not found.
- 7Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 9Figure not found
Highest grossing
The seven biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$85M38.5% of the total
- 2$71M31.9% of the total
- 3$33M15.1% of the total
- 4$22M10.2% of the total
- 5$3.7M1.7% of the total
- 6$3.5M1.6% of the total
- 7$2.6M1.2% of the total
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1969 to 1983, three of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1969 | Best Supporting Actress | Rosemary's Baby | Won |
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1969 | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Rosemary's Baby | Won |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1979 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Taxi | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1983 | Crystal Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.