History Creator / RuthGordon

She began her career performing on Broadway at age 19. Gordon made a few appearances in silent movies, but the earliest years of her acting career were mostly spent onstage. After a few years as an actress she began to write plays and screenplays, often working with her husband, Garson Kanin. She had a few acting roles in Hollywood as well. The 1943 war film ''Action in the North Atlantic'', in which she played the wife of Creator/RaymondMassey's character, was her last appearance on the big screen for 22 years. She reemerged in the 1960s as a popular character actress, with a warm, grandmotherly image she could play to or [[PlayingAgainstType subvert]], depending on the needs of the project. Her career, which continued until her death in 1985, brought her several UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations for writing and acting, including a Best Supporting Actress win for ''Film/RosemarysBaby''.

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Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an actress and writer.

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Born October 30, 1896 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Ruth Gordon Jones -- who used only her first and middle name in professional life -- was an actress and writer.

Gordon made a few appearances in silent movies, but the earliest years of her acting career were mostly spent onstage. After a few years as an actress she began to write plays and screenplays, often working with her husband, Garson Kanin. She had a few acting roles in Hollywood as well. The 1943 war film ''Action in the North Atlantic'', in which she played the wife of Creator/RaymondMassey's character, was her last appearance on the big screen for 22 years. She reemerged in the 1960s as a popular character actress, with a warm, grandmotherly image she could play to or [[PlayingAgainstType subvert]], depending on the needs of the project. Her career, which continued until her death in 1985, brought her several UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations for writing and acting, including a Best Supporting Actress win for ''Film/RosemarysBaby''.

!Works by Ruth Gordon

Gordon is also one of only two people born in the nineteenth century to host ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', the other being Miskel Spillman, a non-actor who won a "Host Saturday Night Live" contest

Gordon made a few appearances in silent movies, but the earliest years of her acting career were mostly spent onstage. After a few years as an actress she began to write plays and screenplays, often working with her husband, Garson Kanin. She had a few acting roles in Hollywood as well. The 1943 war film ''Action in the North Atlantic'', in which she played the wife of Creator/RaymondMassey's character, was her last appearance on the big screen for 22 years. Her next, ''Inside Daisy Clover'', got her an Academy Award nomination. She reemerged in the 1960s as a popular character actress, with a warm, grandmotherly image she could play to or [[PlayingAgainstType subvert]], depending on the needs of the project. Her career, which continued until her death in 1985, brought her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for ''Film/RosemarysBaby''.

* 1943 ''Film/EdgeOfDarkness1943'' as Anna Stensgard

!!Films as writer

* 1966 ''Theatre/BlitheSpirit''[[note]]TV movie adaptation[[/note]]

Born October 30, 1896 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Ruth Gordon Jones - who used only her first and middle name in professional life - was an actress and writer.

* 1983-84 ''Series/{{Newhart}}'' as Blanche Devane

Gordon made a few appearances in silent movies, but the earliest years of her acting career were mostly spent onstage. After a few years as an actress she began to write plays and screenplays, often working with her husband, Garson Kanin. She had a few acting roles in Hollywood as well. The 1943 war film ''Action in the North Atlantic'', in which she played the wife of Creator/RaymondMassey's character, was her last appearance on the big screen for 22 years. Her next, ''Inside Daisy Clover'', got her an Academy Award nomination. She reemerged in the 1960s as a popular character actress, with a warm, grandmotherly image she could play to or [[PlayingAgainstType subvert]], depending on the needs of the project. Her career, which continued until her death in 1985, brought her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for ''Film/Rosemary's Baby''.

* 1943 ''Film/EdgeOfDarkness'' as Anna Stensgard

* 1976 ''Series/{{Emergency}}'' as Lenore

* 1953 ''Film/TheActress''[[note]]Based on her own life.[[/note]]