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Ruth Gordon

Ruth Gordon

Actor and writer · Died August 28, 1985, aged 88 · Quincy, Massachusetts, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 30, 1896
Died
August 28, 1985 (aged 88)
From
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor and writer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What are Ruth Gordon's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Self
24%
Morality
20%
Society
11%
Survival
10%
Power
10%
Community7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 5 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 9 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 14 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Mentor
4 of 10
Ally
2 of 10
Trickster
2 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Joyful
8
Absurd
9
Warm
6
Dread
4
Other
28

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ruth Gordon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ruth Gordon's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Trouble with Spies(1987)

    as Mrs. Arkwright

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Maxie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mrs. Lavin

  • The Secret World of the Very Young(1984)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Delta Pi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mugsy

  • Voyage of the Rock Aliens(1984)

    as The Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Don't Go to Sleep(1982)

    as Bernice

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Jimmy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Bernice

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Blanche Devane

  • Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Any Which Way You Can(1980)

    as Ma Boggs

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • My Bodyguard(1980)

    as Gramma

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hardhat & Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Screenplay · as Grandmother

  • Scavenger Hunt(1979)

    as Arvilla Droll

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Boardwalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Becky Rosen

  • Every Which Way But Loose(1978)

    as Ma Boggs

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Taxi(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Dee Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Perfect Gentlemen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Ms. Cavagarno

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Warner

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Prince of Central Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mrs. Miller

  • Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby(1976)

    as Minnie Castevet

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Great Houdinis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Cecilia Weiss

  • The Big Bus(1976)

    as Old Lady

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Medical Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Dobson

  • Rhoda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Eudora Temple

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Isn't It Shocking?(1973)

    as Marge Savage

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Adam's Rib (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · Creator · Story

  • Emergency!(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Lenore

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Harold and Maude(1971)

    as Maude

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Abigail Mitchell

  • Where's Poppa?(1970)

    as Mrs. Hocheiser

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?(1969)

    as Mrs Dimmock

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Rosemary's Baby(1968)

    as Minnie Castevet

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Rosie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Theatre Play

  • Blithe Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Madame Arcati

  • Lord Love a Duck(1966)

    as Stella Bernard

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Inside Daisy Clover(1965)

    as The Dealer - Mrs. Clover

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Matchmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Mrs. Levi

  • The Actress(1953)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Pat and Mike(1952)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Marrying Kind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Writer

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Arcati

  • Adam's Rib(1949)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Ford Theatre Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • A Double Life(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Over 21(1945)

    Theatre Play

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Action in the North Atlantic(1943)

    as Mrs. Sarah Jarvis

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Edge of Darkness(1943)

    as Anna Stensgard

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Two-Faced Woman(1941)

    as Ruth Ellis

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet(1940)

    as Mrs. Ehrlich

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Abe Lincoln in Illinois(1940)

    as Mary Todd Lincoln

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Whirl of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Dancer

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1915 to 1987; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Any Which Way You Can (1980)

$71M worldwide

Highest rated

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19151987

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting43 of 52: 42 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thWriting10 of 52: 8 only writing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thOther crew1 of 52: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1910s1 · acting1940s9 · 5 acting · 4 crew1950s5 · 2 acting · 3 crew1960s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew1970s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew1980s12 · 12 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 5% of 19 roles
406575

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ruth Gordon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The Secret World of the Very Young (1984)

93rd percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ruth Gordon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 4 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 47 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles14–55 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ruth Gordon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ruth Gordon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; George Cukor shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles