A distinguished stage actress through much of the first half of the century, Gordon was also a prolific playwright and screenwriter. Married to writer-director Garson Kanin in 1942, she collaborated with him on several George Cukor films, including the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn classics "Adam's Rib" (1949) and "Pat and Mike" (1952).
Though relatively inactive in the 1950s and 60s, her career picked up again in 1968 after her infamously diabolical role as Minnie Castavets in "Rosemary's Baby", for which she won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. Gordon is perhaps best remembered as the octogenarian partner of 20-year old Bud Cort in Hal Ashby's black comedy "Harold and Maude" (1971).
Family
SON: Jones Harris. Illegitimate son by theatrical producer Jed Harris; born in 1929.
Companion
COMPANION: Jed Harris. Theatrical producer. Father of Gordon's son Jones.
HUSBAND: Garson Kanin. Screenwriter, director. Married December 4, 1942 until her death.
Milestone
1915: Stage debut in a production of "Peter Pan"
1915: Feature debut, "The Whirl of Life"
1940: Returned to film after a 24 year hiatus, featured as Mary Todd Lincoln in her first sound film, "Abe Lincoln in Illinois"
1941: First collaboration with George Cukor as an actress, "Two-Faced Woman"
1945: First non-acting feature credit, "Over 21," from her play
1947: Screenwriting debut for George Cukor's, "A Double Life"
1953: Final screenplay credit from her play "Years Ago" and last collaboration with George Cukor, "The Actress"
1966: TV-movie debut, "Blithe Spirit"
1974 - 1978: Had recurring role on the TV series "Rhoda"
1980: Wrote first and only screenplay for a TV-movie, "Hardhat and Legs"
1982: Final TV-movie, "Dont't Go to Sleep"
1987: Final feature appearance, "The Trouble With Spies"
Education
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York, New York
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