Ruth Gordon (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an American actress and screenwriter who was perhaps best known for her role as the oversolicitous neighbor in Roman Polanski's adaptation of Ira Levin's novel Rosemary's Baby, for which she won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Gordon also starred as Maude in Hal Ashby's indie comedy Harold and Maude and as Mary Todd Lincoln in Abe Lincoln in Illinois. She had a minor role as Clint Eastwood's mother in his films Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can . In addition, Gordon wrote the screenplay for the Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy film Adam's Rib.
Harold and Maude and Adam's Rib have both been selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress' National Film Registry.
Ruth was the oldest host of Saturday Night Live.
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