- Was excited about returning to films after 22 years with a role in "The Loved One" in 1965 and looked forward to having a movie career despite her advanced age. When her role was cut from the final release print, it was a major disappointment, but she persevered and won an Oscar three years later for "Rosemary's Baby.".
- Was a close friend of actor Bud Cort, with whom she costarred in Harold and Maude (1971).
- Natalie Wood was so fond of her that she named her the godmother to her firstborn Natasha Gregson Wagner.
- Had an illegitimate son named Jones, born October 16, 1929. The father was Austrian-born film and stage producer Jed Harris. This led to the breakup of Harris' first marriage, which produced no children.
- Twice married, she gave birth to her only child at age 32, to a son, Jones Harris on October 16, 1929. The child's father was Jed Harris, to whom she was not married. Her only grandchild was Jack Gwynne Emmet Harris (b. March 17, 1972).
- Is the only actress to have won both the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (for Rosemary's Baby (1968)) and the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy (for Taxi (1978)).
- A character based on Gordon was portrayed by Jean Simmons in the movie The Actress (1953).
- She has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Harold and Maude (1971). She has also written one film that is in the registry: Adam's Rib (1949).
- Had one grandson; Jack Gwynne Emmet Harris (b. March 17, 1972).
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1956 Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for portraying Dolly Levi in Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker."
- Her obsession with acting was partly inspired by a performance she attended of "The Pink Lady" at a Boston theater. It starred Hazel Dawn as a seductive Parisian vamp.
- Was the 65th actress to receive an Academy Award: she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Rosemary's Baby (1968) at The 41st Annual Academy Awards (1969) on April 14, 1969.
- There is a 2009 biography of the lives and careers of the Kanin family (Garson Kanin, Ruth [Gordon], Michael Kanin and Fay Kanin): "A Family Affair - The Kanins in Hollywood and on Broadway," written by Josh Kanin (her nephew by marriage) and Wayne Lindholm.
- Alumna of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1914.
- She married twice in her lifetime, and strangely enough with men who had the same initial letters on their name: GK. Garson Kanin and Gregory Kelly.
- Great Aunt of Brian Laporte whose full name is Brian Ruth Laporte in honor of his Great Aunt.
- Biography in "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume One: 1981-1985," pp. 330-332. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
- Never appeared in a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
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