High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 August 28, 1985), better known as Ruth Gordon, was an American actress and writer. She was perhaps best known for her film roles such as the oversolicitous neighbor in Rosemary's Baby, the eccentric life-loving Maude in Harold and Maude and as the mother of Orville Boggs in the Every Which Way films. In addition to her acting career, Gordon wrote numerous well-known plays, film scripts and books. Oscar nominated for both writing and acting, Gordon won an Oscar, an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards for her acting.