Kanin, Garson, 1912-1999

Actor, author, and director.

From the description of Garson Kanin papers, 1941-1965. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71130926

Biographical Note

• 1912, Nov. 24: Born, Rochester, N.Y.
• 1933: Graduated, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York, N.Y. Acted for the first time on Broadway in Little Ol' Boy
• 1934: Appeared in Spring Song (play)
• 1935: Appeared in Three Men on a Horse (play)
• 1936: Directed Hitch Your Wagon (play)
• 1938: Directed A Man to Remember (film)
• 1939: Directed The Great Man Votes (film)
• 1940: Directed My Favorite Wife (film)
• 1941: Directed Tom, Dick and Harry (film)
• 1941 - 1945 : Served with the United States army
• 1942: Married Ruth Gordon (died 1985)
• 1945: Codirectored with Carol Reed, The True Glory, Dwight D. Eisenhower's film report on the Allied victory in Europe
• 1946: Wrote and directed Born Yesterday (play) for which he received the Donaldson Award and the Sidney Howard Memorial Award Directed Years Ago (play)
• 1948: Coauthored with Ruth Gordon A Double Life (screenplay)
• 1949: Coauthored with Ruth Gordon Adam's Rib (screenplay)
• 1950: Wrote the English libretto and directed Die Fledermaus for the Metropolitan Opera Co.
• 1952: Coauthored with Ruth Gordon Pat and Mike (screenplay)
• 1955: Wrote and directed The Diary of Anne Frank (play)
• 1959: Published Blow Up a Storm. New York: Random House
• 1960: Wrote and directed Do Re Mi (play)
• 1964: Directed Funny Girl (play)
• 1966: Published Remembering Mr. Maugham. New York: Atheneum
• 1969: Published Cast of Characters. New York: Atheneum
• 1971: Published Tracy and Hepburn: An Intimate Memoir. New York: Viking Press
• 1990: Married Marian Seldes
• 1999, Mar.13: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Garson Kanin Papers, 1941-1965, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Biographical Note

Ruth Gordon

• 1896, Oct. 30: Born, Wollaston, Mass.
• 1915: Appeared as Nibs in Peter Pan (play)
• 1918: Married Gregory Kelly (died 1927)
• 1936: Appeared as Margery Pinchwife in The Country Wife (play)
• 1940: Appeared as Mary Todd Lincoln in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (film)
• 1942: Married Garson Kanin
• 1946: Wrote Years Ago (play)
• 1949: Wrote Adam's Rib (film)
• 1952: Wrote Pat and Mike (film)
• 1953: Wrote The Actress (film based on play Years Ago)
• 1955: Appeared as Dolly Levi in The Matchmaker (play)
• 1965: Appeared as Mrs. Clover in Inside Daisy Clover (film)
• 1968: Appeared as Minnie Castevet in Rosemary's Baby (film)
• 1969: Won 1968 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Rosemary's Baby
• 1971: Appeared as Maude in Harold and Maude (film)
• 1978: Appeared as Ma Boggs in Every Which Way But Loose (film)
• 1985, Aug. 28: Died, Edgartown, Mass.

Garson Kanin

• 1912, Nov. 24: Born, Rochester, N.Y.
• 1932 - 1933 : Attended American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York, N.Y.
• 1933: Appeared as Tommy Deal in Little Ol' Boy (play)
• 1942: Married Ruth Gordon (died 1985)
• 1946: Wrote Born Yesterday (play) Directed Years Ago (play)
• 1949: Wrote Adam's Rib (film)
• 1952: Wrote Pat and Mike (film)
• 1955: Wrote and directed The Diary of Anne Frank (play)
• 1964: Directed Funny Girl (play)
• 1990: Married Marian Seldes
• 1999, Mar. 13: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin Papers, 1921-1993, (bulk 1940-1959), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)