Born in Los Angeles, CA. Played saxophone with Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and many other jazz greats. Gordon was also a bandleader, whose forays into film ranged from scoring PORNOGRAPHY - A MUSICAL (1971) to starring in Bertrand Tavernier's 'ROUND MIDNIGHT (1986), a semi-biographical film. The latter helped to mythologize Gordon, making him -- or the character he played -- into the epitome of the Jazzman. Gordon's other film appearances included UNCHAINED (1955), the Swedish JAG ÄLSKAR, DU ÄSKAR / I LOVE, YOU LOVE (1968) and AWAKENINGS (1990).  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1986: 'ROUND MIDNIGHT 1 nomination