Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
October 27, 1922
Died
June 11, 2014 (age 91)
Place of Birth
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Also Known As
Ruby Ann Wallace
Ruby Dee
Biography
Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. Her other notable film roles include The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Do the Right Thing (1989) and American Gangster (2007).
Ruby Dee and Black Hairstylists in Early Hollywood
VideoKnown For
TV
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Mary Wilson
2000
TV
The Fugitive
Laura Smith
1963
TV
Great Performances
Self
1971
TV
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
1988
TV
The Golden Girls
Mammy Watkins
1985
TV
Touched by an Angel
LaBelle Springbelt
1994
TV
American Playhouse
Mrs. Grimes
1982
TV
American Playhouse
Zora Neale Hurston
1982
TV
Police Woman
1974
TV
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
TV
The Defenders
Catherine Collins
1961
Film
American Gangster
Mama Lucas
2007
TV
China Beach
1988
TV
The Oscars
Self
1953
TV
Reading Rainbow
Self - Narrator (voice)
1983
TV
The Stand
Mother Abagail Freemantle
1994
TV
Spenser: For Hire
1985
TV
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Grandma (voice)
1995
TV
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978
Film
A Thousand Words
Annie McCall
2012
Filmography
2026FilmLove in Exile2024TVHollywood Blackas Self (archive footage)2018FilmPoitier's Walter Leeas Self (archive footage)2014FilmLife's Essentials with Ruby Deeas Self2013FilmBetty and Corettaas Narrator2013FilmLong Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamalas Self2012FilmA Thousand Wordsas Annie McCall2011FilmVideo Girlas Valerie2011FilmPolitics of Love2011FilmThe Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Rollas Miss Candy2009FilmA Place Out of Time: The Bordentown Schoolas Narrator (voice)2009FilmAmericaas Mrs. Harper2007FilmSteamas Doris2007FilmAmerican Gangsteras Mama Lucas2007FilmAll About Usas Ms. Ella2007FilmIn the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinemaas Herself2007FilmOur Paul: Remembering Paul Robesonas Self2006FilmDiscovering William Greavesas Self2006FilmThe Way Back Homeas Maude2006FilmNo. 2as Nanna Maria2005TVIconoclastsas Self2005FilmTheir Eyes Were Watching Godas Nanny2004FilmBeah: A Black Woman Speaksas Self2004FilmTV in Black: The First Fifty Yearsas (archive footage)2003FilmUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives2002FilmTheater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'as Self2002TVChristianity: The First Two Thousand Yearsas Narrator2001FilmTaking Back Our Townas Emelda West2001FilmFeast of All Saintsas Elsie Claviere2000TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Mary Wilson2000FilmFinding Buck McHenryas Mrs. Henry2000FilmA Storm in Summeras Grandmother1999FilmThe Unfinished Journeyas Narrator (voice)1999TVLittle Bill1999FilmHaving Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Yearsas Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany1999FilmBaby Geniusesas Margo1999FilmPaul Robeson: Here I Standas Self1999FilmPassing Gloryas Mommit Porter1998FilmA Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canneras Narrator1998TVChristianity: The First 1000 Yearsas Herself - Narrator1998FilmThe Wallas Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")1998FilmSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywoodas Self1997FilmA Simple Wishas Hortence1997FilmSports on the Silver Screenas Self (archive footage)1996FilmCaptive Heart: The James Mink Storyas Indigo1996FilmMr. and Mrs. Lovingas Sophia1995TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas Grandma (voice)1995FilmJust Causeas Evangeline Ferguson1995FilmTuesday Morning Rideas Jennie1994TVTouched by an Angelas LaBelle Springbelt1994FilmWhitewashas Grandmother (voice)1994TVThe Standas Mother Abagail Freemantle1993FilmAfter Goodbyeas Narrator1993FilmCop & ½as Rachel1993FilmThe Ernest Green Storyas Lydia Wilson1992TVMiddle Agesas Estelle Williams1992FilmColor Adjustmentas Narrator1991FilmJazztime Taleas Narrator (voice)1991FilmJungle Feveras Lucinda Purify1990FilmDecoration Dayas Rowena1990FilmThe Court-Martial of Jackie Robinsonas Jackie's Mother1990FilmLove at Largeas Corrine Dart1990FilmZora is My Name!as Zora Neale Hurston1989FilmMaking 'Do the Right Thing'as Self1989FilmDo the Right Thingas Mother Sister1988TVAmerican Experienceas Narrator (voice)1988TVChina Beach1988TVLincolnas Elizabeth Keckley1985TVSpenser: For Hire1985TVThe Golden Girlsas Mammy Watkins1985TVThe Atlanta Child Murdersas Faye Williams1984FilmGo Tell It on the Mountainas Mrs. Grimes1983TVReading Rainbowas Self - Narrator (voice)1982FilmLong Day's Journey Into Nightas Mary Tyrone1982FilmCat Peopleas Female1982TVAmerican Playhouseas Mrs. Grimes1980FilmAll God's Childrenas Irene Whitfield1980FilmThe Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six1979FilmI Know Why the Caged Bird Singsas Grandmother Baxter1979TVRoots: The Next Generationsas Queen Haley1978TVThe Kennedy Center Honorsas Self1976FilmCountdown at Kusinias Leah Matanzima1974TVPolice Woman1974FilmWedding Bandas Julia Augustine1974FilmIt's Good to Be Aliveas Ruth Campanella1973FilmChelsea D.H.O.as Dr. Bianca Pearson1972FilmBlack Girlas Netta's mother1972FilmBuck and the Preacheras Ruth1972FilmTo Be Young, Gifted and Blackas Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters1972FilmOn Meritas Narrator (voice)1971FilmThe Sheriffas Sue Ann Lucas1971TVGreat Performancesas Self1970FilmKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphisas Self (archive footage)1969FilmDeadlockas Lucinda1968FilmUptightas Laurie1968TVThe Dick Cavett Showas Self - Guest1967FilmThe Incidentas Joan Robinson1967FilmNow is the Timeas Self1966FilmNeighboursas Vicky Kingsbury1963TVThe Great Adventureas Harriet Tubman1963TVThe Fugitiveas Laura Smith1963FilmGone Are the Days!as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins1963FilmThe Balconyas Thief1961TVThe Defendersas Catherine Collins1961FilmA Raisin in the Sunas Ruth Younger1959FilmTake a Giant Stepas Christine1959FilmVirgin Islandas Ruth1958FilmSt. Louis Bluesas Elizabeth1957FilmEdge of the Cityas Lucy Tyler1956TVArmchair Theatreas Vicky Kingsbury1954FilmGo Man Goas Irma Jackson1953TVThe Oscarsas Self1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Rowena Finch1951FilmThe Tall Targetas Rachel1950FilmNo Way Outas Connie Brooks (uncredited)1950FilmThe Jackie Robinson Storyas Rae Robinson1948FilmThe Fight Never Ends1948FilmWhat a Guy1947FilmEasy to Getas Drugstore Girl1946FilmLove in Syncopation1946FilmThat Man of Mineas Joan—FilmDiamonds on the Silver Screenas Self