Ruby Dee
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 27 October 1922 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Died
- 11 June 2014
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).
Known for
Acting 93
- 2026Diamonds on the Silver Screen as Self
- 2026Love in Exile
- 2018Poitier's Walter Lee as Self (archive footage)
- 2014Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee as Self
- 2013Betty and Coretta as Narrator
- 2013Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal as Self
- 2012A Thousand Words as Annie McCall
- 2011Video Girl as Valerie
- 2011Politics of Love
- 2011The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll as Miss Candy
- 2009A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School as Narrator (voice)
- 2009America as Mrs. Harper
- 2007Steam as Doris
- 2007American Gangster as Mama Lucas
- 2007All About Us as Ms. Ella
- 2007In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema as Herself
- 2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson as Self
- 2006Discovering William Greaves as Self
- 2006The Way Back Home as Maude
- 2006No. 2 as Nanna Maria
- 2005Their Eyes Were Watching God as Nanny
- 2004Beah: A Black Woman Speaks as Self
- 2004TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as (archive footage)
- 2003Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
- 2002Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' as Self
- 2001Taking Back Our Town as Emelda West
- 2001Feast of All Saints as Elsie Claviere
- 2000Finding Buck McHenry as Mrs. Henry
- 2000A Storm in Summer as Grandmother
- 1999The Unfinished Journey as Narrator (voice)
- 1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
- 1999Baby Geniuses as Margo
- 1999Paul Robeson: Here I Stand as Self
- 1999Passing Glory as Mommit Porter
- 1998A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner as Narrator
- 1998The Wall as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
- 1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood as Self
- 1997A Simple Wish as Hortence
- 1997Sports on the Silver Screen as Self (archive footage)
- 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink Story as Indigo
- 1996Mr. and Mrs. Loving as Sophia
- 1995Just Cause as Evangeline Ferguson
- 1995Tuesday Morning Ride as Jennie
- 1994Whitewash as Grandmother (voice)
- 1993After Goodbye as Narrator
- 1993Cop & ½ as Rachel
- 1993The Ernest Green Story as Lydia Wilson
- 1992Color Adjustment as Narrator
- 1991Jazztime Tale as Narrator (voice)
- 1991Jungle Fever as Lucinda Purify
- 1990Decoration Day as Rowena
- 1990The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson as Jackie's Mother
- 1990Love at Large as Corrine Dart
- 1990Zora is My Name! as Zora Neale Hurston
- 1989Making 'Do the Right Thing' as Self
- 1989Do the Right Thing as Mother Sister
- 1984Go Tell It on the Mountain as Mrs. Grimes
- 1982Long Day's Journey Into Night as Mary Tyrone
- 1982Cat People as Female
- 1980All God's Children as Irene Whitfield
- 1980The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
- 1979I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as Grandmother Baxter
- 1976Countdown at Kusini as Leah Matanzima
- 1974Wedding Band as Julia Augustine
- 1974It's Good to Be Alive as Ruth Campanella
- 1973Chelsea D.H.O. as Dr. Bianca Pearson
- 1972Black Girl as Netta's mother
- 1972Buck and the Preacher as Ruth
- 1972To Be Young, Gifted and Black as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
- 1972On Merit as Narrator (voice)
- 1971The Sheriff as Sue Ann Lucas
- 1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis as Self (archive footage)
- 1969Deadlock as Lucinda
- 1968Uptight as Laurie
- 1967The Incident as Joan Robinson
- 1967Now is the Time as Self
- 1966Neighbours as Vicky Kingsbury
- 1963Gone Are the Days! as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
- 1963The Balcony as Thief
- 1961A Raisin in the Sun as Ruth Younger
- 1959Take a Giant Step as Christine
- 1959Virgin Island as Ruth
- 1958St. Louis Blues as Elizabeth
- 1957Edge of the City as Lucy Tyler
- 1954Go Man Go as Irma Jackson
- 1951The Tall Target as Rachel
- 1950No Way Out as Connie Brooks (uncredited)
- 1950The Jackie Robinson Story as Rae Robinson
- 1948The Fight Never Ends
- 1948What a Guy
- 1947Easy to Get as Drugstore Girl
- 1946Love in Syncopation
- 1946That Man of Mine as Joan
Sound 1
- 1983Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial · vocals
Writing 1
- 1968Uptight · writer