Actor
Ruby Dee
- Born October 27, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Died June 11, 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
American Gangster2007
Do the Right Thing1989
A Thousand Words2012
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2000
Just Cause1995
Cat People1982
The Stand1994
Baby Geniuses1999
Filmography
- TBADiamonds on the Silver ScreenFilmSelf
- TBABaby of the FamilyFilm
- 2026Love in ExileFilm
- 2024Hollywood BlackSeriesSelf (archive footage)
- 2018Poitier's Walter LeeFilmSelf (archive footage)
- 2014Life's Essentials with Ruby DeeFilmSelf
- 2013Betty and CorettaFilmNarrator
- 2013Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-JamalFilmSelf
- 2012A Thousand WordsFilmAnnie McCall
- 2011Video GirlFilmValerie
- 2011The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollFilmMiss Candy
- 2011Politics of LoveFilm
- 2009A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown SchoolFilmNarrator (voice)
- 2009AmericaFilmMrs. Harper
- 2007American GangsterFilmMama Lucas
- 2007SteamFilmDoris
- 2007All About UsFilmMs. Ella
- 2007In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black CinemaFilmHerself
- 2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonFilmSelf
- 2006The Way Back HomeFilmMaude
- 2006No. 2FilmNanna Maria
- 2006Discovering William GreavesFilmSelf
- 2005Their Eyes Were Watching GodFilmNanny
- 2005IconoclastsSeriesSelf
- 2004TV in Black: The First Fifty YearsFilm(archive footage)
- 2004Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksFilmSelf
- 2003Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesFilm
- 2002Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsSeriesNarrator
- 2002Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'FilmSelf
- 2001Feast of All SaintsFilmElsie Claviere
- 2001Taking Back Our TownFilmEmelda West
- 2000CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationSeriesMary Wilson
- 2000A Storm in SummerFilmGrandmother
- 2000Finding Buck McHenryFilmMrs. Henry
- 1999Baby GeniusesFilmMargo
- 1999Little BillSeries
- 1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsFilmAnnie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
- 1999Passing GloryFilmMommit Porter
- 1999The Unfinished JourneyFilmNarrator (voice)
- 1999Paul Robeson: Here I StandFilmSelf
- 1998The WallFilmMrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
- 1998A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerFilmNarrator
- 1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodFilmSelf
- 1998Christianity: The First 1000 YearsSeriesHerself - Narrator
- 1997A Simple WishFilmHortence
- 1997Sports on the Silver ScreenFilmSelf (archive footage)
- 1996Mr. and Mrs. LovingFilmSophia
- 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryFilmIndigo
- 1995Just CauseFilmEvangeline Ferguson
- 1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildSeriesGrandma (voice)
- 1995Tuesday Morning RideFilmJennie
- 1994The StandSeriesMother Abagail Freemantle
- 1994Touched by an AngelSeriesLaBelle Springbelt
- 1994WhitewashFilmGrandmother (voice)
- 1994The StandFilm
- 1993Cop & ½FilmRachel
- 1993The Ernest Green StoryFilmLydia Wilson
- 1993After GoodbyeFilmNarrator
- 1992Color AdjustmentFilmNarrator
- 1992Middle AgesSeriesEstelle Williams
- 1991Jungle FeverFilmLucinda Purify
- 1991Jazztime TaleFilmNarrator (voice)
- 1990Love at LargeFilmCorrine Dart
- 1990Decoration DayFilmRowena
- 1990The Court-Martial of Jackie RobinsonFilmJackie's Mother
- 1990Zora is My Name!FilmZora Neale Hurston
- 1989Do the Right ThingFilmMother Sister
- 1989Making 'Do the Right Thing'FilmSelf
- 1988American ExperienceSeriesNarrator (voice)
- 1988China BeachSeries
- 1988LincolnSeriesElizabeth Keckley
- 1985The Golden GirlsSeriesMammy Watkins
- 1985Spenser: For HireSeries
- 1985The Atlanta Child MurdersSeriesFaye Williams
- 1984Go Tell It on the MountainFilmMrs. Grimes
- 1983Reading RainbowSeriesSelf - Narrator (voice)
- 1983Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on TrialFilmVocals
- 1982Cat PeopleFilmFemale
- 1982American PlayhouseSeriesMrs. Grimes, Zora Neale Hurston, Writer
- 1982Long Day's Journey Into NightFilmMary Tyrone