Ruby Dee
Acting
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).
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Ruby Dee
Just Cause
1995
Cat People
1982
Filmography
Acting (93)
2026
2018
Poitier's Walter Leeas Self (archive footage)
2014
1.5
2013
Betty and Corettaas Narrator
7.2
10.0
2012
A Thousand Wordsas Annie McCall
6.1
2011
Video Girlas Valerie
6.1
2011
3.3
2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Rollas Miss Candy
5.5
2009
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown Schoolas Narrator (voice)
7.3
2009
Americaas Mrs. Harper
3.5
2007
Steamas Doris
2.5
2007
American Gangsteras Mama Lucas
7.6
2007
All About Usas Ms. Ella
4.4
2007
2006
Discovering William Greavesas Self
7.0
2006
The Way Back Homeas Maude
6.7
2006
No. 2as Nanna Maria
6.5
2005
Their Eyes Were Watching Godas Nanny
5.7
2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaksas Self
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Yearsas (archive footage)
5.3
2002
2001
Taking Back Our Townas Emelda West
4.0
2001
Feast of All Saintsas Elsie Claviere
4.8
2000
Finding Buck McHenryas Mrs. Henry
7.0
2000
A Storm in Summeras Grandmother
6.4
1999
The Unfinished Journeyas Narrator (voice)
6.5
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Yearsas Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
7.3
1999
Baby Geniusesas Margo
4.1
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Standas Self
8.0
1999
Passing Gloryas Mommit Porter
6.0
1998
7.0
1998
The Wallas Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
6.8
1997
A Simple Wishas Hortence
5.5
1997
Sports on the Silver Screenas Self (archive footage)
9.0
1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Storyas Indigo
5.1
1996
Mr. and Mrs. Lovingas Sophia
6.0
1995
Just Causeas Evangeline Ferguson
6.3
1995
Tuesday Morning Rideas Jennie
6.5
1994
Whitewashas Grandmother (voice)
6.0
1993
After Goodbyeas Narrator
1993
Cop & ½as Rachel
4.6
1993
The Ernest Green Storyas Lydia Wilson
6.9
1992
Color Adjustmentas Narrator
6.9
1991
Jazztime Taleas Narrator (voice)
7.0
1991
Jungle Feveras Lucinda Purify
6.4
1990
Decoration Dayas Rowena
6.9
1990
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinsonas Jackie's Mother
7.2
1990
Love at Largeas Corrine Dart
4.9
1990
Zora is My Name!as Zora Neale Hurston
10.0
1989
Making 'Do the Right Thing'as Self
6.9
1989
Do the Right Thingas Mother Sister
7.8
1984
Go Tell It on the Mountainas Mrs. Grimes
6.3
1982
Long Day's Journey Into Nightas Mary Tyrone
6.0
1982
Cat Peopleas Female
6.1
1980
All God's Childrenas Irene Whitfield
6.5
1979
I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsas Grandmother Baxter
4.3
1976
Countdown at Kusinias Leah Matanzima
7.0
1974
Wedding Bandas Julia Augustine
1974
It's Good to Be Aliveas Ruth Campanella
7.3
1973
Chelsea D.H.O.as Dr. Bianca Pearson
8.0
1972
Black Girlas Netta's mother
6.8
1972
Buck and the Preacheras Ruth
6.3
1972
To Be Young, Gifted and Blackas Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
7.0
1972
On Meritas Narrator (voice)
1971
The Sheriffas Sue Ann Lucas
6.0
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphisas Self (archive footage)
7.3
1969
Deadlockas Lucinda
9.0
1968
Uptightas Laurie
6.8
1967
The Incidentas Joan Robinson
7.4
1967
Now is the Timeas Self
1966
Neighboursas Vicky Kingsbury
1963
Gone Are the Days!as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
7.5
1963
The Balconyas Thief
5.2
1961
A Raisin in the Sunas Ruth Younger
7.7
1959
Take a Giant Stepas Christine
5.2
1959
Virgin Islandas Ruth
6.3
1958
St. Louis Bluesas Elizabeth
7.7
1957
Edge of the Cityas Lucy Tyler
7.1
1954
Go Man Goas Irma Jackson
5.4
1951
The Tall Targetas Rachel
6.8
1950
No Way Outas Connie Brooks (uncredited)
6.9
1950
The Jackie Robinson Storyas Rae Robinson
6.3
8.0
1948
7.0
1947
Easy to Getas Drugstore Girl
9.0
1946
That Man of Mineas Joan
8.0
—
Production & Directing (2)
1983
1968
UptightWriter
6.8