Ruby Dee

Acting

Ruby Dee

Born October 27, 1922Cleveland, Ohio, USA117 credits

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

Filmography

Poitier's Walter Lee
2018Poitier's Walter Lee
as Self (archive footage)Movie
Betty and Coretta
2013Betty and Coretta
as NarratorMovie
A Thousand Words
2012A Thousand Words
as Annie McCallMovie
Video Girl
2011Video Girl
as ValerieMovie
America
2009America
as Mrs. HarperMovie
Steam
2007Steam
as DorisMovie
American Gangster
2007American Gangster
as Mama LucasMovie
All About Us
2007All About Us
as Ms. EllaMovie
No. 2
2006No. 2
as Nanna MariaMovie
Taking Back Our Town
2001Taking Back Our Town
as Emelda WestMovie
Feast of All Saints
2001Feast of All Saints
as Elsie ClaviereMovie
Finding Buck McHenry
2000Finding Buck McHenry
as Mrs. HenryMovie
A Storm in Summer
2000A Storm in Summer
as GrandmotherMovie
The Unfinished Journey
1999The Unfinished Journey
as Narrator (voice)Movie
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' DelanyMovie
Baby Geniuses
1999Baby Geniuses
as MargoMovie
Passing Glory
1999Passing Glory
as Mommit PorterMovie
The Wall
1998The Wall
as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")Movie
A Simple Wish
1997A Simple Wish
as HortenceMovie
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997Sports on the Silver Screen
as Self (archive footage)Movie
Just Cause
1995Just Cause
as Evangeline FergusonMovie
Touched by an Angel
1994Touched by an Angel
as LaBelle SpringbeltTV
Whitewash
1994Whitewash
as Grandmother (voice)Movie
The Stand
1994The Stand
as Mother Abagail FreemantleTV
After Goodbye
1993After Goodbye
as NarratorMovie
Cop & ½
1993Cop & ½
as RachelMovie
The Ernest Green Story
1993The Ernest Green Story
as Lydia WilsonMovie
Middle Ages
1992Middle Ages
as Estelle WilliamsTV
Color Adjustment
1992Color Adjustment
as NarratorMovie
Jazztime Tale
1991Jazztime Tale
as Narrator (voice)Movie
Jungle Fever
1991Jungle Fever
as Lucinda PurifyMovie
Decoration Day
1990Decoration Day
as RowenaMovie
Love at Large
1990Love at Large
as Corrine DartMovie
Zora is My Name!
1990Zora is My Name!
as Zora Neale HurstonMovie
Do the Right Thing
1989Do the Right Thing
as Mother SisterMovie
American Experience
1988American Experience
as Narrator (voice)TV
The Golden Girls
1985The Golden Girls
as Mammy WatkinsTV
Reading Rainbow
1983Reading Rainbow
as Self - Narrator (voice)TV
Cat People
1982Cat People
as FemaleMovie
All God's Children
1980All God's Children
as Irene WhitfieldMovie
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
1979I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
as Grandmother BaxterMovie
Countdown at Kusini
1976Countdown at Kusini
as Leah MatanzimaMovie
Wedding Band
1974Wedding Band
as Julia AugustineMovie
It's Good to Be Alive
1974It's Good to Be Alive
as Ruth CampanellaMovie
C
1973Chelsea D.H.O.
as Dr. Bianca PearsonMovie
Black Girl
1972Black Girl
as Netta's motherMovie
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
1972To Be Young, Gifted and Black
as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted charactersMovie
O
1972On Merit
as Narrator (voice)Movie
The Sheriff
1971The Sheriff
as Sue Ann LucasMovie
Deadlock
1969Deadlock
as LucindaMovie
Uptight
1968Uptight
as LaurieMovie
The Dick Cavett Show
1968The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - GuestTV
The Incident
1967The Incident
as Joan RobinsonMovie
N
1966Neighbours
as Vicky KingsburyMovie
The Great Adventure
1963The Great Adventure
as Harriet TubmanTV
The Fugitive
1963The Fugitive
as Laura SmithTV
Gone Are the Days!
1963Gone Are the Days!
as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae JenkinsMovie
The Balcony
1963The Balcony
as ThiefMovie
The Defenders
1961The Defenders
as Catherine CollinsTV
A Raisin in the Sun
1961A Raisin in the Sun
as Ruth YoungerMovie
Take a Giant Step
1959Take a Giant Step
as ChristineMovie
Virgin Island
1959Virgin Island
as RuthMovie
St. Louis Blues
1958St. Louis Blues
as ElizabethMovie
Edge of the City
1957Edge of the City
as Lucy TylerMovie
Armchair Theatre
1956Armchair Theatre
as Vicky KingsburyTV
Go Man Go
1954Go Man Go
as Irma JacksonMovie
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Rowena FinchTV
The Tall Target
1951The Tall Target
as RachelMovie
No Way Out
1950No Way Out
as Connie Brooks (uncredited)Movie
The Jackie Robinson Story
1950The Jackie Robinson Story
as Rae RobinsonMovie
Easy to Get
1947Easy to Get
as Drugstore GirlMovie