Ruby Dee
Known for
Acting
Life
1922 – 2014 (aged 91)
Born in
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Credits
View on IMDb99 acting credits
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).
Known For
American Gangster
02 Nov 2007
Do the Right Thing
14 Jun 1989
A Thousand Words
07 Mar 2012
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
06 Oct 2000
Just Cause
17 Feb 1995
Cat People
02 Apr 1982
The Stand
08 May 1994
Baby Geniuses
12 Mar 1999
Photos
Filmography
2026
2013
- Betty and Corettaas Narrator
2012
- A Thousand Wordsas Annie McCall
2011
- Video Girlas Valerie
- Politics of Love
- The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Rollas Miss Candy
2009
- A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown Schoolas Narrator (voice)
- Americaas Mrs. Harper
2007
- Steamas Doris
- American Gangsteras Mama Lucas
- All About Usas Ms. Ella
2006
- The Way Back Homeas Maude
- No. 2as Nanna Maria
2005
- Their Eyes Were Watching Godas Nanny
2004
- TV in Black: The First Fifty Yearsas (archive footage)
2002
- Christianity: The First Two Thousand Yearsas Narrator2 episodes
2001
- Taking Back Our Townas Emelda West
- Feast of All Saintsas Elsie Claviere
2000
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Mary Wilson1 episode
- Finding Buck McHenryas Mrs. Henry
- A Storm in Summeras Grandmother
1999
- The Unfinished Journeyas Narrator (voice)
- Little Bill52 episodes
- Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Yearsas Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
- Baby Geniusesas Margo
- Passing Gloryas Mommit Porter
1998
- A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canneras Narrator
- The Wallas Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
1997
- A Simple Wishas Hortence
1996
- Captive Heart: The James Mink Storyas Indigo
- Mr. and Mrs. Lovingas Sophia
1995
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas Grandma (voice)1 episode
- Just Causeas Evangeline Ferguson
- Tuesday Morning Rideas Jennie
1994
- Touched by an Angelas LaBelle Springbelt1 episode
- Whitewashas Grandmother (voice)
- The Standas Mother Abagail Freemantle4 episodes
1993
- After Goodbyeas Narrator
- Cop & ½as Rachel
- The Ernest Green Storyas Lydia Wilson
1992
- Middle Agesas Estelle Williams6 episodes
- Color Adjustmentas Narrator
1991
- Jazztime Taleas Narrator (voice)
- Jungle Feveras Lucinda Purify
1990
- Decoration Dayas Rowena
- The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinsonas Jackie's Mother
- Love at Largeas Corrine Dart
- Zora is My Name!as Zora Neale Hurston
1989
- Do the Right Thingas Mother Sister
1988
- American Experienceas Narrator (voice)1 episode
- China Beach1 episode
- Lincolnas Elizabeth Keckley2 episodes
1985
- Spenser: For Hire1 episode
- The Golden Girlsas Mammy Watkins1 episode
- The Atlanta Child Murdersas Faye Williams2 episodes
1984
- Go Tell It on the Mountainas Mrs. Grimes
1982
- Long Day's Journey Into Nightas Mary Tyrone
- Cat Peopleas Female
- American Playhouseas Zora Neale Hurston1 episode
1980
- All God's Childrenas Irene Whitfield
- The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
1979
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsas Grandmother Baxter
- Roots: The Next Generationsas Queen Haley3 episodes
1976
- Countdown at Kusinias Leah Matanzima
1974
- Police Woman1 episode
- Wedding Bandas Julia Augustine
- It's Good to Be Aliveas Ruth Campanella
1973
- Chelsea D.H.O.as Dr. Bianca Pearson
1972
- Black Girlas Netta's mother
- Buck and the Preacheras Ruth
- To Be Young, Gifted and Blackas Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
- On Meritas Narrator (voice)
1971
- The Sheriffas Sue Ann Lucas
1969
- Deadlockas Lucinda
1968
- Uptightas Laurie
1967
- The Incidentas Joan Robinson
1966
- Neighboursas Vicky Kingsbury
1963
- The Great Adventureas Harriet Tubman1 episode
- The Fugitiveas Laura Smith1 episode
- Gone Are the Days!as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
- The Balconyas Thief
1961
- The Defendersas Catherine Collins1 episode
- A Raisin in the Sunas Ruth Younger
1959
- Take a Giant Stepas Christine
- Virgin Islandas Ruth
1958
- St. Louis Bluesas Elizabeth
1957
- Edge of the Cityas Lucy Tyler
1956
- Armchair Theatreas Vicky Kingsbury1 episode
1954
- Go Man Goas Irma Jackson
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fameas Rowena Finch1 episode
- The Tall Targetas Rachel
1950
- No Way Outas Connie Brooks (uncredited)
- The Jackie Robinson Storyas Rae Robinson
1947
- Easy to Getas Drugstore Girl