Acting

Ruby Dee

Born: October 27, 1922
Died: June 11, 2014 (aged 91)
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Credits: 125 titles

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).

Latest project Best work, ranked IMDb

Signature work

Known For

American Gangster

2007

Do the Right Thing

1989

A Thousand Words

2012

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000

Just Cause

1995

Cat People

1982

The Stand

1994

Baby Geniuses

1999

The Golden Girls

1985

Jungle Fever

1991

Touched by an Angel

1994

A Simple Wish

1997

Cop & ½

1993

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

The Incident

1967

Buck and the Preacher

1972

Edge of the City

1957

The Fugitive

1963

Acting credits 124

Year	Title	Role
TBA	Diamonds on the Silver Screen Film	Self
TBA	The Stand Film
TBA	Baby of the Family Film
2026	Love in Exile Film
2024	Hollywood Black TV	Self (archive footage) (4 ep)
2018	Poitier's Walter Lee Film	Self (archive footage)
2014	Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee Film	Self
2013	Betty and Coretta Film	Narrator
2013	Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal Film	Self
2012	A Thousand Words Film	Annie McCall
2011	Video Girl Film	Valerie
2011	Politics of Love Film
2011	The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll Film	Miss Candy
2009	A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School Film	Narrator (voice)
2009	America Film	Mrs. Harper
2007	Steam Film	Doris
2007	American Gangster Film	Mama Lucas
2007	All About Us Film	Ms. Ella
2007	In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema Film	Herself
2007	Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson Film	Self
2006	Discovering William Greaves Film	Self
2006	The Way Back Home Film	Maude
2006	No. 2 Film	Nanna Maria
2005	Iconoclasts TV	Self (1 ep)
2005	Their Eyes Were Watching God Film	Nanny
2004	Beah: A Black Woman Speaks Film	Self
2004	TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Film	(archive footage)
2003	Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Film
2002	Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' Film	Self
2002	Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years TV	Narrator (2 ep)
2001	Taking Back Our Town Film	Emelda West
2001	Feast of All Saints Film	Elsie Claviere
2000	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV	Mary Wilson (1 ep)
2000	Finding Buck McHenry Film	Mrs. Henry
2000	A Storm in Summer Film	Grandmother
1999	The Unfinished Journey Film	Narrator (voice)
1999	Little Bill TV	(52 ep)
1999	Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Film	Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
1999	Baby Geniuses Film	Margo
1999	Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Film	Self
1999	Passing Glory Film	Mommit Porter
1998	A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner Film	Narrator
1998	Christianity: The First 1000 Years TV	Herself - Narrator (4 ep)
1998	The Wall Film	Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
1998	Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood Film	Self
1997	A Simple Wish Film	Hortence
1997	Sports on the Silver Screen Film	Self (archive footage)
1996	Captive Heart: The James Mink Story Film	Indigo
1996	Mr. and Mrs. Loving Film	Sophia
1995	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child TV	Grandma (voice) (1 ep)
1995	Just Cause Film	Evangeline Ferguson
1995	Tuesday Morning Ride Film	Jennie
1994	Touched by an Angel TV	LaBelle Springbelt (1 ep)
1994	Whitewash Film	Grandmother (voice)
1994	The Stand TV	Mother Abagail Freemantle (4 ep)
1993	After Goodbye Film	Narrator
1993	Cop & ½ Film	Rachel
1993	The Ernest Green Story Film	Lydia Wilson
1992	Middle Ages TV	Estelle Williams (6 ep)
1992	Color Adjustment Film	Narrator

Crew credits 3

Year	Title	Job
1983	Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial Film	Vocals
1982	American Playhouse TV	Writer (1 ep)
1968	Uptight Film	Writer