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
| Birth Location | Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
|---|---|
| Born | 1922-10-27 |
| Died | 2014-06-11 |
Movies
Poitier's Walter Lee
as Self (archive footage)
2018
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
as Self
2014
Betty and Coretta
as Narrator
2013
A Thousand Words
as Annie McCall
2012
Video Girl
as Valerie
2011
2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
as Miss Candy
2011
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School
as Narrator (voice)
2009
America
as Mrs. Harper
2009
Steam
as Doris
2007
American Gangster
as Mama Lucas
2007
All About Us
as Ms. Ella
2007
2007
Discovering William Greaves
as Self
2006
No. 2
as Nanna Maria
2006
Their Eyes Were Watching God
as Nanny
2005
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage)
2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
as Self
2003
2002
Taking Back Our Town
as Emelda West
2001
Feast of All Saints
as Elsie Claviere
2001
Finding Buck McHenry
as Mrs. Henry
2000
A Storm in Summer
as Grandmother
2000
The Unfinished Journey
as Narrator (voice)
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
1999
Baby Geniuses
as Margo
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
as Self
1999
Passing Glory
as Mommit Porter
1999
1998
The Wall
as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
1998
A Simple Wish
as Hortence
1997
Sports on the Silver Screen
as Self (archive footage)
1997
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
as Indigo
1996
Mr. and Mrs. Loving
as Sophia
1996
Just Cause
as Evangeline Ferguson
1995
Tuesday Morning Ride
as Jennie
1995
Whitewash
as Grandmother (voice)
1994
The Stand
as Mother Abagail Freemantle
1994
After Goodbye
as Narrator
1993
Cop and ½
as Rachel
1993
The Ernest Green Story
as Lydia Wilson
1993
Color Adjustment
as Narrator
1992
Jazztime Tale
as Narrator (voice)
1991
Jungle Fever
as Lucinda Purify
1991
Decoration Day
as Rowena
1990
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
as Jackie's Mother
1990
Love at Large
as Corrine Dart
1990
Zora is My Name!
as Zora Neale Hurston
1990
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
as Self
1989
Do the Right Thing
as Mother Sister
1989
Go Tell It on the Mountain
as Mrs. Grimes
1985
Long Day's Journey Into Night
as Mary Tyrone
1982
Cat People
as Female
1982
All God's Children
as Irene Whitfield
1980
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
as Grandmother Baxter
1979
Countdown at Kusini
as Leah Matanzima
1976
Wedding Band
as Julia Augustine
1974
It's Good to Be Alive
as Ruth Campanella
1974
Black Girl
as Netta's mother
1972
Buck and the Preacher
as Ruth
1972
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
1972
On Merit
as Narrator (voice)
1972
The Sheriff
as Sue Ann Lucas
1971
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
as Self (archive footage)
1970
Deadlock
as Lucinda
1969
Uptight
as Laurie
1968
The Incident
as Joan Robinson
1967
Neighbours
as Vicky Kingsbury
1966
Gone Are the Days!
as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
1963
The Balcony
as Thief
1963
A Raisin in the Sun
as Ruth Younger
1961
Take a Giant Step
as Christine
1959
Virgin Island
as Ruth
1959
St. Louis Blues
as Elizabeth
1958
Edge of the City
as Lucy Tyler
1957
Go Man Go
as Irma Jackson
1954
The Tall Target
as Rachel
1951
No Way Out
as Connie Brooks (uncredited)
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
as Rae Robinson
1950
Easy to Get
as Drugstore Girl
1947
That Man of Mine
as Joan
1946
