Person
Ruby Dee
Acting · 1922–2014 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Mary Wilson
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
The Fugitive
Laura Smith
Great Performances
Self
The Golden Girls
Mammy Watkins
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
Touched by an Angel
LaBelle Springbelt
The Defenders
Catherine Collins
Police Woman
1974
The Oscars
Self
Filmography
- 2026Love in Exile
- 2024Hollywood BlackSelf (archive footage)
- 2018Poitier's Walter LeeSelf (archive footage)
- 2014Life's Essentials with Ruby DeeSelf
- 2013Betty and CorettaNarrator
- 2013Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-JamalSelf
- 2012A Thousand WordsAnnie McCall
- 2011Video GirlValerie
- 2011Politics of Love
- 2011The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollMiss Candy
- 2009A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown SchoolNarrator (voice)
- 2009AmericaMrs. Harper
- 2007SteamDoris
- 2007American GangsterMama Lucas
- 2007All About UsMs. Ella
- 2007In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black CinemaHerself
- 2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelf
- 2006Discovering William GreavesSelf
- 2006The Way Back HomeMaude
- 2006No. 2Nanna Maria
- 2005IconoclastsSelf
- 2005Their Eyes Were Watching GodNanny
- 2004Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksSelf
- 2004TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(archive footage)
- 2003Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
- 2002Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'Self
- 2002Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsNarrator
- 2001Taking Back Our TownEmelda West
- 2001Feast of All SaintsElsie Claviere
- 2000CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMary Wilson
- 2000Finding Buck McHenryMrs. Henry
- 2000A Storm in SummerGrandmother
- 1999The Unfinished JourneyNarrator (voice)
- 1999Little Bill
- 1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsAnnie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
- 1999Baby GeniusesMargo
- 1999Paul Robeson: Here I StandSelf
- 1999Passing GloryMommit Porter
- 1998A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerNarrator
- 1998Christianity: The First 1000 YearsHerself - Narrator
- 1998The WallMrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
- 1998Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodSelf
- 1997A Simple WishHortence
- 1997Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage)
- 1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryIndigo
- 1996Mr. and Mrs. LovingSophia
- 1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildGrandma (voice)
- 1995Just CauseEvangeline Ferguson
- 1995Tuesday Morning RideJennie
- 1994Touched by an AngelLaBelle Springbelt
- 1994WhitewashGrandmother (voice)
- 1994The StandMother Abagail Freemantle
- 1993After GoodbyeNarrator
- 1993Cop & ½Rachel
- 1993The Ernest Green StoryLydia Wilson
- 1992Middle AgesEstelle Williams
- 1992Color AdjustmentNarrator
- 1991Jazztime TaleNarrator (voice)
- 1991Jungle FeverLucinda Purify
- 1990Decoration DayRowena
- 1990The Court-Martial of Jackie RobinsonJackie's Mother
- 1990Love at LargeCorrine Dart
- 1990Zora is My Name!Zora Neale Hurston
- 1989Making 'Do the Right Thing'Self
- 1989Do the Right ThingMother Sister
- 1988American ExperienceNarrator (voice)
- 1988China Beach
- 1988LincolnElizabeth Keckley
- 1985Spenser: For Hire
- 1985The Golden GirlsMammy Watkins
- 1985The Atlanta Child MurdersFaye Williams
- 1984Go Tell It on the MountainMrs. Grimes
- 1983Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on TrialVocals
- 1983Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice)
- 1982Long Day's Journey Into NightMary Tyrone
- 1982Cat PeopleFemale
- 1982American PlayhouseMrs. Grimes
- 1980All God's ChildrenIrene Whitfield
- 1980The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
- 1979I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsGrandmother Baxter
- 1979Roots: The Next GenerationsQueen Haley
- 1978The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf
- 1976Countdown at KusiniLeah Matanzima
- 1974Police Woman
- 1974Wedding BandJulia Augustine
- 1974It's Good to Be AliveRuth Campanella
- 1973Chelsea D.H.O.Dr. Bianca Pearson
- 1972Black GirlNetta's mother
- 1972Buck and the PreacherRuth
- 1972To Be Young, Gifted and BlackLorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
- 1972On MeritNarrator (voice)
- 1971The SheriffSue Ann Lucas
- 1971Great PerformancesSelf
- 1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)
- 1969DeadlockLucinda
- 1968UptightLaurie
- 1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
- 1967The IncidentJoan Robinson
- 1967Now is the TimeSelf
- 1966NeighboursVicky Kingsbury
- 1963The Great AdventureHarriet Tubman
- 1963The FugitiveLaura Smith
- 1963Gone Are the Days!Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
- 1963The BalconyThief
- 1961The DefendersCatherine Collins
- 1961A Raisin in the SunRuth Younger
- 1959Take a Giant StepChristine
- 1959Virgin IslandRuth
- 1958St. Louis BluesElizabeth
- 1957Edge of the CityLucy Tyler
- 1956Armchair TheatreVicky Kingsbury
- 1954Go Man GoIrma Jackson
- 1953The OscarsSelf
- 1951Hallmark Hall of FameRowena Finch
- 1951The Tall TargetRachel
- 1950No Way OutConnie Brooks (uncredited)
- 1950The Jackie Robinson StoryRae Robinson
- 1948The Fight Never Ends
- 1948What a Guy
- 1947Easy to GetDrugstore Girl
- 1946Love in Syncopation
- 1946That Man of MineJoan
Follow their work on Vescene
Rate films and shows on two axes — quality and fun — and share taste with friends.