Ruby Dee
Acting1922Cleveland, 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
Acting History
2018
Poitier's Walter Lee
as Self (archive footage)
2012
A Thousand Words
as Annie McCall
2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
as Miss Candy
2008
The Oscars
TVas Self• 1 eps
2007
2006
No. 2
as Nanna Maria
2005
Their Eyes Were Watching God
as Nanny
Iconoclasts
TVas Self
2004
The Kennedy Center Honors
TVas Self• 1 eps
2002
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
TVas Narrator• 2 eps
2001
Taking Back Our Town
as Emelda West
Feast of All Saints
as Elsie Claviere
2000
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
TVas Grandma (voice)• 1 eps
1999
American Journey
as Narrator (voice)
Passing Glory
as Mommit Porter
Baby Geniuses
as Margo
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
Touched by an Angel
TVas LaBelle Springbelt• 1 eps
1998
The Wall
as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
TVas Herself - Narrator
1997
A Simple Wish
as Hortence
1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
as Indigo
1995
Just Cause
as Evangeline Ferguson
Tuesday Morning Ride
as Jennie
1994
The Stand
TVas Mother Abagail Freemantle• 4 eps
1993
Cop & ½
as Rachel
1991
Jungle Fever
as Lucinda Purify
1990
Love at Large
as Corrine Dart
Decoration Day
as Rowena
American Experience
TVas Narrator (voice)• 1 eps
The Golden Girls
TVas Mammy Watkins• 1 eps
1989
Do the Right Thing
as Mother Sister
1988
Lincoln
TVas Elizabeth Keckley
1985
The Atlanta Child Murders
TVas Faye Williams• 2 eps
1984
Reading Rainbow
TVas Self - Narrator (voice)• 3 eps
1982
1979
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
as Grandmother Baxter
Roots: The Next Generations
TVas Queen Haley
1975
1974
Wedding Band
as Julia Augustine
1972
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
1970
The Dick Cavett Show
TVas Self - Guest• 1 eps
1969
Deadlock
as Lucinda
1967
The Incident
as Joan Robinson
1965
The Defenders
TVas Catherine Collins• 1 eps
1963
1961
A Raisin in the Sun
as Ruth Younger
1957
Edge of the City
as Lucy Tyler
1951
The Tall Target
as Rachel
1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
as Rae Robinson
No Way Out
as Connie Brooks (uncredited)