Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee

Deceased · Born: Oct 27, 1922 · Died: Jun 11, 2014

Personal Details

Born Oct 27, 1922 Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Spouse
  • Ossie Davis

    ( Dec 9, 1948 to Feb 4, 2005 )
  • Frankie Dee Brown

    ( Aug 31, 1941 to Dec 31, 1969 )
Parents
  • Gladys Hightower
  • Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace
Relatives
  • Tommy Wallace (Sibling)
  • Tommy Wallace Jr. (Niece or Nephew)
  • Muta'Ali Muhammad (Grandchild)

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).

Career

2013
Betty and Coretta
Betty and Coretta as Narrator
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1982
1982 as Rose Brown
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2012
A Thousand Words
A Thousand Words as Annie McCall
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2011
Politics of Love
Politics of Love
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Video Girl
Video Girl as Valerie
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2009
America
America as Mrs. Harper
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A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School
2007
All About Us
All About Us as Ms. Ella
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Steam
Steam as Doris
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2006
Naming Number Two
Naming Number Two as Nanna Maria
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The Way Back Home
The Way Back Home as Maude
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2005
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God as Nanny
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2001
Taking Back Our Town
Taking Back Our Town as Emelda West
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The Feast of All Saints
The Feast of All Saints as Elsie Claviere
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2000
Finding Buck McHenry
Finding Buck McHenry as Mrs. Henry
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A Storm in Summer
A Storm in Summer as Grandmother
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1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
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Passing Glory
Passing Glory as Mommit Porter
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Baby Geniuses
Baby Geniuses as Margo
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Little Bill
Little Bill
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1998
The Wall
The Wall as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
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1997
A Simple Wish
A Simple Wish as Hortence
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1996
Mr. and Mrs. Loving
Mr. and Mrs. Loving as Sophia
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Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
1995
Just Cause
Just Cause as Evangeline Ferguson
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1994
Whitewash
Whitewash as Grandmother (voice)
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The Stand
The Stand as Mother Abagail
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1993
Cop & ½
Cop & ½ as Rachel
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The Ernest Green Story
The Ernest Green Story as Mrs. Lydia Wilson
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1992
Color Adjustment
Color Adjustment as Narrator
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1991
Jazztime Tale
Jazztime Tale as Narrator (voice)
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Jungle Fever
Jungle Fever as Lucinda Purify
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1990
Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday
Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday as Billie Holiday
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The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson as Jackie's Mother
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Decoration Day
Decoration Day as Rowena
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Love at Large
Love at Large as Corrine Dart
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American Playhouse
American Playhouse as Zora Neale Hurston
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The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls as Mammy Watkins
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Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame as Rowena Finch
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1989
Do the Right Thing
Do the Right Thing as Mother Sister
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China Beach
China Beach
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American Experience
American Experience as Narrator (voice)
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1988
Lincoln
Lincoln as Elizabeth Keckley
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1985
The Atlanta Child Murders
The Atlanta Child Murders as Faye Williams
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1982
Cat People
Cat People as Female
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1980
All God's Children
All God's Children as Irene Whitfield
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1979
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as Grandmother Baxter
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Roots: The Next Generations
Roots: The Next Generations as Queen Victoria Haley
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1976
Cool Red
Cool Red as Leah Matanzima
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1974
It's Good to Be Alive
It's Good to Be Alive as Ruth Campanella
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1972
Buck and the Preacher
Buck and the Preacher as Ruth
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To Be Young, Gifted, and Black
To Be Young, Gifted, and Black as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
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Black Girl
Black Girl as Netta's mother
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1971
The Sheriff
The Sheriff as Sue Ann Lucas
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1968
Uptight
Uptight as Laurie
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1967
The Incident
The Incident as Joan Robinson
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1963
The Balcony
The Balcony as Thief
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Gone Are the Days!
Gone Are the Days! as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
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The Fugitive
The Fugitive as Laura Smith
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1961
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun as Ruth Younger
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1959
Take a Giant Step
Take a Giant Step as Christine
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Our Virgin Island
Our Virgin Island as Ruth
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1958
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues as Elizabeth
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1957
Edge of the City
Edge of the City as Lucy Tyler
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1954
Go Man Go
Go Man Go as Irma Jackson
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1951
The Tall Target
The Tall Target as Rachel
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1950
The Jackie Robinson Story
The Jackie Robinson Story as Rae Robinson
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2018
2017
Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart
2015
And When I Die, I Won't Stay Dead
2014
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2013
Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary
2006
Discovering William Greaves
2003
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
2002
Hughes' Dream Harlem
1999
American Masters
American Masters
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1989
Making Do the Right Thing
1982
Great Performances
1968
Uptight
Uptight as Writer
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