Ruby Dee
Acting Born Oct 27, 1922 Died Jun 11, 2014 Cleveland, Ohio, USA 125 credits
Biography
Ruby Dee was an American actress. She originated the role of Ruth Younger in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. Her notable film roles include The Jackie Robinson Story, Do the Right Thing, and American Gangster. Dee's acting credits span multiple decades, with over 120 known credits. She was born on October 27, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Ruby Dee passed away on June 11, 2014, at the age of 91.
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Career overview
Ruby Dee was an American actress known for her work in various film and stage productions. She originated the role of Ruth Younger in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. Dee also appeared in notable films such as The Jackie Robinson Story, Do the Right Thing, and American Gangster.
Dee's acting career spanned multiple decades, with her known credits totaling 122. She was recognized for her performances in various roles, including a notable appearance in the 2007 film American Gangster. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout her career, Dee demonstrated her versatility as an actress, taking on diverse roles in film and stage productions. Her work in A Raisin in the Sun, in particular, showcased her talent and marked a significant milestone in her acting career.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Love in Exile
Hollywood Black
Poitier's Walter Lee
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Betty and CorettaLong Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal
A Thousand Words
Video GirlThe Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollPolitics of Love
AmericaA Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School
American GangsterSteamAll About UsOur Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonIn the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema
No. 2The Way Back HomeDiscovering William Greaves
IconoclastsTheir Eyes Were Watching God
Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsTheater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
Feast of All SaintsTaking Back Our Town
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationA Storm in SummerFinding Buck McHenry
Little BillBaby GeniusesThe Unfinished JourneyHaving Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsPassing Glory
Christianity: The First 1000 YearsThe WallA Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
A Simple WishSports on the Silver Screen
Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryMr. and Mrs. Loving
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildJust CauseTuesday Morning Ride
Touched by an AngelThe StandWhitewash
Cop & ½The Ernest Green StoryAfter Goodbye
Color AdjustmentMiddle Ages
Jungle FeverJazztime Tale
Decoration DayLove at LargeZora is My Name!The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
Do the Right ThingMaking 'Do the Right Thing'
American ExperienceChina BeachLincoln
The Golden GirlsSpenser: For HireThe Atlanta Child Murders
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Full Filmography
125 titles- Love in Exile (2026)
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Poitier's Walter Lee (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014) as Self
- Betty and Coretta (2013) as Narrator
- Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal (2013) as Self
- A Thousand Words (2012) as Annie McCall
- Video Girl (2011) as Valerie
- The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2011) as Miss Candy
- Politics of Love (2011)
- America (2009) as Mrs. Harper
- A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School (2009) as Narrator (voice)
- American Gangster (2007) as Mama Lucas
- Steam (2007) as Doris
- All About Us (2007) as Ms. Ella
- Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson (2007) as Self
- In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema (2007) as Herself
- No. 2 (2006) as Nanna Maria
- The Way Back Home (2006) as Maude
- Discovering William Greaves (2006) as Self
- Iconoclasts (2005) as Self
- Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) as Nanny
- Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (2004) as Self
- TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) as (archive footage)
- Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003)
- Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (2002) as Narrator
- Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' (2002) as Self
- Feast of All Saints (2001) as Elsie Claviere
- Taking Back Our Town (2001) as Emelda West
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Mary Wilson
- A Storm in Summer (2000) as Grandmother
- Finding Buck McHenry (2000) as Mrs. Henry
- Little Bill (1999)
- Baby Geniuses (1999) as Margo
- The Unfinished Journey (1999) as Narrator (voice)
- Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999) as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
- Passing Glory (1999) as Mommit Porter
- Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999) as Self
- Christianity: The First 1000 Years (1998) as Herself - Narrator
- The Wall (1998) as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
- A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner (1998) as Narrator
- Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (1998) as Self
- A Simple Wish (1997) as Hortence
- Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996) as Indigo
- Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996) as Sophia
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as Grandma (voice)
- Just Cause (1995) as Evangeline Ferguson
- Tuesday Morning Ride (1995) as Jennie
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as LaBelle Springbelt
- The Stand (1994) as Mother Abagail Freemantle
- Whitewash (1994) as Grandmother (voice)
- Cop & ½ (1993) as Rachel
- The Ernest Green Story (1993) as Lydia Wilson
- After Goodbye (1993) as Narrator
- Color Adjustment (1992) as Narrator
- Middle Ages (1992) as Estelle Williams
- Jungle Fever (1991) as Lucinda Purify
- Jazztime Tale (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- Decoration Day (1990) as Rowena
- Love at Large (1990) as Corrine Dart
- Zora is My Name! (1990) as Zora Neale Hurston
- The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990) as Jackie's Mother
- Do the Right Thing (1989) as Mother Sister
- Making 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) as Self
- American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- China Beach (1988)
- Lincoln (1988) as Elizabeth Keckley
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Mammy Watkins
- Spenser: For Hire (1985)
- The Atlanta Child Murders (1985) as Faye Williams
- Go Tell It on the Mountain (1984) as Mrs. Grimes
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial (1983) Vocals
- American Playhouse (1982) as Mrs. Grimes
- American Playhouse (1982) as Zora Neale Hurston
- American Playhouse (1982) Writer
- Cat People (1982) as Female
- Long Day's Journey Into Night (1982) as Mary Tyrone
- All God's Children (1980) as Irene Whitfield
- The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six (1980)
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Queen Haley
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) as Grandmother Baxter
- The Kennedy Center Honors (1978) as Self
- Countdown at Kusini (1976) as Leah Matanzima
- Police Woman (1974)
- It's Good to Be Alive (1974) as Ruth Campanella
- Wedding Band (1974) as Julia Augustine
- Chelsea D.H.O. (1973) as Dr. Bianca Pearson
- Buck and the Preacher (1972) as Ruth
- On Merit (1972) as Narrator (voice)
- Black Girl (1972) as Netta's mother
- To Be Young, Gifted and Black (1972) as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- The Sheriff (1971) as Sue Ann Lucas
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- Deadlock (1969) as Lucinda
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Uptight (1968) as Laurie
- Uptight (1968) Writer
- The Incident (1967) as Joan Robinson
- Now is the Time (1967) as Self
- Neighbours (1966) as Vicky Kingsbury
- The Fugitive (1963) as Laura Smith
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Harriet Tubman
- Gone Are the Days! (1963) as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
- The Balcony (1963) as Thief
- The Defenders (1961) as Catherine Collins
- A Raisin in the Sun (1961) as Ruth Younger
- Virgin Island (1959) as Ruth
- Take a Giant Step (1959) as Christine
- St. Louis Blues (1958) as Elizabeth
- Edge of the City (1957) as Lucy Tyler
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Vicky Kingsbury
- Go Man Go (1954) as Irma Jackson
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Rowena Finch
- The Tall Target (1951) as Rachel
- No Way Out (1950) as Connie Brooks (uncredited)
- The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) as Rae Robinson
- The Fight Never Ends (1948)
- What a Guy (1948)
- Easy to Get (1947) as Drugstore Girl
- That Man of Mine (1946) as Joan
- Love in Syncopation (1946)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ruby Dee best known for?
Ruby Dee is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Love in Exile (2026), A Thousand Words (2012), White Album 2 (2013), American Gangster (2007).
When and where was Ruby Dee born?
Ruby Dee was born on October 27, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. They passed away on June 11, 2014.
How many credits does Ruby Dee have?
Ruby Dee has accumulated over 125 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1946 to 2026.
What is Ruby Dee's background in cinema and television?
Ruby Dee was an American actress. She originated the role of Ruth Younger in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. Her notable film roles include The Jackie Robinson Story, Do the Right Thing, and American Gangster. Dee's acting credits span multiple decades, with over 120 known credits. She was born on O...
Ruby Dee by the numbers
125credits
94films
31TV series
1946–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Rowena Finch — aged about 28
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice) — aged about 60
- Do the Right Thing (1989) as Mother Sister — aged about 66
- A Raisin in the Sun (1961) as Ruth Younger — aged about 38
- American Gangster (2007) as Mama Lucas — aged about 84
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Mary Wilson — aged about 77
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