Ruby Dee

Acting • 1922-10-27 • Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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

7.8

Do the Right Thing

1989

6.1

A Thousand Words

2012

6.8

The Stand

1994

6.3

Just Cause

1995

6.0

Cat People

1982

7.7

A Raisin in the Sun

1961

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Filmography

2026
Love in ExileFilm
2024
Hollywood BlackTV
Self (archive footage) • 4 episodes
★ 3.0
2018
Poitier's Walter LeeFilm
Self (archive footage)
2014
Life's Essentials with Ruby DeeFilm
Self
★ 1.5
2013
Betty and CorettaFilm
Narrator
★ 7.2
2013
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-JamalFilm
Self
★ 10.0
2012
A Thousand WordsFilm
Annie McCall
★ 6.1
2011
Video GirlFilm
Valerie
★ 6.1
2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollFilm
Miss Candy
★ 5.5
2011
Politics of LoveFilm
★ 3.3
2009
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown SchoolFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 7.3
2009
AmericaFilm
Mrs. Harper
★ 3.5
2007
American GangsterFilm
Mama Lucas
★ 7.6
2007
SteamFilm
Doris
★ 3.1
2007
In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black CinemaFilm
Herself
★ 6.5
2007
All About UsFilm
Ms. Ella
★ 4.4
2007
Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonFilm
Self
2006
The Way Back HomeFilm
Maude
★ 6.7
2006
No. 2Film
Nanna Maria
★ 6.2
2006
Discovering William GreavesFilm
Self
★ 7.0
2005
Their Eyes Were Watching GodFilm
Nanny
★ 5.7
2005
IconoclastsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty YearsFilm
(archive footage)
★ 5.3
2004
Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksFilm
Self
2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesFilm
★ 5.2
2002
Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsTV
Narrator • 2 episodes
★ 6.0
2002
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'Film
Self
2001
Feast of All SaintsFilm
Elsie Claviere
★ 4.8
2001
Taking Back Our TownFilm
Emelda West
★ 4.0
2000
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationTV
Mary Wilson • 1 episodes
★ 7.6
2000
A Storm in SummerFilm
Grandmother
★ 6.4
2000
Finding Buck McHenryFilm
Mrs. Henry
★ 7.0
1999
Baby GeniusesFilm
Margo
★ 4.1
1999
Little BillTV
★ 6.8
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsFilm
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
★ 7.3
1999
Passing GloryFilm
Mommit Porter
★ 6.0
1999
The Unfinished JourneyFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 6.5
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I StandFilm
Self
★ 8.0
1998
The WallFilm
Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
★ 6.8
1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodFilm
Self
★ 9.0
1998
A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerFilm
Narrator
★ 7.0
1998
Christianity: The First 1000 YearsTV
Herself - Narrator • 4 episodes
1997
A Simple WishFilm
Hortence
★ 5.5
1997
Sports on the Silver ScreenFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 9.0
1996
Mr. and Mrs. LovingFilm
Sophia
★ 6.0
1996
Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryFilm
Indigo
★ 5.1
1995
Just CauseFilm
Evangeline Ferguson
★ 6.3
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildTV
Grandma (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1995
Tuesday Morning RideFilm
Jennie
★ 6.5
1994
Touched by an AngelTV
LaBelle Springbelt • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1994
The StandTV
Mother Abagail Freemantle • 4 episodes
★ 6.8
1994
The StandFilm
★ 8.0
1994
WhitewashFilm
Grandmother (voice)
★ 6.0
1993
Cop & ½Film
Rachel
★ 4.6
1993
The Ernest Green StoryFilm
Lydia Wilson
★ 6.9
1993
After GoodbyeFilm
Narrator
1992
Color AdjustmentFilm
Narrator
★ 6.9
1992
Middle AgesTV
Estelle Williams • 6 episodes
★ 7.5
1991
Jungle FeverFilm
Lucinda Purify
★ 6.4
1991
Jazztime TaleFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 7.0
1990
Love at LargeFilm
Corrine Dart
★ 4.9
1990
Decoration DayFilm
Rowena
★ 6.9
1990
The Court-Martial of Jackie RobinsonFilm
Jackie's Mother
★ 7.2
1990
Zora is My Name!Film
Zora Neale Hurston
★ 10.0
1989
Do the Right ThingFilm
Mother Sister
★ 7.8
1989
Making 'Do the Right Thing'Film
Self
★ 6.9
1988
American ExperienceTV
Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1988
China BeachTV
★ 7.4
1988
LincolnTV
Elizabeth Keckley • 2 episodes
★ 7.5
1985
The Golden GirlsTV
Mammy Watkins • 1 episodes
★ 7.6
1985
Spenser: For HireTV
★ 6.9
1985
The Atlanta Child MurdersTV
Faye Williams • 2 episodes
★ 5.8
1984
Go Tell It on the MountainFilm
Mrs. Grimes
★ 6.3
1983
Reading RainbowTV
Self - Narrator (voice) • 3 episodes
★ 8.4
1982
Cat PeopleFilm
Female
★ 6.0
1982
American PlayhouseTV
Mrs. Grimes • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1982
American PlayhouseTV
Zora Neale Hurston • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1982
Long Day's Journey Into NightFilm
Mary Tyrone
★ 6.0
1980
All God's ChildrenFilm
Irene Whitfield
★ 6.5
1980
The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem SixFilm
★ 7.0
1979
Roots: The Next GenerationsTV
Queen Haley • 3 episodes
★ 7.5
1979
I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsFilm
Grandmother Baxter
★ 4.3
1978
The Kennedy Center HonorsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
1976
Countdown at KusiniFilm
Leah Matanzima
★ 7.0
1974
Police WomanTV
★ 6.5
1974
It's Good to Be AliveFilm
Ruth Campanella
★ 7.3
1974
Wedding BandFilm
Julia Augustine
1973
Chelsea D.H.O.Film
Dr. Bianca Pearson
★ 8.0
1972
Buck and the PreacherFilm
Ruth
★ 6.3
1972
Black GirlFilm
Netta's mother
★ 6.8
1972
To Be Young, Gifted and BlackFilm
Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
★ 7.0
1972
On MeritFilm
Narrator (voice)
1971
Great PerformancesTV
Self • 2 episodes
★ 6.1
1971
The SheriffFilm
Sue Ann Lucas
★ 6.0
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 7.4
1969
DeadlockFilm
Lucinda
★ 9.0
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 6.8
1968
UptightFilm
Laurie
★ 6.8
1967
The IncidentFilm
Joan Robinson
★ 7.4
1967
Now is the TimeFilm
Self
1966
NeighboursFilm
Vicky Kingsbury
1963
The FugitiveTV
Laura Smith • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1963
The BalconyFilm
Thief
★ 5.2
1963
The Great AdventureTV
Harriet Tubman • 1 episodes
★ 10.0
1963
Gone Are the Days!Film
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
★ 7.5
1961
A Raisin in the SunFilm
Ruth Younger
★ 7.7
1961
The DefendersTV
Catherine Collins • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1959
Take a Giant StepFilm
Christine
★ 5.2
1959
Virgin IslandFilm
Ruth
★ 6.3
1958
St. Louis BluesFilm
Elizabeth
★ 7.7
1957
Edge of the CityFilm
Lucy Tyler
★ 7.1
1956
Armchair TheatreTV
Vicky Kingsbury • 1 episodes
★ 6.0
1954
Go Man GoFilm
Irma Jackson
★ 5.4
1953
The OscarsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1951
The Tall TargetFilm
Rachel
★ 6.8
1951
Hallmark Hall of FameTV
Rowena Finch • 1 episodes
★ 8.8
1950
No Way OutFilm
Connie Brooks (uncredited)
★ 6.9
1950
The Jackie Robinson StoryFilm
Rae Robinson
★ 6.3
1948
The Fight Never EndsFilm
★ 8.0
1948
What a GuyFilm
★ 7.0
1947
Easy to GetFilm
Drugstore Girl
★ 9.0
1946
That Man of MineFilm
Joan
★ 8.0
1946
Love in SyncopationFilm