Ruby Dee
Acting
Born October 27, 1922 — Died June 11, 2014
From Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Also known as Ruby Ann Wallace
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 ...
Filmography
—
Love in Exile
2026
Poitier's Walter Lee
Self (archive footage)
2018
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
Self
20141.5
Betty and Coretta
Narrator
20137.2
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal
Self
201310.0
A Thousand Words
Annie McCall
20126.1
Video Girl
Valerie
20116.1
Politics of Love
20113.3
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
Miss Candy
20115.5
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School
Narrator (voice)
20097.3
America
Mrs. Harper
20093.5
Steam
Doris
20072.8
American Gangster
Mama Lucas
20077.6
All About Us
Ms. Ella
20074.4
In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema
Herself
20076.5
—
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson
Self
2007
Discovering William Greaves
Self
20067.0
The Way Back Home
Maude
20066.7
No. 2
Nanna Maria
20066.5
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Nanny
20055.7
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
Self
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
(archive footage)
20045.3
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
20035.2
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
Self
2002
Taking Back Our Town
Emelda West
20014.0
Feast of All Saints
Elsie Claviere
20014.8
Finding Buck McHenry
Mrs. Henry
20007.0
A Storm in Summer
Grandmother
20006.4
The Unfinished Journey
Narrator (voice)
19996.5
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
19997.3
Baby Geniuses
Margo
19994.1
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Self
19998.0
Passing Glory
Mommit Porter
19996.0
—
A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner
Narrator
19987.0
The Wall
Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
19986.8
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Self
19989.0
A Simple Wish
Hortence
19975.5
Sports on the Silver Screen
Self (archive footage)
19979.0
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story
Indigo
19965.1
Mr. and Mrs. Loving
Sophia
19966.0
Just Cause
Evangeline Ferguson
19956.3
Tuesday Morning Ride
Jennie
19956.5
Whitewash
Grandmother (voice)
19946.0
After Goodbye
Narrator
1993
Cop & ½
Rachel
19934.6
The Ernest Green Story
Lydia Wilson
19937.1
Color Adjustment
Narrator
19926.9
Jazztime Tale
Narrator (voice)
19917.0
Jungle Fever
Lucinda Purify
19916.4
Decoration Day
Rowena
19906.9
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
Jackie's Mother
19907.2
Love at Large
Corrine Dart
19905.0
Zora is My Name!
Zora Neale Hurston
199010.0
—
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Self
19896.9
Do the Right Thing
Mother Sister
19897.8
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Mrs. Grimes
19846.3
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Mary Tyrone
19826.0
Cat People
Female
19826.0
All God's Children
Irene Whitfield
19806.5
The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
19807.0
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Grandmother Baxter
19794.3
Countdown at Kusini
Leah Matanzima
19767.0
Wedding Band
Julia Augustine
1974
It's Good to Be Alive
Ruth Campanella
19747.3
—
Chelsea D.H.O.
Dr. Bianca Pearson
19738.0
Black Girl
Netta's mother
19726.8
Buck and the Preacher
Ruth
19726.3
To Be Young, Gifted and Black
Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
19727.0
—
On Merit
Narrator (voice)
1972
The Sheriff
Sue Ann Lucas
19716.0
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
19707.3
Deadlock
Lucinda
19699.0
Uptight
Laurie
19686.8
The Incident
Joan Robinson
19677.4
—
Now is the Time
Self
1967
—
Neighbours
Vicky Kingsbury
1966
Gone Are the Days!
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
19637.5
The Balcony
Thief
19635.2
A Raisin in the Sun
Ruth Younger
19617.7
Take a Giant Step
Christine
19595.2
Virgin Island
Ruth
19596.3
St. Louis Blues
Elizabeth
19587.7
Edge of the City
Lucy Tyler
19577.2
Go Man Go
Irma Jackson
19545.4
The Tall Target
Rachel
19516.9
No Way Out
Connie Brooks (uncredited)
19506.9
The Jackie Robinson Story
Rae Robinson
19506.3
The Fight Never Ends
19488.0
What a Guy
19487.0
Easy to Get
Drugstore Girl
19479.0
Love in Syncopation
1946
That Man of Mine
Joan
19468.0