Ruby Dee
Acting
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).
Filmography 120
Movies (92)
- Love in Exile2026
Poitier's Walter Lee2018Self (archive footage)
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee2014Self
Betty and Coretta2013Narrator
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal2013Self
A Thousand Words2012Annie McCall
Video Girl2011Valerie
Politics of Love2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll2011Miss Candy
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School2009Narrator (voice)
America2009Mrs. Harper
Steam2007Doris
American Gangster2007Mama Lucas
All About Us2007Ms. Ella
In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema2007Herself- Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson2007Self
Discovering William Greaves2006Self
The Way Back Home2006Maude
No. 22006Nanna Maria
Their Eyes Were Watching God2005Nanny
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks2004Self
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years2004(archive footage)
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives2003
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'2002Self
Taking Back Our Town2001Emelda West
Feast of All Saints2001Elsie Claviere
Finding Buck McHenry2000Mrs. Henry
A Storm in Summer2000Grandmother
The Unfinished Journey1999Narrator (voice)
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years1999Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
Shows (28)
Hollywood Black2024Self (archive footage)
Iconoclasts2005Self
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years2002Narrator
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation2000Mary Wilson
Little Bill1999- Christianity: The First 1000 Years1998Herself - Narrator
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995Grandma (voice)
Touched by an Angel1994LaBelle Springbelt
The Stand1994Mother Abagail Freemantle
Middle Ages1992Estelle Williams
American Experience1988Narrator (voice)
China Beach1988
Spenser: For Hire1985
The Golden Girls1985Mammy Watkins
The Atlanta Child Murders1985Faye Williams
Reading Rainbow1983Self - Narrator (voice)
American Playhouse1982Mrs. Grimes
Roots: The Next Generations1979Queen Haley
The Kennedy Center Honors1978Self
Police Woman1974
Great Performances1971Self
The Dick Cavett Show1968Self - Guest
The Great Adventure1963Harriet Tubman
The Fugitive1963Laura Smith
The Defenders1961Catherine Collins
Armchair Theatre1956Vicky Kingsbury
The Oscars1953Self
Hallmark Hall of Fame1951Rowena Finch