1922Born, Cleveland
80Credits
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
American GangsterMama Lucas
Do the Right ThingMother Sister
A Thousand WordsAnnie McCall
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMary Wilson
Just CauseEvangeline Ferguson2026Love in ExileMovie
2013Betty and CorettaNarratorMovie
2012A Thousand WordsAnnie McCallMovie
2011Video GirlValerieMovie
2011Politics of LoveMovie
2011The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollMiss CandyMovie
2009A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown SchoolNarrator (voice)Movie
2009AmericaMrs. HarperMovie
2007SteamDorisMovie
2007American GangsterMama LucasMovie
2007All About UsMs. EllaMovie
2006The Way Back HomeMaudeMovie
2006No. 2Nanna MariaMovie
2005Their Eyes Were Watching GodNannyMovie
2004TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(archive footage)Movie
2003Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesMovie
2002Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsNarrator · 2 episodesShow
2001Taking Back Our TownEmelda WestMovie
2001Feast of All SaintsElsie ClaviereMovie
2000Finding Buck McHenryMrs. HenryMovie
2000A Storm in SummerGrandmotherMovie
1999The Unfinished JourneyNarrator (voice)Movie
1999Little Bill52 episodesShow
1999Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsAnnie Elizabeth 'Bessie' DelanyMovie
1999Baby GeniusesMargoMovie
1999Passing GloryMommit PorterMovie
1998A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerNarratorMovie
1998The WallMrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")Movie
1997A Simple WishHortenceMovie
1996Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryIndigoMovie
1996Mr. and Mrs. LovingSophiaMovie
1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildGrandma (voice) · 1 episodeShow
1995Just CauseEvangeline FergusonMovie
1995Tuesday Morning RideJennieMovie
1994Touched by an AngelLaBelle Springbelt · 1 episodeShow
1994WhitewashGrandmother (voice)Movie
1994The StandMovie
1994The StandMother Abagail Freemantle · 4 episodesShow
1993After GoodbyeNarratorMovie
1993Cop & ½RachelMovie
1993The Ernest Green StoryLydia WilsonMovie
1992Middle AgesEstelle Williams · 6 episodesShow
1992Color AdjustmentNarratorMovie
1991Jazztime TaleNarrator (voice)Movie
1991Jungle FeverLucinda PurifyMovie
1990Decoration DayRowenaMovie
1990The Court-Martial of Jackie RobinsonJackie's MotherMovie
1990Love at LargeCorrine DartMovie
1990Zora is My Name!Zora Neale HurstonMovie
1989Do the Right ThingMother SisterMovie
1988American ExperienceNarrator (voice) · 1 episodeShow
1988China Beach1 episodeShow
1988LincolnElizabeth Keckley · 2 episodesShow
1985Spenser: For Hire1 episodeShow
1985The Golden GirlsMammy Watkins · 1 episodeShow
1985The Atlanta Child MurdersFaye Williams · 2 episodesShow
1984Go Tell It on the MountainMrs. GrimesMovie
1982Long Day's Journey Into NightMary TyroneMovie
1982Cat PeopleFemaleMovie
1982American PlayhouseMrs. Grimes, Zora Neale Hurston · 1 episodeShow
1980All God's ChildrenIrene WhitfieldMovie
1980The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem SixMovie
1979I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsGrandmother BaxterMovie
1976Countdown at KusiniLeah MatanzimaMovie
1974Police Woman1 episodeShow
1974Wedding BandJulia AugustineMovie
1974It's Good to Be AliveRuth CampanellaMovie
1973Chelsea D.H.O.Dr. Bianca PearsonMovie
1972Black GirlNetta's motherMovie
1972Buck and the PreacherRuthMovie
1972To Be Young, Gifted and BlackLorraine Hansberry and other assorted charactersMovie
1972On MeritNarrator (voice)Movie
1971The SheriffSue Ann LucasMovie
1969DeadlockLucindaMovie
1968UptightLaurieMovie
1967The IncidentJoan RobinsonMovie
1966NeighboursVicky KingsburyMovie
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