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Ruby Dee (I)

Actress | Soundtrack | Writer

Trivia:

Has three children, Nora, Guy Davis and Hasna. See more trivia »

Born:

Ruby Ann Wallace
in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info on IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent
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Still of Eddie Murphy and Ruby Dee in A Thousand Words Ruby Dee and Jeff Friday Ruby Dee Don Cheadle, Ruby Dee and Cedric the Entertainer Herman with his grandmother Ruby Dee and Little Richard
40 photos | 27 videos | 183 news articles »

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Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel


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Nominated for Oscar. Another 15 wins & 16 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (110 titles)
2013 King Dog (filming)
Mary Johnson
 
2013 1982 (post-production)
Rose Brown
 
2013 Betty and Coretta (TV movie)
Narrator
 
2012/I A Thousand Words
Annie McCall
 
2011 Politics of Love
 
2011 Video Girl
 
2011 Red & Blue Marbles
Professor Wright
 
2010 Dream Street
 
2009 The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
Miss Candy
 
2009 America (TV movie)
Mrs. Harper
 
2007 Steam
Doris
 
2007 American Gangster
Mama Lucas
 
2007 All About Us
Ms. Ella
 
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV series)
Mary Wilson
– Empty Eyes (2007) … Mary Wilson
 
2006 The Way Back Home
Maude
 
2006 Naming Number Two
Nanna Maria
 
2005 Their Eyes Were Watching God (TV movie)
Nanny
 
2002 Baby of the Family
 
2001 Taking Back Our Town (TV movie)
Emelda West
 
2001 Feast of All Saints (TV movie)
Elsie Claviere
 
2000 Finding Buck McHenry (TV movie)
Mrs. Henry
 
2000 A Storm in Summer (TV movie)
Grandmother
 
1999 Touched by an Angel (TV series)
LaBelle
– The Christmas Gift (1999) … LaBelle
 
1999 Little Bill (TV series)
Alice the Great
 
1999 Shelly Fisher (TV movie)
Mrs. Greenspan
 
1999 Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (TV movie)
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
 
1999 Baby Geniuses
Margo
 
1999 Passing Glory (TV movie)
Mommit Porter
 
1999 Cosby (TV series)
Mattie
– Ol' Betsy (1999) … Mattie
 
1998 Promised Land (TV series)
Alicia
– Baptism of Fire (1998) … Alicia
 
1998 The Wall (TV movie)
Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
 
1997 A Simple Wish
Hortense
 
1996 Stories from the Edge (TV movie)
(segment "Tuesday Morning Ride")
 
1996 Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (TV movie)
Indigo
 
1996 Mr. and Mrs. Loving (TV movie)
Sophia
 
1994-1995 Street Gear (TV series)
Mosley Davis
– Davis vs. Davis (1995) … Mosley Davis
– Smiley Face (1995) … Mosley Davis
– Don't Ask, Don't Tell (1995) … Mosley Davis
– Look Who's Quiet Now (1995) … Mosley Davis
– Two Blind Mice (1995) … Mosley Davis
See all 13 episodes »
 
1995 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Narrator
– Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul (1995) … Narrator (voice)
 
1995 Just Cause
Evangeline
 
1995 Tuesday Morning Ride (short)
 
1994 Whitewash (TV short)
Grandmother (voice)
 
1994 The Stand (TV mini-series)
Mother Abigail Freemantle
– The Stand (1994) … Mother Abigail Freemantle
– The Betrayal (1994) … Mother Abigail Freemantle
– The Dreams (1994) … Mother Abigail Freemantle
– The Plague (1994) … Mother Abigail Freemantle
 
1993 Cop and ½
Rachel
 
1993 Evening Shade (TV series)
Aurelia Danforth
– They Can't Take That Away from Me (1993) … Aurelia Danforth
 
1993 The Ernest Green Story (TV movie)
Mrs. Lydia Wilson
 
1993 The Poetry Hall of Fame (TV movie)
 
1992 Middle Ages (TV series)
Estelle Williams
 
1991 Jazztime Tale (TV movie)
Narrator (voice)
 
1991 Jungle Fever
Lucinda Purify
 
1990 Decoration Day (TV movie)
Rowena, Finch's Housekeeper
 
1990 The Golden Girls (TV series)
Viola Watkins
– Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mammy (1990) … Viola Watkins
 
1990 The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (TV movie)
Jackie's mother
 
1990 China Beach (TV series)
Ruby
– Skylark (1990) … Ruby
 
1985-1990 American Playhouse (TV series)
Mrs. Grimes / Zora Neal Hurston
– Zora Is My Name! (1990) … Zora Neal Hurston
– Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985) … Mrs. Grimes
 
1990 Love at Large
Corrine Dart
 
1989 Do the Right Thing
Mother Sister
 
1988 Lincoln (TV mini-series)
Elizabeth Keckley
 
1988 Windmills of the Gods (TV movie)
Dorothy - Secretary to Mary Ashley
 
1987 Spenser: For Hire (TV series)
Eleanor Simpson
– Personal Demons (1987) … Eleanor Simpson
 
1987 Crown Dick (TV movie)
Johnson's Mother
 
1985 The Atlanta Child Murders (TV mini-series)
Faye Williams
 
1984 Go Tell It on the Mountain
Mrs. Grimes
 
1982 Long Day's Journey Into Night (TV movie)
Mary Tyrone
 
1982 Cat People
Female
 
1980 Ossie and Ruby! (TV series)
Co-host (1980-81)
 
1980 All God's Children (TV movie)
Irene Whitfield
 
1980 The Torture of Mothers
 
1979 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (TV movie)
Grandmother Baxter
 
1979 Roots: The Next Generations (TV mini-series)
Queen Haley
– Episode #1.6 (1979) … Queen Haley
– Episode #1.4 (1979) … Queen Haley
– Episode #1.3 (1979) … Queen Haley
 
1976 Cool Red
Leah Matanzima
 
1975 Police Woman (TV series)
Cora Sanders
– Target Black (1975) … Cora Sanders
 
1974 Wedding Band (TV movie)
Julia Augustine
 
1974 It's Good to Be Alive (TV movie)
Ruth Campanella
 
1973 Tenafly (TV series)
Jan Lennox
– The Window That Wasn't (1973) … Jan Lennox
 
1973 The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People (TV series)
– Today Is Ours
 
1973 Chelsea D.H.O. (TV movie)
Dr. Bianca Pearson
 
1972 Black Girl
Netta's mother
 
1972 Buck and the Preacher
Ruth
 
1972 To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (TV movie)
 
1971 The Sheriff (TV movie)
Sue-Anne Lucas
 
1968-1969 Peyton Place (TV series)
Alma Miles
– Episode #5.47 (1969) … Alma Miles
– Episode #5.46 (1969) … Alma Miles
– Episode #5.44 (1969) … Alma Miles
– Episode #5.43 (1969) … Alma Miles
– Episode #5.41 (1969) … Alma Miles
See all 20 episodes »
 
1969 The Bold Ones: The Protectors (TV series)
Lucinda
– Deadlock (1969) … Lucinda
 
1968 Uptight
Laurie
 
1967 Guiding Light (TV series)
Martha Frazier
 
1967 The Incident
Joan Robinson
 
1966 Armchair Theatre (TV series)
Vicky Kingsbury
– Neighbours (1966) … Vicky Kingsbury
 
1965 The Defenders (TV series)
Catherine Collins
– The Sworn Twelve (1965) … Catherine Collins
 
1963 East Side/West Side (TV series)
Marilyn Marsden
– No Hiding Place (1963) … Marilyn Marsden
 
1963 The Great Adventure (TV series)
Harriet Tubman
– Go Down, Moses (1963) … Harriet Tubman
 
1963 The Fugitive (TV series)
Laura Smith
– Decision in the Ring (1963) … Laura Smith
 
1963 Gone Are the Days!
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
 
1963 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series)
Jenny Bishop
– Express Stop from Lenox Avenue (1963) … Jenny Bishop
 
1963 The Balcony
Thief
 
1963 Alcoa Premiere (TV series)
Irene Clayton
– Impact of an Execution (1963) … Irene Clayton
 
1962 Seven Times Monday (TV movie)
Lila
 
1961 A Raisin in the Sun
Ruth Younger
 
1960-1961 Play of the Week (TV series)
Jane / Lila
– Black Monday (1961) … Jane
– Seven Times Monday (1960) … Lila
 
1959 Take a Giant Step
Christine the maid
 
1959 Our Virgin Island
Ruth
 
1958 St. Louis Blues
Elizabeth
 
1957 Edge of the City
Lucy Tyler
 
1956 The Great American Pastime
Mrs. Ashlow (uncredited)
 
1954 Go Man Go
Irma Jackson
 
1951 The Tall Target
Rachel, Slave Maid
 
1951 Frontiers of Faith (TV series)
Grace Gilmore
– The Bitter Cup … Grace Gilmore
 
1950 No Way Out
Connie Brooks (uncredited)
 
1950 The Jackie Robinson Story
Rae Robinson
 
1949 The Fight Never Ends
Janie
 
1948 What a Guy
 
1946 The First Year (TV movie)
 
1946 That Man of Mine
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
2009/I The Landlord (performer: "I Don't Need a Man")
 
1994 The Stand (TV mini-series)
– The Dreams (1994) (performer: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus")
 
Show ShowWriter (1 title)
1968 Uptight (writer)
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1968 Uptight (co-producer)
 
Show ShowSelf (79 titles)
2013 Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (documentary) (post-production)
Herself
 
2012 Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal (documentary)
Herself
 
2011 The Wendy Williams Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 28 February 2011 (2011) … Herself
 
2011 Sing Your Song (documentary)
Herself
 
2010 For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots (TV documentary) (voice)
 
2010 The Mo'Nique Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 22 February 2010 (2010) … Herself
 
2009 The New Neighbors (documentary short)
Narrator
 
2009 A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School (documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
2009 The Tyra Banks Show (TV series)
Herself
– Rosie O'Donnell & Ruby Dee (2009) … Herself
 
2009 Let Freedom Sing: How Music Inspired the Civil Rights Movement (documentary)
Herself
 
2008 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 6 October 2008 (2008) … Herself
– Episode dated 5 February 2008 (2008) … Herself
 
2008 Meet Mary Pleasant (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2008 An Evening at the Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2008 La noche de los Oscar (TV movie)
Herself
 
2008 The 80th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
 
2008 Tavis Smiley (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 21 February 2008 (2008) … Herself
 
2008 39th NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2008 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Winner: Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role & Best Motion Picture Cast
 
2008 The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV series)
Herself
– And the Nominees Are... (2008) … Herself
 
2007 Iconoclasts (TV series documentary)
– Alicia Keys and Ruby Dee (2007)
 
2007 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)
Herself
– The Making of 'American Gangster' (2007) … Herself
 
2007 In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema (video documentary)
Herself
 
2007 Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson (video)
Herself
 
2006 The 2006 Black Movie Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2006 Legends Ball (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2006 Lockdown, USA (documentary)
Narrator
 
2006 An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2005 The Black Movie Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2005 Character Studies (TV series)
Herself
– Ruth (2005) … Herself
– Amanda (2005) … Herself
 
2005 The History Makers (video documentary)
Herself
 
2005 Unstoppable: Conversation with Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2004 The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (TV special)
Herself - Honoree
 
2004 Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Episode #4.6 (2004) … Herself
 
2004 A Wealth of Wisdom (TV series)
Herself - Panelist
 
2004 Book TV (TV series)
Herself - Panelist
– A Wealth of Wisdom (2004) … Herself - Panelist
 
2003 Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (documentary)
Herself
 
2003 2003 Trumpet Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2003 Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (documentary)
Reader
 
2002 An Evening with Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee (TV movie)
Herself - Interviewee
 
2002 Hughes' Dream Harlem (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2002 Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2001 Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (TV mini-series documentary)
Narrator
 
2001 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2001 Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Rosa Parks (2001) … Herself
 
2001 Freedom Never Dies: The Legacy of Harry T. Moore (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
2000 The Directors (TV series documentary)
Herself
– The Films of Spike Lee (2000) … Herself
 
1999 The Unfinished Journey (documentary short)
Narration (voice)
 
1999 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999) … Herself
 
1998 NY TV: By the People Who Made It - Part I & II (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1998 God's Gonna Trouble the Water (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
1998 Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1982-1998 Great Performances (TV series)
Herself / Narrator
– Porgy and Bess: An American Voice (1998) … Herself/Narrator
– Great Performances' 10th Anniversary Celebration (1982) … Herself
 
1998 A Time to Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner (documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
1997 Sports on the Silver Screen (TV documentary)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1997 Domestic Differences (documentary)
Narrator
 
1994 The 48th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1994 The Stand: The Making of... (TV documentary short)
Herself
 
1994 Homeward Bound (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1984-1992 Reading Rainbow (TV series)
Herself
– Tar Beach (1992) … Herself (voice)
– Simon's Book (1984) … Herself (voice)
 
1992 Color Adjustment (documentary)
Narrator
 
1991 The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
 
1990 Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1990 22nd NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1989 Making 'Do the Right Thing' (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1989 Today (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 5 July 1989 (1989) … Herself
 
1988 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 9 October 1988 (1988) … Herself
– Episode dated 23 September 1988 (1988) … Herself
 
1984 A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers (TV series documentary)
Herself
– Episode dated 25 April 1984 (1984) … Herself
– Episode dated 18 April 1984 (1984) … Herself
 
1979 The 31st Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
 
1978 Tony Brown's Journal (TV series)
Herself
– Man and Woman (1978) … Herself
 
1975 Lorraine Hansberry: The Black Experience in the Creation of Drama (documentary short)
 
1973 Wattstax (documentary)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1970 He Said, She Said (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 13 June 1970 (1970) … Herself
 
1970 King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (documentary)
Herself
 
1968 Look Up and Live (TV series)
Herself
– Continuity of Despair (1968) … Herself
 
1968 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 3 January 1968 (1968) … Herself
 
1964 Freedom Spectacular (TV movie)
Herself
 
1963 I've Got a Secret (TV series)
Guest panelist
– Episode dated 30 December 1963 (1963) … Guest panelist
 
1962 The 16th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter
 
1962 The DuPont Show of the Week (TV series)
Herself
– The Beauty of a Woman (1962) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (3 titles)
2005 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (video documentary)
 
1976 America at the Movies (documentary)
Ruth Younger
 

Related Videos

The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll -- After his sophomore album flops, Spyder, a decadent rock star, returns to his Long Island hometown to convince his estranged partner to help write songs for his comeback. Do the Right Thing -- After Mister Mayor (Ossie Davis) risks his life to save a young boy, Mother Sister (Ruby Dee) compliments him. Iconoclasts: Season 3: Episode 2 -- Clip from the Alicia Keys + Ruby Dee episode of Iconoclasts, Season 3.
See all 27 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Directed "Zora Is My Name", 1983. See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Print Biographies  | 2 Interviews  | 1 Article  | See more »

Height:

5' 2¼" (1.58 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I didn't have the kind of talent or personality that kept me dreaming about Hollywood. They don't hire little colored girls to do this or that. See more »

Trivia:

Has three children, Nora, Guy Davis and Hasna. See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio