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Ruby Dee(1922-2014)

  • Actress
  • Writer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ruby Dee
Trailer for Betty & Coretta
Play trailer0:31
Betty and Coretta (2013)
16 Videos
91 Photos
Ruby Dee was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. She is best known for originating the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun (1961).

She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Cat People (1982), Do the Right Thing (1989), and American Gangster (2007).

Her film debut was That Man of Mine (1946).

For her performance as Mahalee Lucas in American Gangster (2007), she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. As of 2019, she stands as the second oldest nominee for Best Supporting Actress, behind Gloria Stuart who was 87 when nominated for her role in Titanic for the 70th Academy Awards, 1998.

Dee died on June 11, 2014, at her home in New Rochelle, New York, from natural causes at the age of 91.
BornOctober 27, 1922
DiedJune 11, 2014(91)
BornOctober 27, 1922
DiedJune 11, 2014(91)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 23 wins & 22 nominations total

Photos91

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+ 87
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Known for

Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster
7.8
  • Mama Lucas
  • 2007
Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bill Nunn in Do the Right Thing (1989)
Do the Right Thing
8.0
  • Mother Sister
  • 1989
Jungle Fever (1991)
Jungle Fever
6.6
  • Lucinda Purify
  • 1991
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
A Raisin in the Sun
8.0
  • Ruth Younger
  • 1961

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress



  • Hill Harper, Wayne Brady, Sharon Leal, Bokeem Woodbine, and La La Anthony in 1982 (2013)
    1982
    7.1
    • Rose Brown
    • 2013
  • Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige in Betty and Coretta (2013)
    Betty and Coretta
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • Narrator
    • 2013
  • Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington, and Emanuel Ragsdale in A Thousand Words (2012)
    A Thousand Words
    5.8
    • Annie McCall
    • 2012
  • Red & Blue Marbles
    5.6
    • Professor Wright
    • 2011
  • Brian White and Mallika Sherawat in Politics of Love (2011)
    Politics of Love
    3.1
    • 2011
  • Meagan Good in Video Girl (2011)
    Video Girl
    5.1
    • Valerie
    • 2011
  • Dream Street
    6.1
    • 2010
  • The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009)
    The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
    5.7
    • Miss Candy
    • 2009
  • America (2009)
    America
    6.2
    TV Movie
    • Mrs. Harper
    • 2009
  • Ally Sheedy, Ruby Dee, and Kate Siegel in Steam (2007)
    Steam
    5.0
    • Doris
    • 2007
  • Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in American Gangster (2007)
    American Gangster
    7.8
    • Mama Lucas
    • 2007
  • All About Us (2007)
    All About Us
    4.4
    • Ms. Ella
    • 2007
  • Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, and William Petersen in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
    7.7
    TV Series
    • Mary Wilson
    • 2007
  • Traci Paige Johnson, Candi Milo, Kathleen Herles, Harrison Chad, Billy Rosemberg, and Sean Curley in Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday (2006)
    Nick Jr. Favorites Holiday
    6.1
    Video
    • Alice the Great
    • 2006
  • Ruby Dee, Julie Harris, and Michael Houston King in The Way Back Home (2006)
    The Way Back Home
    5.8
    • Maude
    • 2006

Writer



  • Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in Hands Upon the Heart (1991)
    Hands Upon the Heart
    • Writer
    • 1991
  • American Playhouse (1980)
    American Playhouse
    7.2
    TV Series
    • based on the stage play by
    • 1990
  • Uptight (1968)
    Uptight
    7.2
    • screenplay
    • 1968

Soundtrack



  • The Landlord (2009)
    The Landlord
    4.4
    • performer: "I Don't Need a Man"
    • 2009
  • Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Laura San Giacomo, Gary Sinise, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ruby Dee, Corin Nemec, and Bill Fagerbakke in The Stand (1994)
    The Stand
    7.1
    TV Mini Series
    • performer: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
    • 1994

Videos16

Official Trailer
Trailer 2:36
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:02
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:02
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:34
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:49
Trailer
Theatrical Version
Trailer 2:26
Theatrical Version
Do the Right Thing
Trailer 2:07
Do the Right Thing

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 5′ 2¼″ (1.58 m)
  • Born
    • October 27, 1922
    • Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  • Died
    • June 11, 2014
    • New Rochelle, New York, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouses
      Ossie DavisDecember 9, 1948 - February 4, 2005 (his death, 3 children)
  • Children
      Guy Davis
  • Parents
      Gladys Hightower
  • Relatives
      Tommy Wallace(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Book of poetry: "Glowchild".
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 2 Interviews
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Says her favorite quote comes from the book, "Charlotte's Web": "'Isn't life peculiar!' said Jeremy. 'Compared to what?' said the spider.".
  • Quotes
    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.

FAQ16

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  • How old was Ruby Dee when she died?

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