Acting · Cleveland, Ohio, USA · Born October 27, 1922
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).
Love in Exile
2026
TVHollywood Black
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePoitier's Walter Lee
2018
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLife's Essentials with Ruby Dee
2014
as Self
MovieBetty and Coretta
2013
as Narrator
MovieLong Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal
2013
as Self
MovieA Thousand Words
2012
as Annie McCall
MovieVideo Girl
2011
as Valerie
MoviePolitics of Love
2011
MovieThe Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
2011
as Miss Candy
MovieA Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School
2009
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAmerica
2009
as Mrs. Harper
MovieSteam
2007
as Doris
MovieAmerican Gangster
2007
as Mama Lucas
MovieAll About Us
2007
as Ms. Ella
MovieIn the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema
2007
as Herself
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson
2007
as Self
MovieDiscovering William Greaves
2006
as Self
MovieThe Way Back Home
2006
as Maude
MovieNo. 2
2006
as Nanna Maria
TVIconoclasts
2005
as Self
MovieTheir Eyes Were Watching God
2005
as Nanny
MovieBeah: A Black Woman Speaks
2004
as Self
MovieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
MovieUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
MovieTheater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
2002
as Self
TVChristianity: The First Two Thousand Years
2002
as Narrator
MovieTaking Back Our Town
2001
as Emelda West
MovieFeast of All Saints
2001
as Elsie Claviere
TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Mary Wilson
MovieFinding Buck McHenry
2000
as Mrs. Henry
MovieA Storm in Summer
2000
as Grandmother
MovieThe Unfinished Journey
1999
as Narrator (voice)
TVLittle Bill
1999
MovieHaving Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999
as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
MovieBaby Geniuses
1999
as Margo
MoviePaul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
as Self
MoviePassing Glory
1999
as Mommit Porter
A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner
1998
as Narrator
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
1998
as Herself - Narrator
MovieThe Wall
1998
as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
MovieSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998
as Self
MovieA Simple Wish
1997
as Hortence
MovieSports on the Silver Screen
1997
as Self (archive footage)
MovieCaptive Heart: The James Mink Story
1996
as Indigo
MovieMr. and Mrs. Loving
1996
as Sophia
TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Grandma (voice)
MovieJust Cause
1995
as Evangeline Ferguson
MovieTuesday Morning Ride
1995
as Jennie
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as LaBelle Springbelt
MovieWhitewash
1994
as Grandmother (voice)
TVThe Stand
1994
as Mother Abagail Freemantle
MovieAfter Goodbye
1993
as Narrator
MovieCop & ½
1993
as Rachel
MovieThe Ernest Green Story
1993
as Lydia Wilson
TVMiddle Ages
1992
as Estelle Williams
MovieColor Adjustment
1992
as Narrator
MovieJazztime Tale
1991
as Narrator (voice)
MovieJungle Fever
1991
as Lucinda Purify
MovieDecoration Day
1990
as Rowena
MovieThe Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson
1990
as Jackie's Mother
MovieLove at Large
1990
as Corrine Dart
MovieZora is My Name!
1990
as Zora Neale Hurston
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
1989
as Self
MovieDo the Right Thing
1989
as Mother Sister
TVAmerican Experience
1988
as Narrator (voice)
TVChina Beach
1988
TVLincoln
1988
as Elizabeth Keckley
TVSpenser: For Hire
1985
TVThe Golden Girls
1985
as Mammy Watkins
TVThe Atlanta Child Murders
1985
as Faye Williams
MovieGo Tell It on the Mountain
1984
as Mrs. Grimes
TVReading Rainbow
1983
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieLong Day's Journey Into Night
1982
as Mary Tyrone
MovieCat People
1982
as Female
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Mrs. Grimes
MovieAll God's Children
1980
as Irene Whitfield
MovieThe Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
1980
MovieI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
1979
as Grandmother Baxter
TVRoots: The Next Generations
1979
as Queen Haley
TVThe Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
MovieCountdown at Kusini
1976
as Leah Matanzima
TVPolice Woman
1974
MovieWedding Band
1974
as Julia Augustine
MovieIt's Good to Be Alive
1974
as Ruth Campanella
Chelsea D.H.O.
1973
as Dr. Bianca Pearson
MovieBlack Girl
1972
as Netta's mother
MovieBuck and the Preacher
1972
as Ruth
MovieTo Be Young, Gifted and Black
1972
as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
On Merit
1972
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Sheriff
1971
as Sue Ann Lucas
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
MovieKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
as Self (archive footage)
MovieDeadlock
1969
as Lucinda
MovieUptight
1968
as Laurie
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Incident
1967
as Joan Robinson
Now is the Time
1967
as Self
Neighbours
1966
as Vicky Kingsbury
TVThe Great Adventure
1963
as Harriet Tubman
TVThe Fugitive
1963
as Laura Smith
MovieGone Are the Days!
1963
as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
MovieThe Balcony
1963
as Thief
TVThe Defenders
1961
as Catherine Collins
MovieA Raisin in the Sun
1961
as Ruth Younger
MovieTake a Giant Step
1959
as Christine
MovieVirgin Island
1959
as Ruth
MovieSt. Louis Blues
1958
as Elizabeth
MovieEdge of the City
1957
as Lucy Tyler
TVArmchair Theatre
1956
as Vicky Kingsbury
MovieGo Man Go
1954
as Irma Jackson
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Rowena Finch
MovieThe Tall Target
1951
as Rachel
MovieNo Way Out
1950
as Connie Brooks (uncredited)
MovieThe Jackie Robinson Story
1950
as Rae Robinson
MovieThe Fight Never Ends
1948
MovieWhat a Guy
1948
MovieEasy to Get
1947
as Drugstore Girl
MovieLove in Syncopation
1946
MovieThat Man of Mine
1946
as Joan
