Ruby Dee
Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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).

Top 10 collaborators

Roles

Match
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014)
Self
Betty and Coretta (2013)
Narrator
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal (2013)
Self
A Thousand Words (2012)
Annie McCall
Video Girl (2011)
Valerie
Politics of Love (2011)
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2011)
Miss Candy
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School (2009)
Narrator (voice)
America (2009)
Mrs. Harper
Steam (2007)
Doris
American Gangster (2007)
Mama Lucas
All About Us (2007)
Ms. Ella
In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema (2007)
Herself
Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson (2007)
Self
Discovering William Greaves (2006)
Self
No. 2 (2006)
Nanna Maria
Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)
Nanny
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (2004)
Self
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003)
Taking Back Our Town (2001)
Emelda West
Feast of All Saints (2001)
Elsie Claviere
Finding Buck McHenry (2000)
Mrs. Henry
A Storm in Summer (2000)
Grandmother
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (1999)
Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
Baby Geniuses (1999)
Margo
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999)
Self
Passing Glory (1999)
Mommit Porter
A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner (1998)
Narrator
The Wall (1998)
Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
A Simple Wish (1997)
Hortence
Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)
Self (archive footage)
Captive Heart: The James Mink Story (1996)
Indigo
Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996)
Sophia
Just Cause (1995)
Evangeline Ferguson
Tuesday Morning Ride (1995)
Jennie
Whitewash (1994)
Grandmother (voice)
Cop and ½ (1993)
Rachel
The Ernest Green Story (1993)
Lydia Wilson
Color Adjustment (1992)
Narrator
Jazztime Tale (1991)
Narrator (voice)
Jungle Fever (1991)
Lucinda Purify
Decoration Day (1990)
Rowena
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (1990)
Jackie's Mother
Love at Large (1990)
Corrine Dart
Zora is My Name! (1990)
Zora Neale Hurston
Making 'Do the Right Thing' (1989)
Self
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Mother Sister
Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985)
Mrs. Grimes
Long Day's Journey Into Night (1982)
Mary Tyrone
Cat People (1982)
Female
All God's Children (1980)
Irene Whitfield
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979)
Grandmother Baxter
Countdown at Kusini (1976)
Leah Matanzima
Wedding Band (1974)
Julia Augustine
It's Good to Be Alive (1974)
Ruth Campanella
Black Girl (1972)
Netta's mother
Buck and the Preacher (1972)
Ruth
To Be Young, Gifted and Black (1972)
Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
On Merit (1972)
Narrator (voice)
The Sheriff (1971)
Sue Ann Lucas
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970)
Self (archive footage)
Deadlock (1969)
Lucinda
Uptight (1968)
Laurie
The Incident (1967)
Joan Robinson
Neighbours (1966)
Vicky Kingsbury
Gone Are the Days! (1963)
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
The Balcony (1963)
Thief
A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
Ruth Younger
Take a Giant Step (1959)
Christine
Virgin Island (1959)
Ruth
St. Louis Blues (1958)
Elizabeth
Edge of the City (1957)
Lucy Tyler
Go Man Go (1954)
Irma Jackson
The Tall Target (1951)
Rachel
No Way Out (1950)
Connie Brooks (uncredited)
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
Rae Robinson
The Fight Never Ends (1948)
What a Guy (1948)
Love in Syncopation (1946)
That Man of Mine (1946)
Joan

Crew

Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial (1983)
Vocals
Uptight (1968)
Writer