ACTOR
Ruby Dee
Known for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation · Touched by an Angel · The Fugitive
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).
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Oct 27, 1922
- Died
- Jun 11, 2014
- Birthplace
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
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).
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Known For
TV
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMary Wilson · 2000
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
Touched by an AngelLaBelle Springbelt · 1994
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
The FugitiveLaura Smith · 1963
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
American ExperienceNarrator (voice) · 1988
★ 6.5
★ 6.5
TV
Great PerformancesSelf · 1971
★ 6.1
★ 6.1
TV
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1968
★ 6.8
★ 6.8
TV
American PlayhouseMrs. Grimes · 1982
★ 6.6
★ 6.6
Filmography
Movies
Love in Syncopation
1946
That Man of MineJoan
1946
Easy to GetDrugstore Girl
1947
The Fight Never Ends
1948
What a Guy
1948
No Way OutConnie Brooks (uncredited)
1950
The Jackie Robinson StoryRae Robinson
1950
The Tall TargetRachel
1951
Go Man GoIrma Jackson
1954
Edge of the CityLucy Tyler
1957
St. Louis BluesElizabeth
1958
Take a Giant StepChristine
1959
Virgin IslandRuth
1959
A Raisin in the SunRuth Younger
1961
Gone Are the Days!Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
1963
The BalconyThief
1963N
NeighboursVicky Kingsbury
1966NI
Now is the TimeSelf
1967
The IncidentJoan Robinson
1967
UptightLaurie
1968UptightWriter
1968
DeadlockLucinda
1969
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)
1970
The SheriffSue Ann Lucas
1971
Black GirlNetta's mother
1972
Buck and the PreacherRuth
1972OM
On MeritNarrator (voice)
1972
To Be Young, Gifted and BlackLorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters
1972CD
Chelsea D.H.O.Dr. Bianca Pearson
1973
It's Good to Be AliveRuth Campanella
1974
Wedding BandJulia Augustine
1974
Countdown at KusiniLeah Matanzima
1976
I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsGrandmother Baxter
1979
All God's ChildrenIrene Whitfield
1980
The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six
1980
Cat PeopleFemale
1982
Long Day's Journey Into NightMary Tyrone
1982
Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on TrialVocals
1983
Go Tell It on the MountainMrs. Grimes
1984
Do the Right ThingMother Sister
1989M'
Making 'Do the Right Thing'Self
1989
Decoration DayRowena
1990
Love at LargeCorrine Dart
1990
The Court-Martial of Jackie RobinsonJackie's Mother
1990
Zora is My Name!Zora Neale Hurston
1990
Jazztime TaleNarrator (voice)
1991
Jungle FeverLucinda Purify
1991
Color AdjustmentNarrator
1992
After GoodbyeNarrator
1993
Cop & ½Rachel
1993
The Ernest Green StoryLydia Wilson
1993
The Stand
1994
WhitewashGrandmother (voice)
1994
Just CauseEvangeline Ferguson
1995
Tuesday Morning RideJennie
1995
Captive Heart: The James Mink StoryIndigo
1996
Mr. and Mrs. LovingSophia
1996
A Simple WishHortence
1997
Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage)
1997AT
A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma CannerNarrator
1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodSelf
1998
The WallMrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")
1998
Baby GeniusesMargo
1999
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 YearsAnnie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany
1999
Passing GloryMommit Porter
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I StandSelf
1999
The Unfinished JourneyNarrator (voice)
1999
A Storm in SummerGrandmother
2000
Finding Buck McHenryMrs. Henry
2000
Feast of All SaintsElsie Claviere
2001
Taking Back Our TownEmelda West
2001
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'Self
2002
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksSelf
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(archive footage)
2004
Their Eyes Were Watching GodNanny
2005
Discovering William GreavesSelf
2006
No. 2Nanna Maria
2006
The Way Back HomeMaude
2006
All About UsMs. Ella
2007
American GangsterMama Lucas
2007
In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black CinemaHerself
2007OP
Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelf
2007
SteamDoris
2007
A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown SchoolNarrator (voice)
2009
AmericaMrs. Harper
2009
Politics of Love
2011
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' RollMiss Candy
2011
Video GirlValerie
2011
A Thousand WordsAnnie McCall
2012
Betty and CorettaNarrator
2013
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-JamalSelf
2013
Life's Essentials with Ruby DeeSelf
2014
Poitier's Walter LeeSelf (archive footage)
2018LI
Love in Exile
2026BO
Baby of the Family
DO
Diamonds on the Silver ScreenSelf
Television
Hallmark Hall of FameRowena Finch · 1 eps
1951
The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
Armchair TheatreVicky Kingsbury · 1 eps
1956
The DefendersCatherine Collins · 1 eps
1961
The FugitiveLaura Smith · 1 eps
1963
The Great AdventureHarriet Tubman · 1 eps
1963
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
1968
Great PerformancesSelf · 2 eps
1971
Police Woman1 eps
1974
The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf · 1 eps
1978
Roots: The Next GenerationsQueen Haley · 3 eps
1979
American PlayhouseMrs. Grimes · 1 eps
1982American PlayhouseZora Neale Hurston · 1 eps
1982American PlayhouseWriter
1982
Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice) · 3 eps
1983
Spenser: For Hire1 eps
1985
The Atlanta Child MurdersFaye Williams · 2 eps
1985
The Golden GirlsMammy Watkins · 1 eps
1985
American ExperienceNarrator (voice) · 1 eps
1988
China Beach1 eps
1988
LincolnElizabeth Keckley · 2 eps
1988
Middle AgesEstelle Williams · 6 eps
1992
The StandMother Abagail Freemantle · 4 eps
1994
Touched by an AngelLaBelle Springbelt · 1 eps
1994
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildGrandma (voice) · 1 eps
1995CT
Christianity: The First 1000 YearsHerself - Narrator · 4 eps
1998
Little Bill52 eps
1999
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMary Wilson · 1 eps
2000
Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsNarrator · 2 eps
2002
IconoclastsSelf · 1 eps
2005
Hollywood BlackSelf (archive footage) · 4 eps
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