--- name: "Ruby Dee" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruby-dee" fi1m_id: "ruby-dee" imdb_id: "nm0002039" tmdb_id: 15532 wikidata_id: "Q234360" roles: ["Actor"] born: "27 October 1922" died: "11 June 2014" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-10-23T04:07:29.313542+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ruby Dee ## Identity Ruby Dee - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ruby-dee - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ruby-dee - **IMDb ID:** nm0002039 - **TMDB ID:** 15532 - **Wikidata ID:** Q234360 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Dee, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234360, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002039/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15532 Actor. Born 27 October 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Died 11 June 2014. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 27 October 1922, Cleveland, Ohio, USA - **Died:** 11 June 2014 - **Active:** 1989–1999 - **Also known as:** Ruby Ann Wallace - **Frequently works with:** [Ossie Davis](https://film.one/person/ossie-davis.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Dee, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234360, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002039/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15532 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Do the Right Thing*](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) (93) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ruby Dee > Ruby Dee gives women under pressure a life beyond their troubles. We value her authority within an ensemble, though the habit of casting her as a mother or wise elder sometimes left too little room for anything else. In *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Ruby Dee’s Mother Sister gives the neighbourhood an elder whose authority needs little explanation. She holds her place in Spike Lee’s ensemble without making the other people seem incidental. We laughed at the neighbours’ quarrel over photographs on a pizzeria wall because Lee makes their stubbornness so recognisable. Dee’s presence helps these neighbours feel like people accustomed to living alongside one another, however little they agree about. We recommend the film without reservation, allowing for a few conversations that run long. There had not always been so much room for a person inside the part. Dee’s early roles often required her to be a long-suffering wife, leaving little to do except be hurt. She originated Ruth Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s *A Raisin in the Sun* on stage in 1959 and reprised the role in the 1961 film. Here, her ability to make a woman under pressure feel fully lived in had a better use. That is the quality worth looking for in the later mothers and elders, too: the sense that being dependable takes effort. Lee makes good use of her authority, but the wise elder is a part with limits. It can ask an actor to supply good sense while everyone else gets the more interesting business of making mistakes. The humour and arguments surrounding Mother Sister keep *Do the Right Thing* from becoming too solemn about its community figures. Ossie Davis appears alongside Dee, one of their many collaborations across stage and screen. Lee cast her again as Lucinda Purify in *Jungle Fever* (1991). The later credits include Mama Lucas in *American Gangster* (2007), another maternal role in a career repeatedly drawn towards them. That repetition makes the writing worth attending to: how much does the woman get to want for herself? We value Dee most when endurance is one part of the character, not her entire purpose. Start with *Do the Right Thing*, then make time for *A Raisin in the Sun*. ## Biography Ruby Dee was an American actress. She originated the role of Ruth Younger in the 1959 Broadway production of *A Raisin in the Sun* and reprised it in the 1961 film adaptation. Her film roles include Mother Sister in *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Lucinda Purify in *Jungle Fever* (1991) and Mama Lucas in *American Gangster* (2007), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in *The Stand* (1994) as Mother Abagail Freemantle. Dee was additionally a poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and civil rights activist. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Fi1m 93, as Mother Sister — [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) ## Complete filmography (100) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Love in Exile* (2026), Actor - *Betty and Coretta* (2013), as Narrator - *A Thousand Words* (2012), as Annie McCall - *Video Girl* (2011), as Valerie - *Politics of Love* (2011), Actor - *The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll* (2011), as Miss Candy - *A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School* (2009), as Narrator (voice) - *America* (2009), as Mrs. Harper - *Steam* (2007), as Doris - *American Gangster* (2007), as Mama Lucas - *All About Us* (2007), as Ms. Ella - *The Way Back Home* (2006), as Maude - *No. 2* (2006), as Nanna Maria - *Their Eyes Were Watching God* (2005), as Nanny - *TV in Black: The First Fifty Years* (2004), as (archive footage) - *Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives* (2003), Actor - *Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years* (2002), series, as Narrator - *Taking Back Our Town* (2001), as Emelda West - *Feast of All Saints* (2001), as Elsie Claviere - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Mary Wilson - *Finding Buck McHenry* (2000), as Mrs. Henry - *A Storm in Summer* (2000), as Grandmother - *The Unfinished Journey* (1999), as Narrator (voice) - *Little Bill* (1999), series, Actor - *Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years* (1999), as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany - *Baby Geniuses* (1999), as Margo - *Passing Glory* (1999), as Mommit Porter - *A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner* (1998), as Narrator - *The Wall* (1998), as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge") - *A Simple Wish* (1997), as Hortence - *Captive Heart: The James Mink Story* (1996), as Indigo - *Mr. and Mrs. Loving* (1996), as Sophia - *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Grandma (voice) - *Just Cause* (1995), as Evangeline Ferguson - *Tuesday Morning Ride* (1995), as Jennie - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as LaBelle Springbelt - *Whitewash* (1994), as Grandmother (voice) - *The Stand* (1994), series, as Mother Abagail Freemantle - *After Goodbye* (1993), as Narrator - *Cop & ½* (1993), as Rachel - *The Ernest Green Story* (1993), as Lydia Wilson - *Middle Ages* (1992), series, as Estelle Williams - *Color Adjustment* (1992), as Narrator - *Jazztime Tale* (1991), as Narrator (voice) - *Jungle Fever* (1991), as Lucinda Purify - *Decoration Day* (1990), as Rowena - *The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson* (1990), as Jackie's Mother - *Love at Large* (1990), as Corrine Dart - *Zora is My Name!* (1990), as Zora Neale Hurston - *Do the Right Thing* (1989), as Mother Sister — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) - *American Experience* (1988), series, as Narrator (voice) - *China Beach* (1988), series, Actor - *Lincoln* (1988), series, as Elizabeth Keckley - *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor - *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Mammy Watkins — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md) - *The Atlanta Child Murders* (1985), series, as Faye Williams - *Go Tell It on the Mountain* (1984), as Mrs. Grimes - *Papua New Guinea: Anthropology on Trial* (1983), as Vocals - *Long Day's Journey Into Night* (1982), as Mary Tyrone - *Cat People* (1982), as Female - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Mrs. Grimes, Zora Neale Hurston · Writer - *All God's Children* (1980), as Irene Whitfield - *The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six* (1980), Actor - *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* (1979), as Grandmother Baxter - *Roots: The Next Generations* (1979), series, as Queen Haley - *Countdown at Kusini* (1976), as Leah Matanzima - *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor - *Wedding Band* (1974), as Julia Augustine - *It's Good to Be Alive* (1974), as Ruth Campanella - *Chelsea D.H.O.* (1973), as Dr. Bianca Pearson - *Black Girl* (1972), as Netta's mother - *Buck and the Preacher* (1972), as Ruth - *To Be Young, Gifted and Black* (1972), as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters - *On Merit* (1972), as Narrator (voice) - *The Sheriff* (1971), as Sue Ann Lucas - *Deadlock* (1969), as Lucinda - *Uptight* (1968), as Laurie · Writer - *The Incident* (1967), as Joan Robinson - *Neighbours* (1966), as Vicky Kingsbury - *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Harriet Tubman - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Laura Smith — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *Gone Are the Days!* (1963), as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins - *The Balcony* (1963), as Thief - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Catherine Collins - *A Raisin in the Sun* (1961), as Ruth Younger - *Take a Giant Step* (1959), as Christine - *Virgin Island* (1959), as Ruth - *St. Louis Blues* (1958), as Elizabeth - *Edge of the City* (1957), as Lucy Tyler - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Vicky Kingsbury - *Go Man Go* (1954), as Irma Jackson - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Rowena Finch - *The Tall Target* (1951), as Rachel - *No Way Out* (1950), as Connie Brooks (uncredited) - *The Jackie Robinson Story* (1950), as Rae Robinson - *The Fight Never Ends* (1948), Actor - *What a Guy* (1948), Actor - *Easy to Get* (1947), as Drugstore Girl - *Love in Syncopation* (1946), Actor - *That Man of Mine* (1946), as Joan ## Gallery - ![Ruby Dee](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-7a717570d789.jpg) Ruby Dee — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Ruby_Dee_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Photo of a scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun. From left-Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger), Claudia McNeil (Lena Younger), Glynn Turman (Travis Younger), Sidney Poit (1959)](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-3efa9ba6302f.jpg) Photo of a scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun. From left-Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger), Claudia McNeil (Lena Younger), Glynn Turman (Travis Younger), Sidney Poit (1959) — Photographer-Friedman-Abeles, New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun_1959.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Photo of a scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun. From left-Louis Gossett (George Murchison), Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger) and Sidney Poitier (Walter Younger). Eve (1959)](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-74f9a1c363b8.jpg) Photo of a scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun. From left-Louis Gossett (George Murchison), Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger) and Sidney Poitier (Walter Younger). Eve (1959) — Friedman-Abeles, New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun_1959_2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jet magazine](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-b30c098d202e.jpg) Jet magazine — Various - Published by Johnson Publishing Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Jet_27_Dec_1951_pg_PA65.jpg/1280px-Jet_27_Dec_1951_pg_PA65.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ruby Dee](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-6b5df359b5f7.jpg) Ruby Dee — Image via TMDB - ![Ruby Dee](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-785eea14ea63.jpg) Ruby Dee — Image via TMDB - ![Ruby Dee](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-69de5229e6d4.jpg) Ruby Dee — Image via TMDB - ![Joel Fluellen in The Jackie Robinson Story - publicity still (cropped) (1950)](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-d490892bbb52.jpg) Joel Fluellen in The Jackie Robinson Story - publicity still (cropped) (1950) — unknown (Eagle Lion Films), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Joel_Fluellen_in_The_Jackie_Robinson_Story_%281950%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo for the American documentary film King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970). Left to right: producer Ely Landau, actress Ruby Dee, a](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-247019574953.jpg) Publicity photo for the American documentary film King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970). Left to right: producer Ely Landau, actress Ruby Dee, a — Photographer unknown. Published and distributed by Maron Films., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/King_A_Filmed_Record_publicity_photo_%28Landau%2C_Dee%2C_Newman%2C_Lumet%29.jpg/1280px-King_A_Filmed_Record_publicity_photo_%28Landau%2C_Dee%2C_Newman%2C_Lumet%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ruby Dee](https://film.one/media/person/119535/gallery-55e4a8036465.jpg) Ruby Dee — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2008: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *American Gangster* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1991: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Decoration Day* ### Other awards — 8 won - Spingarn Medal 2008: Spingarn Medal (won) - Humanitarian of the Year 2007: Humanitarian of the Year (won) - Marian Anderson Award 2005: Marian Anderson Award (won) - Crystal Award 1991: Crystal Award (won) - honorary degree from Spelman College 1991: honorary degree from Spelman College (won) - Ohio Women's Hall of Fame 1986: Ohio Women's Hall of Fame (won) - Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame 1975: Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (won) - Paul Robeson Award 1975: Paul Robeson Award (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ruby-dee