Editing Ruby Dee

{{short description|American actress (1922–2014)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ruby Dee
| image              = Ruby Dee - 1972.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| caption            = Dee in 1972
| birth_name         = Ruby Ann Wallace
| birth_place        = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1922|10|27|mf=yes}}
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2014|06|11|1922|10|27}}
| death_place        = [[New Rochelle, New York]], U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Ferncliff Cemetery]]
| alma_mater         = [[Hunter College]] (1945)
| occupation         = Actress
| years active       = 1940–2013
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Frankie Dee Brown|1941|1945|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Ossie Davis]]<br>|1948|2005|end=died}}
}}
| children           = 3, including [[Guy Davis (musician)|Guy Davis]]
}}

'''Ruby Dee''' (born '''Ruby Ann Wallace'''; October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress.<!-- only primary occupations, per [[MOS:ROLEBIO]] --> She was married to [[Ossie Davis]], with whom she frequently performed until his death in 2005.<ref>[https://variety.com/2014/film/news/oscar-nominated-actress-ruby-dee-dies-at-91-1201219148/ Oscar-Nominated Actress Ruby Dee Dies at 91] Carmel Dagan. Variety. June 12, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2016</ref> She received numerous accolades, including an [[Primetime Emmy Award|Emmy Award]], a [[Grammy Award]], an [[Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress|Obie Award]], and a [[Drama Desk Award]], as well as a nomination for an [[Academy Award]]. She was honored with the [[National Medal of Arts]] in 1995, the [[Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]] in 2000, and the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2004.

Dee started her career with the [[American Negro Theatre]]. She made her [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut in ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' (1943). She met her future husband working together on the play ''[[Jeb (play)|Jeb]]'' (1946). She originated the Broadway roles of Ruth Younger in [[Lorraine Hansberry]]'s ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' (1959) and reprised the role in the [[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|1961 film]] and Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins in the Ossie Davis play ''[[Purlie Victorious]]'' (1961) and reprised the role in the [[Gone Are the Days!|1963 film]].

She made her film debut in ''[[That Man of Mine]]'' (1946) before landing a leading roles in films such as ''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' (1950), ''[[Edge of the City]]'' (1957), ''[[Take a Giant Step]]'' (1959), and ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' (1972). She also acted in the Ossie Davis film ''[[Black Girl (1972 film)|Black Girl]]'' (1972), and the [[Spike Lee]] films ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'' (1989) and ''[[Jungle Fever]]'' (1991). For her performance in ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' (2007), Dee was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]] and won the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role]].

Dee received two [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations for her roles in ''[[The Nurses (TV series)|The Doctors and the Nurses]]'' (1964) and ''[[Decoration Day (film)|Decoration Day]]'' (1990). She was nominated for her other roles in ''[[Roots: The Next Generations]]'' (1979), ''[[Lincoln (miniseries)|Lincoln]]'' (1988), ''[[China Beach]]'' (1990), and ''[[Evening Shade]]'' (1993). She also acted in ''[[I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (film)|I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings]]'' (1979), ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' (1982), ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (film)|Go Tell It on the Mountain]]'' (1985), ''[[The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson]]'' (1990), and ''[[The Stand (1994 miniseries)|The Stand]]'' (1994). She voiced Alice the Great in the [[Nick Jr.]] series ''[[Little Bill]]'' from 1999 to 2004.

== Early life and education ==
Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace on October 27, 1922, in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]],<ref name="90th">[http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ruby-gem-90-article-1.1201556 "Ruby Dee marks 90th birthday with new documentary about her illustrious life with late husband Ossie Davis"], ''[[New York Daily News]]'', November 13, 2012.</ref> the daughter of Gladys ([[née]] Hightower) and Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, a cook, waiter and porter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackpast.org/aah/davis-ruby-dee-1924 |title=Dee, Ruby Ann Wallace (1924-2014) |last=Watson |first=Elwood |date= December 5, 2013|website=BlackPast.org |access-date=17 April 2015}}</ref> After her mother left the family, Dee's father remarried, to Emma Amelia Benson, a schoolteacher.<ref>{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Ossie|author2=Dee, Ruby|year=1998|chapter=Ruby Is Born at Seven|title=With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together|publisher=William Morrow|isbn=0-688-17582-1|chapter-url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/d/davis-ossie.html|access-date=July 30, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gates|first=Henry Louis|title=Arts and Letters: An A-To-Z Reference of Writers, Musicians, and Artists of the African American Experience|publisher=Running Press|year=2005|isbn=0-7624-2042-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_FhqCO4RJl8C&q=%22ruby+dee%22+%22marshall+edward+wallace%22&pg=PA167}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Lyman|first=Darryl|title=Great African-American Women|publisher=Jonathan David Company, Inc.|year=2005|isbn=0-8246-0459-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4-HYBUp1sygC&q=%22ruby+dee%22+%22marshall+edward+wallace%22&pg=PA53}}</ref>

Dee was raised in [[Harlem, New York]].<ref name=cnn_obit/> Prior to attending [[Hunter College High School]], she studied at Public Schools 119 and 136.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19680831&id=jXwuAAAAIBAJ&pg=3498,6432108|title=Talented Ruby Dee Plays the Wife of Neurosurgeon in 'Peyton Place'|date=September 1968|work=Schnectady Gazette|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref> Then, she went on to graduate from [[Hunter College]] with a degree in [[Romance language]]s in 1945.<ref name=wapo/> She was a member of [[Delta Sigma Theta]].<ref>[http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/ndeltas.htm Delta Sigma Theta website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013051238/http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/ndeltas.htm |date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref>

==Career==
=== 1940–1959: Early acting roles ===
[[Image:Ruby Dee.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Dee by [[Carl Van Vechten]], September 25, 1962]]
Dee joined the [[American Negro Theatre]] as an apprentice, working with [[Sidney Poitier]], [[Harry Belafonte]], and [[Hilda Simms]].<ref name=wapo/> She made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut portraying a Native in the play South Pacific<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/south-pacific-1374 | title=South Pacific – Broadway Play – Original &#124; IBDB }}</ref> (1943). She played the title role in the [[Eugene O'Neill]] play ''[[Anna Lucasta (play)|Anna Lucasta]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/remembering-ruby-dee-anna-lucasta-37648/|title=Remembering Ruby Dee in ''Anna Lucasta'' |last=Warfield|first=Polly|website=Backstage.com|date=March 7, 2001|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref> She met her future husband [[Ossie Davis]] in the post-[[World War II]] play ''[[Jeb (play)|Jeb]]'' (1946). That same year she was in her first onscreen role in the musical ''[[That Man of Mine]]'' (1946). The following year she acted in the crime film ''[[The Fight Never Ends]]'' (1947).

She received national recognition for her portrayal of [[Rachel Robinson]] in the sports drama film ''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' (1950).<ref name=cnn_obit/> [[Bosley Crowther]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Dee's performance describing her as "the well restrained sweetheart".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1950/05/17/archives/the-screen-in-review-jackie-robinson-story-with-baseball-star.html|title= THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Jackie Robinson Story,' With Baseball Star Playing Himself, Is Shown of Astor Theatre|work= The New York Times|date= May 17, 1950|accessdate= January 27, 2024|last1= Crowther|first1= Bosley}}</ref> Also in 1950 she had an uncredited role in film noir ''[[No Way Out (1950 film)|No Way Out]]'' directed by [[Joseph L. Mankiewicz]]. She continued acting in films such as the historical crime film ''[[The Tall Target]]'' (1951), the sports film ''[[Go Man Go (film)|Go Man Go]]'' (1954), the music film ''[[St. Louis Blues (1958 film)|St. Louis Blues]]'' (1958), and the British drama ''[[Virgin Island (film)|Virgin Island]]'' (1958).  During this time she took a role in the film noir ''[[Edge of the City]]'' (1957) starring alongside [[John Cassavetes]] and [[Sidney Poitier]].

=== 1959–1979: Breakthrough and acclaim ===
[[File:A Raisin in the Sun 1959 2.JPG|thumb|right|[[Louis Gossett Jr.]], Dee and [[Sidney Poitier]] in ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' (1959)]]
In 1959 she gained prominence for originating the role of Ruth Younger in the [[Lorraine Hansberry]]'s play ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' which premiered on [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]]. She acted alongside [[Sidney Poitier]] and [[Louis Gossett Jr.]] The play was the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. She reprised the role in the [[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|1961 film of the same name]]. She returned to Broadway in the [[Ossie Davis]] satirical farce ''[[Purlie Victorious]]'' (1961) portraying Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins. Howard Taubman of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote of Dee's performance, "[she] has been treated generously. As Lutiebell she has enough humor and charm to make one envy Purlie Victorious that she is eager disciple".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/09/29/97249462.html?pageNumber=29|title= Theatre: 'Purlie Victorious' Romps In|work= The New York Times|access-date= January 27, 2024}}</ref> She acted opposite her husband Ossie Davis and [[Alan Alda]] in his acting debut. They reprised their roles of the 1963 film entitled, ''[[Gone Are the Days!]]'' which was produced by [[Brock Peters]] and directed by [[Nicholas Webster]].

Her career in acting crossed all major forms of media over a span of eight decades, including the films ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'', in which she recreated her stage role as a suffering housewife in the projects, and ''[[Edge of the City]]''. She played both roles opposite Poitier.<ref name=wapo/> She received the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie]] for her role on ''[[The Nurses (TV series)|The Doctors and the Nurses]]'' (1964). In 1965, Dee performed in lead roles at the [[American Shakespeare Festival]] as Kate in ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' and Cordelia in ''[[King Lear]]'', becoming the first black actress to portray a lead role in the festival. In 1963 she acted in the film ''[[The Balcony (film)|The Balcony]]'' with [[Shelley Winters]], [[Peter Falk]], [[Lee Grant]], and [[Leonard Nimoy]]. She then acted in the film noir ''[[The Incident (1967 film)|The Incident]]'' (1967), the drama film ''[[Uptight (film)|Uptight]]'' (1968), and the documentary ''[[King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis]]'' (1970).

[[File:King A Filmed Record publicity photo (Landau, Dee, Newman, Lumet - retouch).jpg|thumb|left| Left to right: [[Ely Landau]], Ruby Dee, [[Paul Newman]], and [[Sidney Lumet]] at the ''King: A Filmed Record'' (1970)]]
In 1969, Dee appeared in 20 episodes of ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]''.<ref name=cnn_obit/> She acted in Ossie Davis' films ''[[Black Girl (1972 film)|Black Girl]]'' (1972) and ''[[Countdown at Kusini]]'' (1976) and the Western film ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' with [[Sidney Poitier]] and [[Harry Belafonte]]. She appeared as Cora Sanders, a Marxist college professor, in season 1, episode 14 of ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]'', entitled "Target Black" which aired on Friday night, January 3, 1975. The character of Cora Sanders was obviously, but loosely, influenced by the real-life [[Angela Davis]]. She appeared in one episode of ''[[The Golden Girls]]''' sixth season. She played Queen Haley in the miniseries ''[[Roots: The Next Generations]]'' (1979) for which she received a nomination for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie]].<ref name=cnn_obit/> She acted in the CBS television film ''[[I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (film)|I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings]]'' (1979) based on the [[Maya Angelou]] [[I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings|autobiography of the same name]].

=== 1980–2014 ===
[[File:Ruby Dee and David Scott.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Dee with Congressman [[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]] in 2006]]
Dee was nominated for eight [[Emmy Awards]], winning once for her role in the 1990 [[Television movie|TV film]] ''[[Decoration Day (film)|Decoration Day]]''. She was nominated for her television guest appearance in the ''[[China Beach]]'' episode, "Skylark". Her husband [[Ossie Davis]] (1917–2005) also appeared in the episode. She appeared in [[Spike Lee]]'s 1989 film ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'', and his 1991 film ''[[Jungle Fever]]''.<ref name=cnn_obit/> She starred in the television films portraying Mary Tyrone in ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'' (1982) and Mrs. Grimes in ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (film)|Go Tell It on the Mountain]]'' (1985). Dee returned to Broadway in the play ''Checkmates'' written by [[Ron Milner]]. She acted alongside [[Denzel Washington]], [[Paul Winfield]] and Marsha Jackson. In 1990 she portrayed [[Zora Neale Hurston]] in ''Zora Is My Name!'' and played [[Jackie Robinson]]'s mother in ''[[The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson]]''. That same year she earned a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for her role in ''[[Decoration Day (film)|Decoration Day]]'' (1990). She played Mother Abagail Freemantle in the [[Stephen King]] miniseries ''[[The Stand (1994 miniseries)|The Stand]]'' (1994). She collaborated with comedian [[Bill Cosby]] acting in both ''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]'' in 1998 and voicing Alice the Great in the [[Nick Jr.]] animated series ''[[Little Bill]]'' from 1999 to 2004. The next year she and Davis were awarded the [[National Medal of Arts]] from President [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>[http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html#95 Lifetime Honors – National Medal of Arts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054307/http://www.nea.gov/honors/medals/medalists_year.html |date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2003, she narrated a series of [[Slave Narrative Collection|WPA]] & [[slave narrative]]s in the HBO film ''[[Unchained Memories]]''. They were also recipients of the 2004 [[Kennedy Center Honors]]. In 2007 the [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] was shared by Dee and Ossie Davis for ''With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together'', and former President [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref name=wapo/><ref name=usatoday6/> Dee portrayed Mama Lucas in the [[Ridley Scott]] directed crime film ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' (2007). Dee acted alongside [[Denzel Washington]] and [[Russell Crowe]]. For her performance she was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]] losing to [[Tilda Swinton]] for her role in the legal thriller ''[[Michael Clayton]]'' (2007). She won the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role]] for the same performance. At 85 years of age, Dee is currently the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees|third oldest nominee for Best Supporting Actress]], behind [[Gloria Stuart]] and [[Judi Dench]] (both 87).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-16|title=Who are the oldest Oscar nominees?|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/who_are_the_oldest_oscar_nominees/s1__37160852|access-date=2022-02-18|website=Yardbarker|language=en}}</ref>

On February 12, 2009, Dee joined the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College orchestra and chorus, along with the Riverside Inspirational Choir and NYC Labor Choir, in honoring Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday at the Riverside Church in [[New York City]]. Under the direction of [[Maurice Peress]], they performed [[Earl Robinson]]'s ''The Lonesome Train: A Music Legend for Actors, Folk Singers, Choirs, and Orchestra'', in which Dee was the narrator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/news/article.php?id=270 |title=Theriversdechurchny.org |publisher=Theriversidechurchny.org |date=February 1, 2009 |access-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027133547/http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/news/article.php?id=270 |archive-date=October 27, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Dee's last role in a [[Movie theater|theatrically released]] film was in the [[Eddie Murphy]] comedy ''[[A Thousand Words (film)|A Thousand Words]]'', in which she portrayed the mother of Murphy's protagonist. In 2013 she narrated the Lifetime film ''[[Betty & Coretta]]'' starring [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Mary J. Blige]]. Her final film role is in ''[[1982 (2013 film)|1982]]'', which premiered at the [[2013 Toronto International Film Festival]]<ref>Zeba Blay, [http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/tiff-2013-reviews-tommy-olivers-debut-1982-provides-a-platform-for-hill-harper-to-shine "TIFF 2013 Reviews – Tommy Oliver’s Debut ‘1982’ Provides A Platform For Hill Harper To Shine"], IndieWire, September 13,
 2013.</ref> and was released on [[home video]] on March 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://videoeta.com/movie/179342/1982/ |title=VideoETA - 1982 (2015) DVD and Blu-ray |access-date=2016-01-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121055349/http://videoeta.com/movie/179342/1982/ |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It is unknown whether her final role will ever be seen, as ''King Dog'' was in production at the time of her death,<ref>[http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/ruby_dee_a_raisin_in_the_sun_a.html "Ruby Dee, 'A Raisin in the Sun' actress, dies at 91"],
 ''Penn Live'', June 12, 2014.</ref> and no release date has ever been announced.

==Personal life==
=== Marriage ===
Ruby Wallace married blues singer Frankie Dee Brown in 1941, and began using his middle name as her stage name. The couple divorced in 1945.<ref name=wapo/> Three years later she married actor [[Ossie Davis]], whom she met while costarring in [[Robert Ardrey]]'s 1946 Broadway play ''[[Jeb (play)|Jeb]]''.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|author=Felicia R. Lee |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/20/garden/at-home-with-ossie-davis-and-ruby-dee-art-and-politics-keeping-it-all-fresh.html |title=At home with: Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; Art and Politics: Keeping It All Fresh |work = [[The New York Times]] |date=April 20, 1995 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> Together, Dee and Davis wrote an autobiography in which they discussed their political activism and their decision to have an [[open marriage]] (later changing their views).<ref>{{cite web | author=Sheri Stritof; Bob Stritof | url=http://marriage.about.com/od/quotes/a/ossierubyopen.htm | title=Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee on Open Marriage | publisher=About.com | access-date=2007-01-11 | archive-date=February 10, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143920/http://marriage.about.com/od/quotes/a/ossierubyopen.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://marriage.about.com/od/quotes/a/ossierubyopen.htm|title=Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee on Open Marriage|work=About.com|access-date=July 30, 2008|archive-date=February 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143920/http://marriage.about.com/od/quotes/a/ossierubyopen.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Together they had three children: son, blues musician [[Guy Davis (musician)|Guy Davis]], and two daughters, Nora Day and Hasna Muhammad. Dee was a [[breast cancer]] survivor of more than three decades.<ref name=abc>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/oscar-nominee-ruby-dee-died-91/story?id=24107963 |title=Oscar Nominee Ruby Dee Dead at 91 – ABC News |work=ABC News |date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> In 1979, the [[Supersisters]] trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Dee's name and picture.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wulf |first=Steve |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/12535055/original-roster |title=Supersisters: Original Roster |publisher=ESPN |date=2015-03-23 |access-date=2015-06-04}}</ref>

=== Political activism ===
Dee and Davis were well-known [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] activists in the [[Civil Rights Movement]].<ref>[http://www.ossieandruby.com The official site of Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee], ossieandruby.com; accessed March 3, 2014.</ref> Dee was a member of the [[Congress of Racial Equality]] (CORE), the [[NAACP]], the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]], [[Delta Sigma Theta]] sorority, and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]]. She was also as an active member of the Harlem Writers Guild for over 40 years. In 1963, Dee [[emcee]]d the [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]].<ref name=chron>{{cite web |author=Mark Kennedy|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Ruby-Dee-s-legacy-of-activism-acting-mourned-5548224.php |title=Ruby Dee's legacy of activism, acting mourned – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |access-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613175552/http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Ruby-Dee-s-legacy-of-activism-acting-mourned-5548224.php |archive-date=June 13, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Dee and Davis were both personal friends of both [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] and [[Malcolm X]], with Davis giving the [[eulogy]] at Malcolm X's funeral in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malcolmx.com/about/eulogy.html|title=Malcolm&nbsp;X's Eulogy|access-date=September 6, 2009|publisher=The Official Website of Malcolm X|last=Davis|first=Ossie|author-link=Ossie Davis|date=February 27, 1965|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110705/http://www.malcolmx.com/about/eulogy.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1970, she won the [[Frederick Douglass]] Award from the New York [[Urban League]].<ref name=cnn_obit/> In 1999, Dee and Davis were arrested at [[1 Police Plaza]], the headquarters of the [[New York Police Department]], protesting the police shooting of [[Amadou Diallo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9903/24/showbuzz/index.html |title=Showbuzz – March 24, 1999 |work=CNN|date=March 24, 1999 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>

In early 2003, ''[[The Nation]]'' published "Not in Our Name", an open proclamation vowing opposition to the impending US [[Iraq War|invasion of Iraq]]. Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were among the signatories, along with [[Robert Altman]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[Susan Sarandon]], and [[Howard Zinn]], among others.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} In November 2005, Dee was awarded – along with her late husband – the Lifetime Achievement Freedom Award, presented by the National Civil Rights Museum located in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]. Dee, a long-time resident of [[New Rochelle, New York]], was inducted into the [[New Rochelle Walk of Fame]] which honors the most notable residents from throughout the community's 325-year history. She was also inducted into the [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]] Women's Hall of Fame on March 30, 2007, joining such other honorees as [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Nita Lowey]].<ref name=wc>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Ruby Dee To Be Named To Women's Hall Of Fame|url=http://westchester.com/Westchester_News/Westchester_Community_News/Ruby_Dee_To_Be_Named_To_Women's_Hall_Of_Fame_200703067510.html|work=Westchester.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506081112/http://westchester.com/Westchester_News/Westchester_Community_News/Ruby_Dee_To_Be_Named_To_Women%27s_Hall_Of_Fame_200703067510.html|date=March 6, 2007|archive-date=May 6, 2007|access-date=January 23, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2009, she received an honorary [[Doctor of Fine Arts]] degree from [[Princeton University]].<ref name=usatoday6>{{cite web|url=http://entertainthis.usatoday.com/2014/06/12/6-great-moments-from-ruby-dees-legendary-career/ |title=6 great moments from Ruby Dee's legendary career &#124; Entertain This! |publisher=Entertainthis.usatoday.com |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S24/39/63E27/index.xml?section=newsreleases Princeton awards five honorary degrees] (news release) News at Princeton. Princeton University. June 2, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2016</ref>

=== Death ===
Dee died on June 11, 2014, at her home in [[New Rochelle, New York]], from [[Manner of death|natural causes]] at the age of 91.<ref>{{cite news|last1=NEUMAIER|first1=Joe|title=Ruby Dee dead at 91|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/ruby-dee-dead-91-article-1.1827040|access-date=June 12, 2014|agency=New York Daily News|date=June 12, 2014}}</ref> In a statement, [[Gil Robertson IV]] of the [[African-American Film Critics Association]] said, "the members of the African American Film Critics Association are deeply saddened at the loss of actress and humanitarian Ruby Dee. Throughout her seven-decade career, Dee embraced different creative platforms with her various interpretations of black womanhood and also used her gifts to champion for Human Rights."<ref name=cnn_obit>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/showbiz/obit-ruby-dee/ |title=Screen, stage legend Ruby Dee dies at 91 |work=CNN |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>

"She very peacefully surrendered", said her daughter Nora Day. "We hugged her, we kissed her, we gave her our permission to go. She opened her eyes. She looked at us. She closed her eyes, and she set sail." Following her death, the marquee on the [[Apollo Theater]] read: "A TRUE APOLLO LEGEND RUBY DEE 1922–2014".<ref>Denis Slattery, Joe Dziemianowicz, Larry McShane, [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/ruby-dee-dead-91-article-1.1827040 "Ruby Dee dead at 91: Legendary stage and screen actress — and Civil Rights leader — frequently costarred with husband Ossie Davis"], ''Daily News'' (New York), June 12, 2014.</ref>

Dee was cremated, and her ashes are held in the same urn as that of Davis, with the inscription "In this thing together".<ref name=wapo/> A public memorial celebration honoring Dee was held on September 20, 2014, at the [[Riverside Church]] in [[Upper Manhattan]].<ref>[http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/09/20/memorial-honoring-ruby-dee-held-at-manhattan-church/ "Memorial Honoring Ruby Dee Held At Riverside Church"], CBS, New York, September 20, 2014.</ref> Their shared urn was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.<ref>[https://ferncliffcemetery.com/visit-ferncliff/celebrities-notables/ Celebrities & Notables Interred at: Ferncliff Mausoleum]. ferncliffcemetery.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.</ref>

== Acting credits ==
===Filmography===
[[File:The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) still 1.jpg|thumb|270px|{{center|Ruby Dee and [[Joel Fluellen]] (center) in<br>''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' (1950)}}]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Note
|-
|1946 || ''[[That Man of Mine]]''<ref name=cnn_obit/> || Joan || First film
|-
|rowspan=2|1947 || ''Easy to Get''<ref>{{cite web|title=Medical Movies on the Web|url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films/medicalmoviesontheweb/easytogetessay.html|website=Nlm.nih.gov|date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2023}}</ref> ||Drugstore girl ||U.S. Army venereal disease training film
|-
| ''[[The Fight Never Ends]]''<ref name=deecredits2/> || Jane||
|-
|1948 || ''What a Guy'' ||<ref name=deecredits2/> || 
|-
|rowspan=2|1950 || ''[[The Jackie Robinson Story]]'' ||Rae Robinson ||
|-
| ''[[No Way Out (1950 film)|No Way Out]]''|| Connie Brooks||Uncredited
|-
|1951 || ''[[The Tall Target]]'' ||Rachel ||
|-
|1954 || ''[[Go, Man, Go!]]'' ||Irma Jackson ||
|-
<!-- |1956 || ''[[The Great American Pastime]]'' Needs verification ||Mrs. Ashlow ||Uncredited -->
|-
|1957 || ''[[Edge of the City]]''||Lucy Tyler ||
|-
|rowspan=2|1958 || ''[[St. Louis Blues (1958 film)|St. Louis Blues]]'' || Elizabeth||
|-
| ''[[Virgin Island (1958 film)|Virgin Island]]'' || Ruth||
|-
|1959 || ''[[Take a Giant Step]]'' ||Christine ||
|-
|1961 || ''[[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|A Raisin in the Sun]]'' || Ruth Younger||
|-
|rowspan=2|1963 || ''[[The Balcony (film)|The Balcony]]'' || Thief||
|-
| ''[[Gone Are the Days!]]'' || Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins||
|-
|1967 || ''[[The Incident (1967 film)|The Incident]]''||Joan Robinson ||
|-
|1968 || ''[[Uptight (film)|Up Tight!]]'' ||Laurie ||
|-
|1970 || ''[[King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis]]'' || Herself|| Documentary
|-
|rowspan=2|1972 || ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' ||Ruth ||
|-
| ''[[Black Girl (1972 film)|Black Girl]]'' || Netta's Mother||
|-
|1973 || ''[[Wattstax]]'' || Herself||
|-
|1975 || ''Lorraine Hansberry: The Black Experience in the Creation of Drama''<ref>{{cite news|author=Mary Emblen; Alvin Klein |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/29/nyregion/new-jersey-guide.html |title=New Jersey Guide – 'Star Trek' Exhibition |work = The New York Times |date=January 29, 1995 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref> || Herself || Short
|-
|1976 || ''[[Countdown at Kusini]]''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> ||Leah Matanzima ||
|-
|1980 || ''The Torture of Mothers''<ref name=deecredits2>{{cite web |url=http://www.ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-2.html |title=Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee: Ruby Dee Film Credits |publisher=Ossieandruby.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704204419/http://ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-2.html |archive-date=July 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> || || Short
|-
|1982 || ''[[Cat People (1982 film)|Cat People]]'' ||Female ||
|-
|1989 || ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'' || Mother Sister||
|-
|1990 || ''[[Love at Large]]'' || Corrine Dart||
|-
|1991 || ''[[Jungle Fever]]'' ||Lucinda Purify ||
|-
|rowspan=2|1993 || ''[[Color Adjustment]]'' || Narrator ||Documentary
|-
| ''[[Cop and a Half]]'' ||Rachel ||
|-
|rowspan=2|1995 || ''[[Just Cause (film)|Just Cause]]'' || Evangeline||
|-
| ''Tuesday Morning Ride''<ref>{{cite web|last=Scott |first=Jill |url=http://www.essence.com/2014/06/12/ruby-dee-jill-scott-kerry-washington-essence |title=Ruby Dee: Jill Scott, Kerry Washington and More on the Grande Dame |publisher=Essence.com |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref> || Jennie || Short
|-
|1997 || ''[[A Simple Wish]]'' ||Hortense ||
|-
|1998 || ''A Time to Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner''|| Narrator|| Documentary<ref name=nyt_filmography/>
|-
|rowspan=2|1999 || ''[[Baby Geniuses]]''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> ||Margo ||
|-
| ''The Unfinished Journey''<ref>{{cite web|last=Feb |first=Posted |url=http://www.backstage.com/news/sag-life-achievement-award-goes-to-ossie-ruby/ |title=SAG Life Achievement Award Goes To Ossie, Ruby |publisher=Backstage |date=February 20, 2001 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref> || Narrator || Short
|-
<!-- || ''Baby of the Family'' Needs verification  || ||-->
<!-- |rowspan=2|[[2003]] || ''Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives''|| Narrator|| Documentary Needs verification -->
|2003 || ''[[Beah Richards|Beah: A Black Woman Speaks]]''||Herself ||Documentary
|-
|rowspan=2|2006 || ''[[No. 2 (film)|No. 2]]''||Nanna Maria ||
|-
|''The Way Back Home''||Maude ||
|-
<!-- | ''Lockdown, USA'' ||Narrator || Documentary{{cn}}-->
|-
|rowspan=3|2007 || ''All About Us''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> ||Ms. Ella ||
|-
| ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''|| Mama Lucas||
|-
| ''[[Steam (film)|Steam]]'' ||Doris ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2009 || ''[[The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll]]''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> || Miss Candy||
|-
| ''The New Neighbors''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lmc-tv.org/node/844 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140615100659/http://www.lmc-tv.org/node/844 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 15, 2014 |title=The New Metropolis Airing Tuesday Nights on LMC-TV  |publisher=Lmc-tv.org |access-date=June 13, 2014 }}</ref> || Narrator || Short
|-
<!-- | ''A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School'' ||Narrator ||Documentary Needs verification -->
|-
|2010 || ''Dream Street'' ||Laura ||<ref>{{cite web |author=Yahoo Movies |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/film/dream-street-2 |title=Dream Street |publisher=Yahoo.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312075923/https://www.yahoo.com/movies/film/dream-street-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=3|2011 || ''Video Girl''||Valerie ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ty_hodges_video_girl_starring_meagan_good_ruby_dee_on_dvd_and_vod_this_week |title="Video Girl" Starring Meagan Good, Ruby Dee On DVD and Blu Ray This Week&#124;Shadow and Act |work=Shadow and Act |publisher=Blogs.indiewire.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |last1=Martinez |first1=Vanessa }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Politics of Love]]''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> || Grandma 'Estelle' Roseanne Gupta||
|-
| ''Red & Blue Marbles''<ref name=nyt_filmography/> ||Professor June Wright ||
|-
<!-- 2012 || ''Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age'' || ||Documentary Needs verification -->
|rowspan=2|2012|| ''Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey With Mumia Abu-Jamal'' || Herself||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/now-you-too-will-be-able-to-see-long-distance-revolutionary-a-journey-with-mumia-abu-jamal |title=Now You Too Will Be Able To See 'Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal'&#124;Shadow and Act |work=Shadow and Act |publisher=Blogs.indiewire.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |last1=Obenson |first1=Tambay A. }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[A Thousand Words (film)|A Thousand Words]]'' ||Annie McCall ||<ref name=nyt_filmography>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/18243/Ruby-Dee/filmography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716163333/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/18243/Ruby-Dee/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |title=Ruby Dee – Filmography – Movies & TV |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2013 || ''[[1982 (2013 film)|1982]]''|| Rose Brown|| Final role
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
!style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Note
|-
<!-- ''The First Year'' (1946) Needs verification -->
| 1960–1961 || ''[[Play of the Week (TV series)|Play of the Week]]'' || Lila / Jane||2 episodes
|-
| 1961 || ''Frontiers of Faith''<ref name=deecredits3/> || Grace Gilmore||Episode: "The Bitter Cup"
|-
| 1962 ||  ''Seven Times Monday''<ref name=deecredits3/> || Lila||TV movie
|-
| 1963 || ''[[Alcoa Premiere]]'' || Irene Clayton||Episode: "Impact of an Execution"
|-
| 1963 || ''[[The Doctors and the Nurses]]'' || Jenny Bishop||Episode: "Express Stop from Lenox Avenue"
|-
| 1963 || ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Laura Smith
|Episode: "Decision in the Ring"
|-
| 1963 || ''[[The Great Adventure (American TV series)|The Great Adventure]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|[[Harriet Tubman]]
|Episode: "Go Down, Moses"
|-
| 1963 || ''[[East Side West Side (TV series)|East Side West Side]]''
|Marilyn Marsden
|Episode: "No Hiding Place"
|-
| 1964 || ''Of Courtship and Marriage''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|
|TV movie
|-
| 1965 || ''[[The Defenders (1961 TV series)|The Defenders]]'' || Catherine Collins||Episode: "The Sworn Twelve"
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' || Vicky Kingsbury||Episode: "Neighbours"
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Guiding Light]]'' || Martha Frazier|| Cast member<ref name=deecredits3/>
|-
| 1968–1969 || ''[[Peyton Place (TV series)|Peyton Place]]''
|Alma Miles
|25 episodes
|-
| 1969 || ''[[The Bold Ones: The Protectors]]'' || Lucinda|| Episode: "Deadlock"<ref name=deecredits3>{{cite web |url=http://www.ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-3.html |title=Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee: Dee Television Credits |publisher=Ossieandruby.com |access-date=June 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618183420/http://ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-3.html |archive-date=June 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Sesame Street]]''
|Herself
|
|-
| 1971 || ''[[The Sheriff (1971 film)|The Sheriff]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Sue Ann Lucas
|TV movie
|-
<!-- * ''Chelsea D.H.O.'' (1973) (unsold pilot) Needs verification -->
| 1973 || ''[[Tenafly (TV series)|Tenafly]]'' || Jan Lennox||Episode: "The Window That Wasn't"
|-
| 1974 || ''[[It's Good to Be Alive (film)|It's Good to Be Alive]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Ruth Campanella
|TV movie
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]'' || Cora Sanders|| Episode: "Target Black"
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Watch Your Mouth (TV series)|Watch Your Mouth]]'' || Mrs. Fullo||Episode: "The Outcast"
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Roots: The Next Generations]]'' || Queen Haley|| Miniseries<ref name=deecredits3/>
|-
| 1979 || ''[[I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (film)|I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Grandmother Baxter
|TV movie
|-
| 1980 || ''All God's Children''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Irene Whitfield
|TV movie
|-
| 1980–1982 || ''With Ossie and Ruby!''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Herself
|
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night#Film adaptations|Long Day's Journey into Night]]''
|Mary Tyrone
|TV movie
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (film)|Go Tell It on the Mountain]]''
|Mrs. Grimes
|TV movie
|-
| 1985 || ''[[The Atlanta Child Murders (miniseries)|The Atlanta Child Murders]]'' || Faye Williams|| Miniseries
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Spenser: For Hire]]'' || Eleanor Simpson||Episode: "Personal Demons"
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Crown Dick]]'' || Johnson's Mother||TV movie
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Windmills of the Gods (miniseries)|Windmills of the Gods]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Dorothy
|2 episodes
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Gore Vidal's Lincoln]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|[[Elizabeth Keckley]]
|2 episodes
|-
| 1990 || ''Zora Is My Name!'' || [[Zora Neale Hurston]]||TV movie
|-
| 1990 || ''[[American Experience]]'' 
|Narrator
|Episode: "Roots of Resistance: The Story of the Underground Railroad"
|-
| 1990 || ''[[China Beach]]'' || Ruby
|Episode: "Skylark"
|-
| 1990 || ''[[The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Jackie's Mother
|TV movie
|-
| 1990 || ''[[The Golden Girls]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Mammy Watkins
|Episode: "Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mammy"
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Decoration Day (film)|Decoration Day]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Rowena
|TV movie
|-
| 1991 || ''Jazztime Tale'' || Narrator<ref name=deecredits2/>
|TV movie
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Middle Ages (TV series)|Middle Ages]]'' 
|Estelle Williams
|2 episodes
|-
| 1993 || ''[[The Ernest Green Story]]''
|Mrs. Lydia Wilson
|TV movie
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Evening Shade]]'' 
|Aurelia Danforth
|Episode: "They Can't Take That Away from Me"
|-
| 1994 || ''[[The Stand (1994 miniseries)|The Stand]]'' || Mother Abagail Freemantle || Miniseries
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Whitewash (1994 film)|Whitewash]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Grandmother (voice)
|TV movie
|-
| 1995 || ''[[American Masters]]'' || Narrator||Episode: "Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul"
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Loving]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Sophia
|TV movie
|-
| 1996 || ''[[James Mink|Captive Heart: The James Mink Story]]''
|Indigo
|TV movie
|-
| 1998 || ''[[The Wall (1998 American film)|The Wall]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Mrs. Mitchell
|TV movie
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]''
|Alicia
|Episode: "Baptism of Fire"
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]''
|Mattie
|Episode: "Ol' Betsy"
|-
| 1999–2004 || ''[[Little Bill]]'' || Alice the Great (voice)
|47 episodes
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Passing Glory]]''
|Mommit Porter
|TV movie
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (film)|Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years]]''
|[[Bessie Delany]]
|TV movie
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'' || LaBelle Springbelt||Episode: "The Christmas Gift"
|-
| 2000 || ''[[A Storm in Summer]]''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Grandmother
|TV movie
|-
| 2000 || ''Finding Buck McHenry''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Mrs. Henry
|TV movie
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child]]''
|Grandma (voice)
|Episode: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier"
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Between the Lions]]'' 
|Woodcutter's Wife
|Episode: "Bug Beard"
|-
| 2001 || ''[[The Feast of All Saints (novel)#Adaptation|The Feast of All Saints]]'' || Elsie Claviere|| Miniseries
|-
| 2001 || ''Taking Back Our Town''<ref name=deecredits3/>
|Emelda West
|TV movie
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Fatherhood (TV series)|Fatherhood]]''
|Louise (voice)
|Episode: "It's a Dad, Dad World"
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Their Eyes Were Watching God (film)|Their Eyes Were Watching God]]''
|Nanny
|TV movie
|-
| 2007 || ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''
|Mary Wilson
|Episode: "Empty Eyes"
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Mary Ellen Pleasant#Posthumous recognition|Meet Mary Pleasant]]''
|Herself
|TV movie
|-
| 2009 || ''[[America (2009 film)|America]]''
|Mrs. Harper
|TV movie
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Betty & Coretta]]'' ||Narrator ||TV movie<ref>{{cite web |last=Sharp |first=Diamond |url=http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/06/ruby_dee_advice_from_a_legend.html?wpisrc=burger |title=Ruby Dee: Advice From a Legend |publisher=The Root |access-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034815/http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/06/ruby_dee_advice_from_a_legend.html?wpisrc=burger |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
|}

===Theatre===
{{div col}}
* ''On Strivers Row'' (1940)<ref name=deecredits1>{{cite web |url=http://www.ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-1.html |title=Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee: Ruby Dee Stage Credits |publisher=Ossieandruby.com |date=December 9, 1948 |access-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530234316/http://www.ossieandruby.com/dee-credits-1.html |archive-date=May 30, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
* ''Natural Man'' (1941)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Starlight'' (1942)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Three's a Family'' (1943)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''South Pacific'' (1943)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Walk Hard'' (1944)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Jeb (play)|Jeb]]'' (1946)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Anna Lucasta'' (1946) (replacement for [[Hilda Simms]])<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' (1946)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[John Loves Mary]]'' (1946)
* ''A Long Way From Home'' (1948)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''The Smile of the World'' (1949)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''The World of [[Sholom Aleichem]]'' (1953)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' (1959)
* ''[[Purlie Victorious]]'' (1961)<ref name=deecredits1/>
<!-- * ''A Treasury of Negro World Writing'' (1964){{cn}}-->
* ''[[King Lear]]'' (1965)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (1965)<ref name=deecredits1/>
<!-- * ''The Talking Skull'' (1965) Needs verification -->
<!-- * ''The Wedding Band'' (1966) Needs verification -->
<!-- * ''[[Agamemnon]]'' (1966) Needs verification -->
* ''[[The Birds (play)|The Birds]]'' (1966)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Oresteia]]'' (1966)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Boesman and Lena]]'' (1970)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[The Imaginary Invalid]]'' (1971)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''The Wedding Band'' (1972)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Hamlet]]'' (1975)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[Bus Stop (play)|Bus Stop]]'' (1979)
* ''Twin-Bit Gardens'' (1979)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Zora is My Name!'' (1983)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Checkmates'' (1988)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' (1989)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''The Disappearance'' (1993)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Flying West'' (1994)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Two Hahs-Hahs and a Homeboy'' (1995)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''My One Good Nerve: A Visit with Ruby Dee'' (1996)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''A Last Dance for Sybil'' (2002)<ref name=deecredits1/>
* ''Saint Lucy's Eyes'' (2003)<ref name=deecredits1/>
{{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Awards
! Category
! scope="col" | Nominated work
! scope="col" | Result
! class=unsortable| Ref.
|-
| 1961
| [[National Board of Review|National Board of Review Awards]]
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| ''[[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|A Raisin in the Sun]]''
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/ruby-dee-dead-91-raisin-in-the-sun-787598/ |title=Oscar-Nominated Actress Ruby Dee Dead at 91 |magazine=Deadline |date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 1964
| [[16th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role]]
| ''[[The Nurses (TV series)|The Doctors and the Nurses]]'' 
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=deecredits3/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1971
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| Outstanding Performance
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Boesman and Lena]]''
| {{win}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| [[Obie Award]]s
| [[Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress|Best Performance by an Actress]]
| {{win}}
| <ref name=variety/><ref name=nyt/>
|-
| 1973
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| Outstanding Performance
| ''Wedding Band''
| {{win}}
| <ref name=nyt/>
|-
| 1979
| [[31st Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special]]
| ''[[Roots: The Next Generations]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988
| [[40th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special]]
| ''[[Lincoln (miniseries)|Lincoln]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| [[American Theater Hall of Fame]]
| Induction
| Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/22/theater/theater-hall-of-fame-adds-nine-new-names.html|title=Theater Hall of Fame Adds Nine New Names|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 22, 1988}}</ref>
|-
| 1989
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture]]
| ''[[Do the Right Thing]]''
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|last=Snow|first=Shauna|title=Nominees for 21st Image Awards Announced|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1988-11-11/entertainment/ca-885_1_image-awards|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=21 January 2017|date=11 November 1988}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/cfd3c3b2a0fbaafc5c8d66028812f133|title=NAACP Image Award Nominees Announced|website=[[Associated Press News]] }}</ref>
|-
| 1990
| [[42nd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[China Beach]]'' <small>(Episode: "Skylark")</small>
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1991 
| [[43rd Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie]]
| ''[[Decoration Day (film)|Decoration Day]]''
| {{win}}
| <ref name=wapo>{{cite news|last=Halzack |first=Sarah |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/celebrities/ruby-dee-actress-and-civil-rights-activist-dies-at-89/2014/06/12/d4c3e4d2-f250-11e3-9ebc-2ee6f81ed217_story.html |title=Ruby Dee, actress and civil rights activist, dies at 91 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 27, 1922 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Women in Film Los Angeles|Women in Film]] 
| [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards#THE CRYSTAL AWARD|Crystal Award]]
| Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref name=WIF>{{cite web|title=Past Recipients: Crystal Award|url=http://wif.org/past-recipients|work=Women In Film|access-date=May 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830035734/http://www.wif.org/past-recipients|archive-date=August 30, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|-
| 1993
| [[45th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]
| ''[[Evening Shade]]'' 
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| [[United States Congress]]
| [[National Medal of Arts]]
| Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref name=variety>{{cite magazine|author=Carmel Dagan |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/oscar-nominated-actress-ruby-dee-dies-at-91-1201219148/ |title=Ruby Dee Dead: Oscar-Nominated Actress Appeared in Spike Lee Films |magazine=Variety |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[22nd Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program|Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program]]
| ''[[Whitewash (1994 film)|Whitewash]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=deecredits3/>
|-
| 1997
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special|Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series]]
| ''Captive Heart: The James Mink Story''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000345/1997|title=1997 Image Award Winners|website=IMDb|access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| [[7th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]]
| Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/relationship/262922341.html |title='Missed but never forgotten' _ Ruby Dee's legacy of activism and acting mourned |newspaper=Star Tribune |access-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614235613/http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/relationship/262922341.html |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special|Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series]]
| ''[[Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years (film)|Having Our Say]]''
| {{nom}}
| 
|-
| 2001
| [[28th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program|Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program]]
| ''[[Little Bill]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awn.com/news/clifford-leads-all-toon-nods-daytime-emmy |title=Clifford Leads All Toon Nods At Daytime Emmy &#124; Animation World Network |publisher=Awn.com |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2002
| [[Lucille Lortel Award]]s
| Outstanding Actress
| ''Saint Lucy's Eyes''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| [[30th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program|Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program]]
| ''Little Bill''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.org.in/headlines/y2k3/mar/mar113.htm |title=Indiantelevision dot com's Breaking News: 10 nominations for Nick in the daytime Emmy |publisher=Indiantelevision.org.in |date=March 22, 2003 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Women in Film and Television International]]
| [[Women in Film & Video-DC Women of Vision Awards]]
| Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref>[http://www.wifv.org/programs/women-of-vision-awards/ Women of Vision Awards]. WIFV.org.</ref>
|-
| 2007
| [[2007 Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word Album]] <small>(tied with [[Jimmy Carter]])</small>
| ''With Ossie and Ruby''
| {{win}}
| <ref name=wapo/><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jeff|first2=Lorne|last2=Manly|last1=Leeds|title=Defiant Dixie Chicks Are Big Winners at the Grammys|date=2007-02-12|access-date=2015-09-20|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/arts/music/12gram.html}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8" | 2008
| [[African-American Film Critics Association Awards 2007|African–American Film Critics Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actress
| rowspan="6" | ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/06/12/iconic-actress-activist-ruby-dee-dead-89/ |title=Iconic Actress and Activist Ruby Dee Dead at 91 |publisher=Atlanta Black Star |date= June 12, 2014|access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=nyt2/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[14th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role|Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role]]
| {{win}}
| <ref name=chron/><ref name=nyt2>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/03rubywe.html?_r=0|title=For Ruby Dee at 83, Acclaim and Performances|first=Roberta |last=Hershenson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 3, 2008|access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=wapo/>
|-
| [[12th Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2007.shtml|title=2007 12th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards|website=[[International Press Academy]]|accessdate=October 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718091834/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2007.shtml|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[80th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref name=variety/>
|-
| Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill
| The Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal Award
| rowspan = "2" | Herself
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite web|agency=The Associated Press 2:14 p.m. EDT June 12, 2014 |url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/12/actress-ruby-dee-dies/10377299/ |title=Daughter: Ruby Dee, Val-Kill medal winner, dead at 91 |publisher=Poughkeepsiejournal.com |date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=June 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[NAACP]]
| [[Spingarn Medal]]
| {{win}}
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |title=NAACP Spingarn Medal |publisher=Naacp.org |access-date=June 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802063355/http://www.naacp.org/pages/spingarn-medal-winners |archive-date=August 2, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| [[16th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie|Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[America (2009 film)|America]]''
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sagaftra.org/press-releases/december-17-2009/nominations-announced-16th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards%C2%AE |title=Nominations Announced for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® |publisher=Sag-Aftra |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[41st NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Image Awards]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special|Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series]]
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.naacp.org/press/entry/nominees-for-41st-naacp-image-awards-announced--live-at-press-conference-by-taye-diggs--michael-strahan--wanda-sykes--kyle-massey--chris-massey--tatyana-ali-and-naacp-executives |title=Nominees for 41st NAACP Image Awards announced live at press conference by Taye Diggs, Michael Strahan, Wanda Sykes, Kyle Massey, Chris Massey, Tatyana Ali and NAACP executives |publisher=NAACP |access-date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725012752/http://www.naacp.org/press/entry/nominees-for-41st-naacp-image-awards-announced--live-at-press-conference-by-taye-diggs--michael-strahan--wanda-sykes--kyle-massey--chris-massey--tatyana-ali-and-naacp-executives/ |archive-date=July 25, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|}

== Discography ==
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2016}}
* ''The Original Read-In for Peace in Vietnam'' ([[Folkways Records]], 1967)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folkways.si.edu/the-original-read-in-for-peace-in-vietnam/american-history-poetry-world-history/album/smithsonian |title=Smithsonian Folkways – The Original Read-In for Peace in Vietnam – Various Artists |publisher=Folkways.si.edu |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
* ''The Poetry of Langston Hughes'' (with [[Ossie Davis]]. [[Caedmon Records]], no date, TC 1272)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/22/specials/hughes-abused.html |title=Langston Hughes – The Most Abused Poet in America? |work=The New York Times |date=June 29, 1969 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
*''Let Us Now Praise Famous Men'' (with George Grizzard. Caedmon Records, 1970, TC 1324)
*''Tough Poems For Tough People'' (with Ossie Davis and Henry Braun. Caedmon Records, 1972, TC 1396)
*''To Make A Poet Black: The best poems of Countee Cullen'' (with Ossie Davis. Caedmon Records, 1971, TC 1400 
*''To Be A Slave'' (with Ossie Davis. Caedmon Records, 1972, TC 2066)
*''The Lost Zoo'' (Caedmon Records, 1978, TC 1539)
*''Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears and Other Tales'' (with Ossie Davis. Caedmon Records, 1978, TC 1592) 
* ''What if I am a Woman?, Vol. 1: Black Women's Speeches'' (Folkways, 1977)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folkways.si.edu/ruby-dee/what-if-i-am-a-woman-vol-1-black-womens-speeches/african-american-spoken-american-history/music/album/smithsonian |title=Smithsonian Folkways – What if I am a Woman?, Vol. 1: Black Women's Speeches – Ruby Dee |publisher=Folkways.si.edu |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
* ''What if I am a Woman?, Vol. 2: Black Women's Speeches'' (Folkways, 1977)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folkways.si.edu/ruby-dee/what-if-i-am-a-woman-vol-2-black-womens-speeches/african-american-spoken-american-history/music/album/smithsonian |title=Smithsonian Folkways – What if I am a Woman?, Vol. 2: Black Women's Speeches – Ruby Dee |publisher=Folkways.si.edu |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>
* ''Every Tone a Testimony'' ([[Smithsonian Folkways]], 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folkways.si.edu/every-tone-a-testimony/african-american-spoken-history-poetry-prose/album/smithsonian |title=Smithsonian Folkways – Every Tone a Testimony – Various Artists |publisher=Folkways.si.edu |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref> 
*''American Short Stories, Vol 2'', Various Artists (eav Lexington, no date, LE 7703)
*''American Short Stories, Vol 3'', Various Artists (eav Lexington, no date, LE 7704)
*''I've got a name'', Various Artists (Holt's Impact, 1968, CSM 662) 
*''At your own risk'', Various Artists (Holt's Impact, 1968, CSM 663)
*''Conflict'', Various Artists (Holt's Impact, 1969, CSM 816)
*''Sight lines'', Various Artists (Holt's Impact, 1970, SBN 03-071525-3)
*''Roses & Revolutions'', Various Artists (D.S.T. Telecommunications, Inc., Production, 1975)
*''New Dimensions in Music'' (with John Cullum. CBS Records, 1976, P 13161)

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book |last=Davis |first=Ossie |author2=Ruby Dee |year=1984 |title=Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears |type=Audio Cassette |publisher=Caedmon |isbn=978-0-694-51187-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Dee |first=Ruby |title=My One Good Nerve: Rhythms, Rhymes, Reasons |year=1986 |publisher=Third World Press |isbn=0-88378-114-X}}
* {{cite book | last=Davis | first=Ossie | author2=Dee, Ruby | year=1998 | title=With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together | publisher=William Morrow | isbn=978-0-688-15396-0 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/withossierubyint00davi }}

{{refend}}

==See also==
* [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ruby Dee}}
* {{IMDb name|0002039}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111113213740/http://www.lifesessentialsdocs.com/ Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee]
* [http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/ruby-dee Archive of American Television interview]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070909094754/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Ruby&middle=&last=Dee Ruby Dee] at the [[Lortel Archives|Internet Off-Broadway Database]]
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* [http://www.visionaryproject.com/deeruby Ruby Dee's oral history video excerpts] at The National Visionary Leadership Project
* [http://www.folkways.si.edu/searchresults.aspx?sPhrase=Ruby%20Dee&sType='phrase'/ Ruby Dee Discography] at [[Smithsonian Folkways]]
* {{C-SPAN|13073}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Ruby Dee
|list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesSupportingActress 1976-2000}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album 2000s}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2000s}}
{{NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award}}
{{NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award}}
{{NAACP Image Award – President's Award}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 1990s}}
{{Ohio Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleSupportMotionPicture 2001–2020}}
{{Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Spingarn Medal}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dee, Ruby}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century African-American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American writers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
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[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]]
[[Category:Activists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Actresses from Cleveland]]
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[[Category:African-American activists]]
[[Category:African-American history of Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:African-American journalists]]
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[[Category:Burials at Ferncliff Cemetery]]
[[Category:Caedmon Records artists]]
[[Category:Delta Sigma Theta members]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Hunter College alumni]]
[[Category:Hunter College High School alumni]]
[[Category:Journalists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Kennedy Center honorees]]
[[Category:Obie Award recipients]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Harlem]]
[[Category:Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]]
[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]]
[[Category:American women civil rights activists]]