Ruby Dee
Biography
Ruby Dee was an American actress whose work covered stage, film, and television. Born in Cleveland and raised in Harlem, she started out with the American Negro Theatre and made her Broadway bow in South Pacific in 1943. She first played Ruth Younger in the Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, then took the part again in the 1961 movie. Her screen credits included Edge of the City (1957), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and The Jackie Robinson Story (1950). Later parts came in Do the Right Thing (1989), Jungle Fever (1991), and Black Girl (1972). American Gangster (2007) brought her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award win. Her honors also took in an Emmy, a Grammy, an Obie, and a Drama Desk Award.
91years old at death
- Born Cleveland
- Died New Rochelle
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Ruby Ann Wallace
Movie Career
- Films
- 21
- Career span
- 62 years1950 to 2012
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A first
Ruby Dee became the first black actress to play a lead role at the American Shakespeare Festival in 1965, performing as Kate in The Taming of the Shrew and Cordelia in King Lear.
A first
Ruby Dee became a Best Supporting Actress nominee at age 85, making her the third oldest in that category, after Gloria Stuart and Judi Dench, who were both 87.
Early training
Ruby Dee became an apprentice with the American Negro Theatre, where she worked alongside Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Hilda Simms.
First role
Ruby Dee's Broadway debut came in the play South Pacific, which was staged in 1943. In that production she portrayed a Native.
Ruby Dee movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Spike Lee directed two of these films. Sidney Poitier appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Sidney Poitier's page
Ossie Davis's page
Samuel L. Jackson's page
John Turturro's page
Louis Gossett Jr.'s page
Frankie Faison's page
All films by Spike Lee
Also two films together14 more actors
- Halle BerryTheir Eyes Were Watching God (2005) and Jungle Fever (1991)
- Ted LevineAmerican Gangster (2007) and Love at Large (1990)
- Kathleen TurnerBaby Geniuses (1999) and A Simple Wish (1997)
- Roger Guenveur SmithAmerican Gangster (2007) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- John CassavetesVirgin Island (1958) and Edge of the City (1957)
- Brock PetersBlack Girl (1972) and The Incident (1967)
- Spike LeeJungle Fever (1991) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Joel FluellenA Raisin in the Sun (1961) and The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
- Kate CapshawJust Cause (1995) and Love at Large (1990)
- Annette O'TooleLove at Large (1990) and Cat People (1982)
- Paul BenjaminDo the Right Thing (1989) and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979)
- Roy GlennA Raisin in the Sun (1961) and Edge of the City (1957)
- Ruben Santiago-HudsonAmerican Gangster (2007) and Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)
- Claudia McNeilBlack Girl (1972) and A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Ruby Dee's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$507 million
11 of the 21 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 21 films: 11 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 5 figure not found.
- 11Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 5Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$270M53.2% of the total
- 2$41M8.0% of the total
- 3$37M7.4% of the total
- 4$37M7.3% of the total
- 5$36M7.2% of the total
- 6$32M6.4% of the total
- 7$22M4.3% of the total
- 8$21M4.1% of the total
$10.4 millionfrom the other 3 films with a worldwide figure, 2% of the total
Awards
Twelve awards and honors from 1975 to 2008, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1991 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Decoration Day | Won |
| SAG Awards | |||
| Life Achievement Award | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 2008 | Spingarn Medal | Won | |
| 2007 | Humanitarian of the Year | Won | |
| 2005 | Marian Anderson Award | Won | |
| 1991 | Crystal Award | Won | |
| 1991 | Honorary degree from Spelman College | Honorary | |
| 1986 | Ohio Women's Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1975 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1975 | Paul Robeson Award | Won | |
| Audie Award for Best Female Narrator | Won | ||
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.