How old was Ruby Dee in…

Ruby Dee

Bio: 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

Born: Fri, Oct 27 1922

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Death: Wed, Jun 11 2014

Ruby Dee is 91 years old

External Links

Movies (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date

Poitier's Walter Lee

Ruby Dee would have been no older than

91 in Poitier's Walter Lee

as 'Self (archive footage)'.

Tue, Sep 25 2018

Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee would have been no older than

91 in Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee

as 'Self'.

Sun, Jun 22 2014

Betty and Coretta

Ruby Dee was

90 in Betty and Coretta

as 'Narrator'.

Sat, Feb 02 2013

Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal

Ruby Dee was

90 in Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal

as 'Self'.

Fri, Feb 01 2013

A Thousand Words

Ruby Dee was

89 in A Thousand Words

as 'Annie McCall'.

Wed, Mar 07 2012

Video Girl

Ruby Dee was

88 in Video Girl

as 'Valerie'.

Tue, Oct 11 2011

Politics of Love

Ruby Dee was

88 in Politics of Love

Fri, Aug 26 2011

The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll

Ruby Dee was

88 in The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll

as 'Miss Candy'.

Fri, Aug 05 2011

A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School

Ruby Dee was

86 in A Place Out of Time: The Bordentown School

as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Wed, Jul 22 2009

America

Ruby Dee was

86 in America

as 'Mrs. Harper'.

Sat, Feb 28 2009

Steam

Ruby Dee was

85 in Steam

as 'Doris'.

Thu, Nov 15 2007

American Gangster

Ruby Dee was

85 in American Gangster

as 'Mama Lucas'.

Fri, Nov 02 2007

All About Us

Ruby Dee was

84 in All About Us

as 'Ms. Ella'.

Mon, Oct 01 2007

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema

Ruby Dee was

84 in In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema

as 'Herself'.

Sat, Sep 15 2007

Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson

Ruby Dee was

84 in Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson

as 'Self'.

Wed, Jan 31 2007

Discovering William Greaves

Ruby Dee was

84 in Discovering William Greaves

as 'Self'.

Wed, Dec 06 2006

No. 2

Ruby Dee was

83 in No. 2

as 'Nanna Maria'.

Thu, Feb 16 2006

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Ruby Dee was

82 in Their Eyes Were Watching God

as 'Nanny, Elizabeth Keckley'.

Sun, Mar 06 2005

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

Ruby Dee was

81 in TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

as '(archive footage)'.

Thu, Jan 01 2004

Beah: A Black Woman Speaks

Ruby Dee was

80 in Beah: A Black Woman Speaks

as 'Self'.

Fri, Aug 22 2003

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

Ruby Dee was

80 in Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

Mon, Feb 10 2003

Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

Ruby Dee was

79 in Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

as 'Self'.

Fri, Jun 14 2002

Taking Back Our Town

Ruby Dee was

79 in Taking Back Our Town

as 'Emelda West'.

Mon, Dec 10 2001

Feast of All Saints

Ruby Dee was

79 in Feast of All Saints

as 'Elsie Claviere'.

Sun, Nov 11 2001

Finding Buck McHenry

Ruby Dee was

77 in Finding Buck McHenry

as 'Mrs. Henry'.

Sun, Apr 16 2000

A Storm in Summer

Ruby Dee was

77 in A Storm in Summer

as 'Grandmother'.

Tue, Jan 18 2000

The Unfinished Journey

Ruby Dee was

77 in The Unfinished Journey

as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Fri, Dec 31 1999

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

Ruby Dee was

76 in Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years

as 'Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany'.

Sun, Apr 18 1999

Baby Geniuses

Ruby Dee was

76 in Baby Geniuses

as 'Margo'.

Fri, Mar 12 1999

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Ruby Dee was

76 in Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

as 'Self'.

Wed, Feb 24 1999

Passing Glory

Ruby Dee was

76 in Passing Glory

as 'Mommit Porter'.

Sun, Feb 21 1999

A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner

Ruby Dee was

76 in A Time To Dance: The Life and Work of Norma Canner

as 'Narrator'.

Mon, Dec 07 1998

The Wall

Ruby Dee was

75 in The Wall

as 'Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")'.

Sun, May 24 1998

A Simple Wish

Ruby Dee was

74 in A Simple Wish

as 'Hortence'.

Fri, Jul 11 1997

Sports on the Silver Screen

Ruby Dee was

74 in Sports on the Silver Screen

as 'Self (archive footage)'.

Sun, Mar 16 1997

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Ruby Dee was

73 in Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

as 'Indigo'.

Sun, Apr 14 1996

Mr. and Mrs. Loving

Ruby Dee was

73 in Mr. and Mrs. Loving

as 'Sophia'.

Wed, Mar 13 1996

Just Cause

Ruby Dee was

72 in Just Cause

as 'Evangeline Ferguson'.

Fri, Feb 17 1995

Tuesday Morning Ride

Ruby Dee was

72 in Tuesday Morning Ride

as 'Jennie'.

Sun, Jan 01 1995

Whitewash

Ruby Dee was

71 in Whitewash

as 'Grandmother (voice)'.

Tue, Aug 16 1994

The Stand

Ruby Dee was

71 in The Stand

as 'Mother Abagail Freemantle'.

Sun, May 08 1994

After Goodbye

Ruby Dee was

70 in After Goodbye

as 'Narrator'.

Wed, Jun 23 1993

Cop and ½

Ruby Dee was

70 in Cop and ½

as 'Rachel'.

Fri, Apr 02 1993

The Ernest Green Story

Ruby Dee was

70 in The Ernest Green Story

as 'Lydia Wilson'.

Sun, Jan 17 1993

Color Adjustment

Ruby Dee was

69 in Color Adjustment

as 'Narrator'.

Wed, Jan 29 1992

Jazztime Tale

Ruby Dee was

69 in Jazztime Tale

as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Sat, Nov 02 1991

Jungle Fever

Ruby Dee was

68 in Jungle Fever

as 'Lucinda Purify'.

Fri, Jun 07 1991

Decoration Day

Ruby Dee was

68 in Decoration Day

as 'Rowena'.

Sun, Dec 02 1990

The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson

Ruby Dee was

67 in The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson

as 'Jackie's Mother'.

Mon, Oct 15 1990

Love at Large

Ruby Dee was

67 in Love at Large

as 'Corrine Dart'.

Fri, Mar 09 1990

Zora is My Name!

Ruby Dee was

67 in Zora is My Name!

as 'Zora Neale Hurston'.

Mon, Jan 01 1990

Making 'Do the Right Thing'

Ruby Dee was

67 in Making 'Do the Right Thing'

as 'Self'.

Fri, Nov 03 1989

Do the Right Thing

Ruby Dee was

66 in Do the Right Thing

as 'Mother Sister'.

Wed, Jun 14 1989

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Ruby Dee was

62 in Go Tell It on the Mountain

as 'Mrs. Grimes'.

Mon, Jan 14 1985

Long Day's Journey Into Night

Ruby Dee was

60 in Long Day's Journey Into Night

as 'Mary Tyrone'.

Tue, Nov 23 1982

Cat People

Ruby Dee was

59 in Cat People

as 'Female'.

Fri, Apr 02 1982

All God's Children

Ruby Dee was

57 in All God's Children

as 'Irene Whitfield'.

Mon, Apr 28 1980

The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six

Ruby Dee was

57 in The Torture of Mothers: The Case of the Harlem Six

Tue, Jan 01 1980

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Ruby Dee was

56 in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

as 'Grandmother Baxter'.

Sat, Apr 28 1979

Countdown at Kusini

Ruby Dee was

53 in Countdown at Kusini

as 'Leah Matanzima'.

Fri, Apr 16 1976

Wedding Band

Ruby Dee was

51 in Wedding Band

as 'Julia Augustine'.

Wed, Apr 24 1974

It's Good to Be Alive

Ruby Dee was

51 in It's Good to Be Alive

as 'Ruth Campanella'.

Fri, Feb 22 1974

Black Girl

Ruby Dee was

50 in Black Girl

as 'Netta's mother'.

Thu, Nov 09 1972

Buck and the Preacher

Ruby Dee was

49 in Buck and the Preacher

as 'Ruth'.

Fri, Mar 17 1972

To Be Young, Gifted and Black

Ruby Dee was

49 in To Be Young, Gifted and Black

as 'Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters'.

Thu, Jan 20 1972

On Merit

Ruby Dee was

49 in On Merit

as 'Narrator (voice)'.

Sat, Jan 01 1972

The Sheriff

Ruby Dee was

48 in The Sheriff

as 'Sue Ann Lucas'.

Tue, Mar 30 1971

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

Ruby Dee was

47 in King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

as 'Self (archive footage)'.

Tue, Mar 24 1970

Deadlock

Ruby Dee was

46 in Deadlock

as 'Lucinda'.

Sat, Feb 22 1969

Uptight

Ruby Dee was

46 in Uptight

as 'Laurie'.

Sat, Dec 28 1968

The Incident

Ruby Dee was

45 in The Incident

as 'Joan Robinson'.

Sun, Nov 05 1967

Neighbours

Ruby Dee was

43 in Neighbours

as 'Vicky Kingsbury'.

Sat, Jan 15 1966

Gone Are the Days!

Ruby Dee was

40 in Gone Are the Days!

as 'Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins'.

Fri, Aug 09 1963

The Balcony

Ruby Dee was

40 in The Balcony

as 'Thief'.

Thu, Mar 21 1963

A Raisin in the Sun

Ruby Dee was

38 in A Raisin in the Sun

as 'Ruth Younger'.

Sun, May 28 1961

Take a Giant Step

Ruby Dee was

37 in Take a Giant Step

as 'Christine'.

Tue, Dec 01 1959

Virgin Island

Ruby Dee was

36 in Virgin Island

as 'Ruth'.

Fri, Aug 07 1959

St. Louis Blues

Ruby Dee was

35 in St. Louis Blues

as 'Elizabeth'.

Mon, Apr 07 1958

Edge of the City

Ruby Dee was

34 in Edge of the City

as 'Lucy Tyler'.

Fri, Jan 04 1957

Go Man Go

Ruby Dee was

31 in Go Man Go

as 'Irma Jackson'.

Wed, Jan 27 1954

The Tall Target

Ruby Dee was

28 in The Tall Target

as 'Rachel'.

Fri, Aug 17 1951

No Way Out

Ruby Dee was

27 in No Way Out

as 'Connie Brooks (uncredited)'.

Wed, Aug 16 1950

The Jackie Robinson Story

Ruby Dee was

27 in The Jackie Robinson Story

as 'Rae Robinson'.

Tue, May 16 1950

Easy to Get

Ruby Dee was

24 in Easy to Get

as 'Drugstore Girl'.

Thu, Jul 10 1947

That Man of Mine

Ruby Dee was

23 in That Man of Mine

as 'Joan'.

Tue, Jan 01 1946

TV Shows (Acting Roles)

Sorted by Release Date
Ages in TV shows are based off the first air date and may not be accurate. View individual episode details for accurate ages

Iconoclasts

Ruby Dee was

83+ in Iconoclasts

as 'Self'.

First Air Date
Thu, Nov 17 2005

Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years

Ruby Dee was

79+ in Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years

as 'Narrator'.

First Air Date
Sat, Jun 01 2002

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Ruby Dee was

77+ in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

as 'Mary Wilson'.

First Air Date
Fri, Oct 06 2000

Little Bill

Ruby Dee was

77+ in Little Bill

First Air Date
Sun, Nov 28 1999

Christianity: The First 1000 Years

Ruby Dee was

76+ in Christianity: The First 1000 Years

as 'Herself - Narrator'.

First Air Date
Sun, Nov 29 1998

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

Ruby Dee was

72+ in Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

as 'Grandma (voice)'.

First Air Date
Sun, Mar 12 1995

The Stand

Ruby Dee was

71+ in The Stand

as 'Mother Abagail'.

First Air Date
Sun, May 08 1994

Middle Ages

Ruby Dee was

69+ in Middle Ages

as 'Estelle Williams'.

First Air Date
Thu, Sep 03 1992

American Experience

Ruby Dee was

65+ in American Experience

as 'Narrator (voice)'.

First Air Date
Tue, Oct 04 1988

China Beach

Ruby Dee was

65+ in China Beach

First Air Date
Tue, Apr 26 1988

Spenser: For Hire

Ruby Dee was

62+ in Spenser: For Hire

First Air Date
Fri, Sep 20 1985

The Golden Girls

Ruby Dee was

62+ in The Golden Girls

as 'Mammy Watkins'.

First Air Date
Sat, Sep 14 1985

The Atlanta Child Murders

Ruby Dee was

62+ in The Atlanta Child Murders

as 'Faye Williams'.

First Air Date
Sun, Feb 10 1985

Reading Rainbow

Ruby Dee was

60+ in Reading Rainbow

as 'Herself - Narrator (voice)'.

First Air Date
Mon, Jun 06 1983

Roots: The Next Generations

Ruby Dee was

56+ in Roots: The Next Generations

as 'Queen Victoria Haley'.

First Air Date
Sun, Feb 18 1979

The Kennedy Center Honors

Ruby Dee was

56+ in The Kennedy Center Honors

as 'Self'.

First Air Date
Thu, Dec 28 1978

Police Woman

Ruby Dee was

51+ in Police Woman

First Air Date
Fri, Sep 13 1974

Great Performances

Ruby Dee was

48+ in Great Performances

as 'Self'.

First Air Date
Thu, Jan 28 1971

The Dick Cavett Show

Ruby Dee was

45+ in The Dick Cavett Show

as 'Self - Guest'.

First Air Date
Thu, Jun 06 1968

The Great Adventure

Ruby Dee was

40+ in The Great Adventure

as 'Harriet Tubman'.

First Air Date
Fri, Sep 27 1963

The Fugitive

Ruby Dee was

40+ in The Fugitive

as 'Laura Smith'.

First Air Date
Tue, Sep 17 1963

The Defenders

Ruby Dee was

38+ in The Defenders

as 'Catherine Collins'.

First Air Date
Sat, Sep 16 1961

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Ruby Dee was

29+ in Hallmark Hall of Fame

as 'Rowena Finch'.

First Air Date
Mon, Dec 24 1951