Ruby Dee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruby Dee
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Dee in 1972
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| Born |
Ruby Ann Wallace
October 27, 1922 |
| Died | June 11, 2014 (aged 91) New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
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| Resting place | Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Hunter College (1945) |
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| Years active | 1940–2013 |
| Spouse(s) | Frankie Dee Brown (m. c. 1941; div. 1945) |
| Children | 3, including Guy Davis |
Ruby Dee (born October 27, 1922 – died June 11, 2014) was an amazing American artist. She was an actress, poet, writer, and journalist. She was also a strong voice for civil rights. Ruby Dee became famous for her role as Ruth Younger in the play and movie A Raisin in the Sun (1961). She also starred in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) and Do the Right Thing (1989).
Ruby Dee was married to Ossie Davis, who was also an actor. They often worked together. She won many awards for her acting. These include a Grammy, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Award. She also received the National Medal of Arts and Kennedy Center Honors.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ruby Dee was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 27, 1922. Her birth name was Ruby Ann Wallace. Her father, Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, was a cook and waiter. Her stepmother, Emma Amelia Benson, was a schoolteacher.
Ruby grew up in Harlem, New York. She went to Public Schools 119 and 136. Later, she attended Hunter College High School. In 1945, she graduated from Hunter College. She earned a degree in Romance languages.
Acting Career Highlights
Ruby Dee started her acting journey at the American Negro Theatre. She worked with other future stars like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Her first role on Broadway was in 1946. She first appeared on screen in the 1946 film That Man of Mine.
She became widely known for her role in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson Story. In this movie, she played the wife of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. In 1965, Ruby Dee made history. She became the first Black actress to play a main role at the American Shakespeare Festival. She played Kate in The Taming of the Shrew and Cordelia in King Lear.
Ruby Dee's acting career lasted for over 70 years. She worked in movies, TV shows, and plays. She often acted alongside Sidney Poitier. One of her most famous roles was Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. She first played this role on stage, then in the 1961 movie.
In the 1960s, she appeared in films like Gone Are the Days! and The Incident. She also appeared in the TV series Peyton Place. In 1979, she played Queen Haley in the TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.
Ruby Dee was nominated for eight Emmy Awards. She won one for her role in the 1990 TV movie Decoration Day. She also appeared in two films by director Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991).
In 2007, Ruby Dee was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role as Mama Lucas in the movie American Gangster. She won the Screen Actors Guild award for the same role. At 85 years old, she was one of the oldest nominees for this award.
Her last movie role was in the comedy A Thousand Words (2012). She played the mother of the main character.
Activism and Personal Life
Ruby Dee married actor Ossie Davis in 1948. They met while acting in a play together. They had three children: a son, Guy Davis, and two daughters, Nora Day and Hasna Muhammad. Ruby Dee was a breast cancer survivor.
Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were very active in the Civil Rights Movement. They were close friends with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Ruby Dee was a member of several important civil rights groups. These included the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the NAACP.
In 1963, Ruby Dee was a host at the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Ossie Davis gave the speech at Malcolm X's funeral in 1965.
In 1995, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis received the National Medal of Arts. In 2004, they were honored with the Kennedy Center Honors. These awards recognized their contributions to arts and culture. They also received the Lifetime Achievement Freedom Award in 2005. This award was from the National Civil Rights Museum.
Death and Legacy
Ruby Dee passed away on June 11, 2014, at her home in New Rochelle, New York. She was 91 years old. Her daughter, Nora Day, said she passed away peacefully.
After her death, the famous Apollo Theater honored her. Their marquee read: "A TRUE APOLLO LEGEND RUBY DEE 1922–2014". Ruby Dee was cremated. Her ashes are kept in the same urn as her husband, Ossie Davis. The urn has the words "In this thing together" written on it. A public memorial was held for her in New York City.
Ruby Dee is remembered as a talented actress and a brave activist. She used her voice and her art to fight for justice and equality.
Works
Ruby Dee had a long and successful career. Here are some of her notable works:
Filmography
- 1950: The Jackie Robinson Story
- 1957: Edge of the City
- 1961: A Raisin in the Sun
- 1972: Buck and the Preacher
- 1989: Do the Right Thing
- 1991: Jungle Fever
- 1994: The Stand
- 2007: American Gangster
- 2012: A Thousand Words
Television
- 1967: Guiding Light (cast member)
- 1968–1969: Peyton Place (cast member)
- 1970: Sesame Street
- 1979: Roots: The Next Generations (miniseries)
- 1980–1982: With Ossie and Ruby!
- 1990: Decoration Day
- 1999–2004: Little Bill (voice)
- 2005: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Stage
- 1946: Jeb
- 1959: A Raisin in the Sun
- 1961: Purlie Victorious
- 1965: King Lear
- 1965: The Taming of the Shrew
- 1970: Boesman and Lena
Discography
- The Original Read-In for Peace in Vietnam (1967)
- The Poetry of Langston Hughes (with Ossie Davis)
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears and Other Tales (with Ossie Davis, 1978)
- Every Tone a Testimony (2001)
Awards and Honors
Ruby Dee received many awards for her talent and activism.
Awards
- 1961: National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress – A Raisin in the Sun
- 1971: Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance – Boesman and Lena
- 1971: Obie Award for Best Performance by an Actress – Boesman and Lena
- 1991: Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie – Decoration Day
- 1995: National Medal of Arts
- 2000: Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2007: Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album – With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together (shared with Jimmy Carter)
- 2008: Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role – American Gangster
- 2008: Spingarn Medal from the NAACP
Nominations
- 2008: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – American Gangster
Images for kids
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Dee (right) with activist and opera star Stacey Robinson in 1998
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Dee speaking in 2006
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Ruby Dee and Joel Fluellen (center) in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
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See also
In Spanish: Ruby Dee para niños
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
