Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee was an acclaimed American actress, poet, and civil rights activist whose career spanned over seven decades across theater, film, and television. Renowned for her powerful performances and unwavering commitment to social justice, she became a pioneering figure in African-American arts and culture. Her prolific partnership with her husband, Ossie Davis, was celebrated both onstage and in their activism. Dee received numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and a National Medal of Arts.

Early life and education

Born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, she was raised in Harlem by her father, Marshall Edward Wallace, a Pullman porter, and his second wife. She developed a love for literature and performance at an early age, reciting poetry in church. Dee attended Hunter College High School before enrolling at Hunter College, where she initially studied French and Spanish. Her passion for acting led her to join the American Negro Theatre, where she trained alongside future stars like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, honing her craft in a vibrant community that emphasized black storytelling.

Career

Dee's professional stage debut came in 1940 in the Broadway production of South Pacific. She gained critical acclaim for her role in the 1946 Broadway play Jeb, where she met her future husband, Ossie Davis. A major breakthrough was her performance as Ruth Younger in the original 1959 stage production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, a role she reprised in the 1961 Columbia Pictures film adaptation. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she delivered memorable performances in films like The Incident and Buck and the Preacher. On television, she was a frequent presence on shows like The Fugitive and Peyton Place, and later earned an Emmy Award for her role in Decoration Day. Her later film work included acclaimed roles in Do the Right Thing and American Gangster, for which she received an Academy Award nomination.

Activism and philanthropy

Dee's activism was deeply intertwined with her artistic career. She and Ossie Davis were prominent figures in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as emcees for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They were also involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and protested against the House Un-American Activities Committee. Dee advocated for artists' rights through her work with the Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. With Davis, she founded the Institute of New Cinema Artists to promote diversity in film. Her philanthropic efforts extended to supporting the NAACP and establishing scholarships for young artists.

Personal life

Dee was first married to Frankie Dee Brown, a musician, from 1941 to 1945. In 1948, she married actor and playwright Ossie Davis after co-starring with him in Jeb; their union lasted 57 years until his death in 2005. They collaborated on numerous projects, including their joint autobiography With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together and the pioneering television series Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee Story Hour. The couple had three children: son Guy Davis, a blues musician, and two daughters, Nora Davis Day and Hasna Muhammad. They made their home in New Rochelle, New York, where they were pillars of their community.

Awards and legacy

Dee's extensive honors include a 1965 Obie Award for her performance in Boesman and Lena, a 1991 Emmy Award, and a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. She received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004 and the National Medal of Arts in 1995. In 2014, she was inducted posthumously into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her legacy endures through her groundbreaking roles that expanded representations of African-American women, her inspirational partnership with Ossie Davis, and her lifelong dedication to social justice. The Ruby Dee Collection of Black History at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture preserves her papers and contributions.

Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American civil rights activists