RUBY DEE
Name: Ruby Dee
Birth name: Ruby Ann Wallace
Born: 27 October 1924 Cleveland, Ohio
Ruby Dee (born October 27, 1924) is an American Academy Award-nominated and
Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter,
journalist, and activist.
Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Gladys
Hightower and Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, a cook, waiter, and porter.
After her mother left the family, Dee's father married Emma Amelia (nee Benson),
a schoolteacher. Dee grew up in Harlem, New York. She graduated in
1945 from Hunter College with degrees in French and Spanish, and is a member of
Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc. She made several appearances on Broadway before
receiving national recognition for her role in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson
Story.
Dee's career in acting has 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 Sidney Poitier. During the 1960s, Dee appeared in
such politically charged films as Gone Are the Days and The Incident, which is
recognized as helping pave the way for young African-American actors and
filmmakers.
She has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning once for her role in
the 1990 TV film Decoration Day. She was also nominated for her television guest
appearance in the China Beach episode, "Skylark." Her late husband Ossie Davis (1917-2005)
also appeared in that episode.
In 2007 the winner of the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album was tied
between Dee and Ossie Davis for "With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together",
and former President Jimmy Carter.
She has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007
for her portrayal of Mama Lucas in American Gangster. She won the SAG award for
the same performance. At 83 years old, Dee is currently the second oldest
nominee for Best Supporting Actress, behind Gloria Stuart who was 87 for her
role in Titanic. This was Dee's first nomination. It was also significant in
that hers is the second shortest performance (at approximately five minutes)
ever to be nominated for an acting Oscar, following that of the cameo appearance
of Sylvia Miles in Midnight Cowboy.
Name: Ruby Dee
Birth name: Ruby Ann Wallace
Born: 27 October 1924 Cleveland, Ohio
Ruby Dee (born October 27, 1924) is an American Academy Award-nominated and
Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter,
journalist, and activist.
Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Gladys
Hightower and Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, a cook, waiter, and porter.
After her mother left the family, Dee's father married Emma Amelia (nee Benson),
a schoolteacher. Dee grew up in Harlem, New York. She graduated in
1945 from Hunter College with degrees in French and Spanish, and is a member of
Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Inc. She made several appearances on Broadway before
receiving national recognition for her role in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson
Story.
Dee's career in acting has 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 Sidney Poitier. During the 1960s, Dee appeared in
such politically charged films as Gone Are the Days and The Incident, which is
recognized as helping pave the way for young African-American actors and
filmmakers.
She has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning once for her role in
the 1990 TV film Decoration Day. She was also nominated for her television guest
appearance in the China Beach episode, "Skylark." Her late husband Ossie Davis (1917-2005)
also appeared in that episode.
In 2007 the winner of the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album was tied
between Dee and Ossie Davis for "With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together",
and former President Jimmy Carter.
She has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007
for her portrayal of Mama Lucas in American Gangster. She won the SAG award for
the same performance. At 83 years old, Dee is currently the second oldest
nominee for Best Supporting Actress, behind Gloria Stuart who was 87 for her
role in Titanic. This was Dee's first nomination. It was also significant in
that hers is the second shortest performance (at approximately five minutes)
ever to be nominated for an acting Oscar, following that of the cameo appearance
of Sylvia Miles in Midnight Cowboy.