Ruby Dee Passed Away at Age 91

Award-winning actress and civil rights activist, Ruby Dee died of natural causes at her home in New Rochelle, NY on June 11, 2014, her representative confirmed. She was 91 years old. Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1922, and moved to New York’s Harlem as a child. She took Dee as her stage name after marrying blues singer Frankie Dee Brown two decades later. After divorcing Brown in 1945, she married actor Ossie Davis in 1948. They were married until Mr. Davis’ death in 2005.

Dee and Davis were both active voices in the civil rights movement, in addition to being well-respected for their chosen profession. They were sometimes in films together such as Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever” (), playing the parents of the characters portrayed by Wesley Snipes and Samuel L. Jackson. Some of Ruby Dee’s notable film credits include “The Jackie Robinson Story” (1950), “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961), “Buck and the Preacher” (1972), “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and “American Gangster” (2007). Dee earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in “Gangster.” She won an Emmy and Grammy for other work.

In a statement, Gil Robertson IV of the African American Film Critics Association praised Dee’s contributions:
“Throughout her seven-decade career,” he said, ” Ms. Dee embraced different creative platforms with her various interpretations of black womanhood and also used her gifts to champion for Human Rights. Her strength, courage and beauty will be greatly missed.”

First lady Michelle Obama also was deeply saddened by Ms. Dee’s passing: “I’ll never forget seeing her in ‘Do the Right Thing’ on my first date with Barack.”

Ruby Dee is survived by her three children Guy Davis, Nora Day Davis and Hasna Muhammad Davis and seven grandchildren.