Ruby Dee, born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, was an American actress whose extensive career graced theater, film, and television for over eight decades. She began her journey with the American Negro Theatre and made her Broadway debut in 'South Pacific' in 1943. Dee's professional and personal life were intertwined with actor Ossie Davis, whom she married and frequently collaborated with throughout their careers. Her talent was recognized with numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Obie Award, and a Drama Desk Award, alongside an Academy Award nomination. She was also honored with the National Medal of Arts, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors. Dee's notable stage roles included originating characters in Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun' and Ossie Davis's 'Purlie Victorious.' Her filmography features significant roles in 'The Jackie Robinson Story,' 'Edge of the City,' 'Do the Right Thing,' and 'American Gangster,' for which she received an Oscar nomination. Dee also had a prolific television career, appearing in various series and TV films, and voicing a character in the animated series 'Little Bill.'

Ruby Ann Wallace was born on October 27, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents were Gladys Hightower and Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, who worked as a cook, waiter, and porter. After her mother departed the family, her father remarried Emma Amelia Benson, an educator. Dee spent her formative years in Harlem, New York, attending Public Schools 119 and 136 before graduating from Hunter College in 1945 with a degree in Romance languages. She was also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Dee's acting career commenced with the American Negro Theatre, where she trained alongside notable figures like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1943 with a role in 'South Pacific.' She later took on the title role in Eugene O'Neill's 'Anna Lucasta.' It was during the production of the post-World War II play 'Jeb' in 1946 that she met her future husband and frequent collaborator, Ossie Davis. This period also marked her transition to screen, with her first on-screen appearance in the musical 'That Man of Mine' in the same year. Her early film work included 'The Fight Never Ends' (1947) and a critically recognized performance as Rachel Robinson in 'The Jackie Robinson Story' (1950).

Dee achieved significant recognition for originating the role of Ruth Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's groundbreaking play 'A Raisin in the Sun' on Broadway in 1959. She reprised this role in the 1961 film adaptation. Further stage success came with her portrayal of Lutiebell Gussie Mae Jenkins in Ossie Davis's 'Purlie Victorious' (1961), a performance praised for its humor and charm. Her career extended across major media, including early television appearances on shows like 'The Fugitive' and 'Guiding Light.' She earned a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in 'The Doctors and the Nurses' (1964) and made history as the first Black actress to play lead roles at the American Shakespeare Festival. Dee's film work continued with roles in 'Edge of the City' (1957), 'Take a Giant Step' (1959), and later in Spike Lee's influential films 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) and 'Jungle Fever' (1991). Her performance in 'American Gangster' (2007) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Throughout the 1980s and into the 2000s, Dee continued to deliver powerful performances in television films such as 'Long Day's Journey into Night' (1982) and 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' (1985). She received Emmy nominations for her work in the miniseries 'Lincoln' (1988) and for guest appearances on 'China Beach' and 'Evening Shade.' In 1990, she won her sole Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the TV film 'Decoration Day.' Dee also returned to Broadway in 'Checkmates' and engaged in creative adaptation with her work on Rosa Guy's novel. She appeared in Stephen King's miniseries 'The Stand' (1994) and lent her voice to the animated series 'Little Bill' (1999-2004), earning Daytime Emmy nominations. Alongside her husband, she received the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004. Their shared Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2007 recognized their joint work. Dee's final film role was in 'A Thousand Words' (2012).