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Born October 27, 1927, in Cleveland, OH
Died June 11, 2014, in New Rochelle, NY
Ruby Dee’s luminous performances on stage, in film, and on television made her one of the most recognized actresses in the United States in the 20th century. From her first major Broadway role in Anna Lucasta in 1946, she became a versatile performer whose extensive credits include productions of A Raisin in the Sun and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Dee’s collection of poetry, My One Good Nerve: Rhythms, Rhymes, Reasons, was published in 1986. For her performance in the film American Gangster (2007), she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.