Photos: Actress Ruby Dee dies at 91
Ruby Dee, an acclaimed actress and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter.
Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday that her mother died at home in New Rochelle on Wednesday night of "natural causes."
Ruby Dee, Spike Lee
In this June 29, 2009, photo, actress Ruby Dee, left, and director Spike Lee attend a special 20th anniversary screening of "Do the Right Thing," in New York. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 12, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)
Ruby Dee
In this Nov. 17, 2010 photo, Ruby Dee attends a special screening of "Frankie & Alice" in New York. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 12, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)
Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee
In this Dec. 4, 2004 photo, husband-and-wife actors, writers and producers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee arrive at the State Department for a dinner celebrating them and the other Kennedy Center honorees. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Ruby Dee
This Feb. 14, 2008 file photo shows Ruby Dee backstage with the Chairman's award at the 39th NAACP Image Awards, in Los Angeles. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 12, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, file)
Obit-Ruby Dee
In this Oct. 13, 2011, photo, actress Ruby Dee attends the Broadway premiere of " The Mountaintop," in New York. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, file)
Ruby Dee
In this Feb. 24, 2008, photo, Ruby Dee, right, nominated for an Oscar for best actress in a supporting role for her work in "American Gangster," and guest arrive for the 80th Academy Awards, in Los Angeles. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter, Nora Davis Day. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, file)
Ruby Dee
In this Jan. 27, 2008, photo, Ruby Dee poses with the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for her work in "American Gangster" at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter, Nora Davis Day. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)
James Coco Obie Award 1980
Former Obie award winners from left: James Earl Jones, Ruby Dee, Nancy Marchand and James Coco group together on June 2, 1980 in New York. June 2, 1980 prior to the award ceremonies. James Coco and Ruby Dee will host the evening. (AP Photo/G Paul Burnett)
Ruby Dee
Actress Ruby Dee reads from Ralph Ellison's "The Invisible Man" during the unveiling of a sculpture honoring the acclaimed author Thursday, May 1, 2003, in front of his longtime home in West Harlem. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Jules Dassin
Producer Jules Dassin, on Aug. 12, 1968, "Up Tight," with its two stars, Julian Mayfield and Ruby Dee. The movie, with a Black cast, is a drama of betrayal among civil rights militants. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
Ruby Dee
From left to right Ossie Davis, Correta Scott King, Percy Sutton and Ruby Dee chatting during a New York Council of Minority Builders reception on Sunday, Jan. 16, 1984 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York. The Council of Minority builders presented a donation to Coretta Scott King for the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Eli Wallach
Actor Eli Wallach, left, and Ruby Dee, center, and Vera Zorina, widow of choreographer George Balanchine, poses for photographs after induction ceremonies at the Theater Hall of Fame on Monday, Nov. 21, 1988 in New York. Zorina accepted the induction on behalf of her husband. Man at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Maya Angelou 1994
Publisher Edward Lewis, left, television producer Suzanne de Passe, second from left, actress Ruby Dee and poet laureate Maya Angelou, right, pose for photographers before they were honored at the Eighth Annual Black History Makers Awards dinner in New York on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1994. The event is sponsored by Associated Black Charities, a not-profit federation of health and human service agencies. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee, left, Bill Cosby, and Ossie Davis pose for photographers at the start of a 50th wedding anniversary party for Dee and Davis at a New York hotel, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998. The golden wedding anniversary couple, both of whom are veteran actors of stage and screen, is using the party as a fund raiser for 12 community theaters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Ruby Dee
Actress Ruby Dee attends the world premiere of "American Gangster" at the Apollo Theater, Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Ruby Dee
Actress Ruby Dee, nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress, for "American Gangster," poses for a photograph in Beverly Hills Calif., Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Ruby Dee, Hal Holbrook
Oscar nominees Ruby Dee and Hal Holbrook, pose for a photo at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles, on Feb. 4, 2008 (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera)
Frank Robinson, Ruby Dee
Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actress Ruby Dee, left, and baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, right, receive their Beacon Awards prior to the Civil Rights Game exhibition baseball game Saturday, March 29, 2008, in Memphis, Tenn. The Beacon Award is given, by Major League Baseball, to individuals for their efforts on behalf of civil rights throughout the world. The late John H. Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing, also received the honor. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)
Ruby Dee, Mo'Nique
***EXCLUSIVE*** LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: Ruby Dee and Mo'Nique during the Mo'Nique Oscar Luncheon presented by MAC Cosmetics and hosted by Shondrella Avery at Philippe Chow on March 6, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Casey Rodgers / AP Images for MAC Cosmetics)
Ruby Dee
FILE - In this June 14, 2010 file photo, actress Ruby Dee arrives at the Apollo Theater for the Spring 2010 Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony in New York. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, file)
Ruby Dee
Actress Ruby Dee attends a special screening of 'For Colored Girls' at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Davis Dee
FILE - In this Sept. 23, 1963 file photo, actors Ossie Davis, left, and Ruby Dee pose in front of the movie poster at the opening night gala of their film "Gone Are the Days!" based on Davis' play "Purlie Victorious," at the Trans-Lux East Theater in New York City. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo, file)
Ruby Dee
In this March 8, 2004, photo, from left, hotel industrialist J.W. Marriot, actress Ruby Dee, Sean "Puffy" Combs, actor Ossie Davis and Sharon Robinson pose for photographers following the presentation of the 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award that was given to Davis and Lee at the Jackie Robinson Foundation Annual Dinner, in New York. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano, file)
Morgan Freeman, Ruby Dee, Woodie King Jr
FILE - In this May 15, 2006 file photo shows actors Morgan Freeman, from left, Ruby Dee, accepting for her husband Ossie Davis, awarded the 2006 Ford Freedom Award posthumously, and director Woodie King, Jr., after being honored as the 2006 Ford Freedom Award winners in Detroit. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, file)
Kennedy Center Honors
In this Dec. 4, 2004, photo, recipients of the 27th annual Kennedy Center Honors, front, from left, singer and composer Elton John, actress Ruby Dee, and soprano Joan Sutherland; and, rear, from left, actor, producer, writer and director Warren Beatty, actor, writer and producer Ossie Davis, and composer and conductor John Williams, pose for a group photo following a dinner celebrating their lifetime achievements in the arts, at the State Department in Washington. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Davis Dee
Los actores Ossie Davis, izquierda, y su esposa Ruby Dee posan frente a un afiche en el estreno de su película "Gone Are the Days!" basada en la obra de Davis "Purlie Victorious" en el Trans-Lux East Theater en Nueva York en una fotografía del 23 de septiembre de 1963. La aclamada actriz y activista por los derechos civiles Ruby Dee, cuya versátil carrera incluyó radio, televisión y cine murió a los 91 años el miércoles 11 de junio de 2014, según informo su hija. (Foto AP/Peter Kramer, archivo)
Ruby Dee Nat King Cole
In this Oct. 28, 1957 file photo provided by Paramount Pictures, Nat "King" Cole and Ruby Dee, relax on the set of the "St. Louis Blues," based on the life of W. C. Handy, while waiting for a camera set-up during film production at Paramount Pictures Corporation in Hollywood. Dee, an acclaimed actor and civil rights activist whose versatile career spanned stage, radio television and film, has died at age 91, according to her daughter. Nora Davis Day told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 11, 2014, that her mother died at home at New Rochelle, New York, on Wednesday night. (AP Photo, file)