  ruby dee (october 27, 1922 â june 11, 2014) was an american actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and activist. she is perhaps best known for co-starring in the films a raisin in the sun (1961), do the right thing (1989), and american gangster (2007) for which she was nominated for the academy award for best supporting actress. she was the recipient of grammy, emmy, obie, drama desk, screen actors guild award, and screen actors guild lifetime achievement awards as well as the national medal of arts and the kennedy center honors. she was married to actor ossie davis until his death in 2005. ==early life==  dee was born ruby ann wallace in cleveland, ohio in 1922,"ruby dee marks 90th birthday with new documentary about her illustrious life with late husband ossie davis", new york daily news, november 13, 2012. to gladys hightower and marshall edward nathaniel wallace, a cook, waiter and porter. after her mother left the family, dee's father remarried, to emma amelia benson, a schoolteacher.{{cite book|last=lyman|first=darryl|title=great african-american women|publisher=jonathan david company, inc.|year=2005|isbn=0-8246-0459-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4-hybup1sygc&pg=pa53&lpg=pa53&dq=%22ruby+dee%22+%22marshall+edward+wallace%22&source=web&ots=l1jur4ieei&sig=zfstglakhx5a3n
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