LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying grateful tribute to the distinguished and
remarkable life of Ruby Dee, legendary actress and civil rights activist

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay proper tribute
to those cherished citizens of the State of New York whose purposeful
lives exemplified the highest ideals of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is proud to inscribe upon its
records this memoriam for Ruby Dee, noted actress and civil rights
activist; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee died at her home in New Rochelle, New York, on
Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of her remarkable seven-decade career on
stage, television and film, and parallel career in activism, Ruby Dee
devoted her prodigious talents and energies to the uplift of all people,
defying racial stereotypes, championing for justice and equality, and
moving audiences the world over with her powerful performances; and
WHEREAS, Born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, Ruby Dee grew up in
Harlem, and got involved in acting as a teenager; she began studying her
craft at the American Negro Theatre, the renowned and historic company
that nurtured the talents of many African American greats, including
Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee had her first career breakthrough in 1946, when she
took the title role in the ANT's Broadway production of ANNA LUCASTA;
she met actor and future husband Ossie Davis while co-starring in the
1946 Broadway play JEB, beginning the six-decade creative and romantic
partnership that contributed to the actress's tremendous legend and
legacy; and
WHEREAS, She received national recognition for her role in the 1950
film, THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY; in 1959 she landed a starring role on
Broadway in Lorraine Hansberry's play, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, earning
great acclaim for her portrayal of Ruth Younger, which continues to be
one of her best known roles; two years later, she reprised her role in
the film version of the play; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, Ruby Dee co-starred with her husband in his southern
comedic play PURLIE VICTORIOUS, one of the many creative projects the
couple worked on over the years; they reprised their roles for the 1963
film adaptation; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, Ruby Dee performed in lead roles at the American
Shakespeare Festival as Kate in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and Cordelia in
KING LEAR, becoming the first black actress to portray a lead role in
the festival; and
WHEREAS, During this time Ruby Dee grew increasingly active in the
Civil Rights Movement, participating in marches and speaking out for
racial equality; in 1963, she emceed the March on Washington for Jobs
and Freedom, and she was a member of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),
the NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Delta Sigma
Theta sorority and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; both
she and her husband were friends of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King
Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Ruby Dee continued to give
stellar performances; she earned Drama Desk and Obie awards for the 1970
play BOESMAN AND LENA, and she wrote the book and lyrics for the
musical, TAKE IT FROM THE TOP! in addition, she won a Drama Desk Award
for her role in Alice Childress's WEDDING BAND, and an Ace Award for her
performance in Eugene O'Neill's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT; and

WHEREAS, On the small screen, in the 1960s Ruby Dee appeared on the
popular primetime soap opera, PEYTON PLACE, and later had her own series
on public television with her husband: WITH OSSIE & RUBY; she garnered
an Emmy Award nomination for her role in the 1979 miniseries ROOTS: THE
NEXT GENERATION; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee's film credits also include UPTIGHT (1968) which she
also co-wrote, BUCK AND THE PREACHER (1972), DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
and THE DELANY SISTERS: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS (1999); she won an Emmy
Award for her performance in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production, DECO-
RATION DAY; and
WHEREAS, Her published works include the humorous, MY ONE GOOD NERVE
and various recordings for young people; in 1998, she and her husband,
the late Ossie Davis co-wrote the autobiographical book, WITH OSSIE AND
RUBY: IN THIS LIFE TOGETHER, for which she won a Grammy, in which they
take turns telling their stories as actors, activists, a married couple
and as parents; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Ruby Dee received the Screen Actors Guild's Life
Achievement Award; she was also an inductee of the Theater Hall of Fame,
as well as the NAACP Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee suffered a tremendous loss in 2005, when her
husband, Ossie Davis, died unexpectedly; continuing to work despite her
grief, she delivered one of her great performances in 2007's AMERICAN
GANGSTER, receiving an Academy Award nomination and winning a Screen
Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of the mother of a notorious crime
figure; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee performed throughout her life; in 2013 she was hired
to narrate the Lifetime original movie BETTY AND CORETTA, which followed
the lives of Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, after the assassi-
nations of their husbands; and
WHEREAS, Ruby Dee is survived by her son Guy Davis, her daughters,
Nora Davis Day and Hasna Davis Muhammad, and seven grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Ruby Dee leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as an inspiration and comfort; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the passing of legendary actress and activist Ruby Dee; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed be trans-
mitted to the family of Ruby Dee.