Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ruby Dee’s Net Worth
Ruby Dee was a multifaceted American artist and activist, known for her work as an actress, playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Her career spanned nearly eight decades, leaving an undeniable impact on the entertainment industry and the Civil Rights Movement. At the time of her death on June 11, 2014, Ruby Dee’s net worth was estimated to be around $2.5 million to $5 million. While pinpointing the exact figure is challenging due to the complexities of estate valuation and potential fluctuations in assets, this range provides a reasonable estimate of her financial standing.
Breakdown of Ruby Dee’s Net Worth
Ruby Dee’s $2.5 million to $5 million net worth accumulated over her extensive career, primarily stemming from her work in film, television, and theater. Her consistent presence in the entertainment industry translated into earnings from salaries, royalties, and potential residuals. While specific contract details and annual income figures remain private, we can examine various aspects of her career that contributed to her financial success.
Career Highlights: Dee’s career began in the 1940s, with early roles in Broadway productions. She gained wider recognition for her performance in “The Jackie Robinson Story” (1950). Her career included roles in notable films such as “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961), “Do the Right Thing” (1989), and “American Gangster” (2007), the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also won an Emmy Award for her work in “The Stand.”
Real Estate: Ruby Dee and her husband, Ossie Davis, shared a home in New Rochelle, New York, since the mid-1960s. This Mediterranean-style house, located at 44 Cortland Ave, was placed on the market for $1,499,000 after Ossie Davis’ death in early 2005. The 1910 estate, set on 1.29 acres, includes five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half baths. It features a spacious living room, a grand deck off the master bedroom, a library, multiple patios, central air conditioning, and architectural details in wood and stone. While it’s unknown if Ruby Dee owned other properties, this residence represents a significant component of her assets.
Ruby Dee’s Life and Legacy
Born Ruby Ann Wallace on October 27, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio, Ruby Dee’s early life shaped her into the influential figure she became. She grew up in Harlem, New York, and graduated from Hunter College with degrees in French and Spanish. Dee’s commitment to activism was intertwined with her artistic endeavors. She and her husband Ossie Davis were deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. They served as master and mistress of ceremonies at the 1963 March on Washington and were friends with leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Awards and Recognition: Ruby Dee received numerous accolades throughout her career, including a Grammy Award for the audio version of her autobiography with Ossie Davis, Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. She received the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.
Other Ventures: Dee authored several books, including “Glow Child and Other Poems” (1972) and “My Own Good Nerve” (1987). She co-authored her autobiography, “With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together” (1998), with her husband Ossie Davis. These literary works added to her income and solidified her status as a respected writer and poet.
