‘That Man of Mine’ (1946)
Dee, who died Wednesday at 91, made her film debut in the musical drama.
Dee, who died Wednesday at 91, made her film debut in the musical drama.
Dee starred opposite Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt and Cab Calloway in this film, loosely based on the life of W.C. Handy.
Dee starred in the 1959 stage version as a suffering housewife in the projects, and then reprised her role for the 1961 film, which earned her a National Board of Review award for best supporting actress.
Dee and Ossie Davis (pictured here in 1963) conceived the acclaimed PBS series With Ossie & Ruby (1981).The couple co-hosted, performed and co-produced 26 half-hour programs. She co-produced The Ossie Davis and Rudy Dee Story Hour (1974), broadcast over the national Black Network from 1974-78.
Dee was nominated for best supporting actress in a limited series or special for the sequel to ABC's hit 1977 miniseries Roots: The Saga of an American Family. She played Queen Haley in the fictionalized story of the family of Alex Haley that focused on the span of years from 1882 to the 1960s.
In Spike Lee's seminal film about racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood, Dee played Mother Sister, who observes the neighborhood goings-on from the window of her brownstone.
Dee reunited with director Spike Lee for this film, playing the mother of Wesley Snipes' character. She also appeared in Lee's 1996 movie Get Off the Bus.
Dee and husband Ossie Davis were honored with the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award in 2001. They were the second couple to receive that honor, after Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward received the tribute in 1995.
Dee was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in Ridley Scott's drama, in which she played the mother of Denzel Washington's character.
American Gangster received two SAG nominations, with Dee winning the supporting actress award in 2008.
Dee arrives at the Oscars, where she was nominated for her role in American Gangster, in 2008.