| Ruby | |
|---|---|
| Supernatural character | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Ruby_Supernatural.jpg) Katie Cassidy (left) and Genevieve Cortese (Padalecki) (right), both as Ruby | |
| First appearance | "The Magnificent Seven" (2007) |
| Last appearance | "Destiny's Child" (2020) |
| Created by | Eric Kripke |
| Portrayed by | Katie Cassidy (season 3) Genevieve Cortese (seasons 4 and 15) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Black-eyed Demon |
| Gender | Female |
| Abilities | Demonic possession Expert martial artist Invulnerability Occult knowledge Superhuman strength Telekinesis Teleportation Witchcraft |
Ruby is a demon on The CW Television Network's Supernatural portrayed mainly by actresses Katie Cassidy and Genevieve Cortese. Created by the writers to expand on the characterization of demons within the series, she first appears in the third season, wherein she assists series protagonists Sam and Dean Winchester in fighting her fellow demons. By the fourth season, she has won Sam's trust and begins training him to kill demons with his psychic powers, though Dean remains fearful of ulterior motives. The character is killed at the end of the fourth season. In the fifteenth season, Ruby returns through flashbacks and a visit to the Empty, the angels' and demons' afterlife.
Though the fans at first reacted negatively towards Cortese replacing Cassidy after the third season, Cortese and creator Eric Kripke felt that they became more accepting as the fourth season progressed. While fan response to the character was mixed overall, critical reception was generally negative. A common criticism was underwhelming performances by Cassidy and Cortese.