Ossie Davis
Biography
Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He may be best known for his roles in Spike Lee-directed films such as School Daze (1988) and Do the Right Thing (1989). Other films Davis acted in include The Hill (1965), A Man Called Adam (1966), Let's Do It Again (1975), Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Client (1994), Dr. Dolittle (1998), Dinosaur (2000), and Bubba Ho-Tep (2002). He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, from 1948 until his death.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (39)
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Writer (Writing)
2024
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2022
The Peace!
as Self
2005
Deacons for Defense
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
2005
The History Makers: Success
as Self
2005
Unstoppable
as Self
2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
as Self
2005
She Hate Me
as Judge Buchanan
2004
Proud
as Lorenzo DuFau
2004
Baadasssss!
as Granddad
2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
as Self
2004
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
as Self
2003
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
as Narrator
2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
as Himself
2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
as Self
2002
Bubba Ho-tep
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
2002
Feast of All Saints
as Jean-Jacques
2001
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
as Narrator
2001
The Legend of the Candy Cane
as Julius (voice)
2001
Here's to Life!
as Duncan Cox
2000
Dinosaur
as Yar (voice)
2000
Finding Buck McHenry
as Buck McHenry
2000
The Unfinished Journey
as Narrator (voice)
1999
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
as Caretaker
1999
The Soul Collector
as Mordecai
1999
The Secret Path
as Too Tall
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
as Self
1999
A Vow to Cherish
as Alexander Billman
1999
Doctor Dolittle
as Archer Dolittle
1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self
1998
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
as Self
1998
12 Angry Men
as Juror 2
1997
4 Little Girls
as Self - Actor and Playwright
1997
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
as Narrator
1997
Miss Evers' Boys
as Mr. Evers
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
as Self
1997
I'm Not Rappaport
as Midge Carter
1996
Get on the Bus
as Jeremiah
1996
TV Shows (11)
Folk Britannia
as Self (archival footage)
2006
TV Revolution
2004
The L Word
as Melvin Porter
2004
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
as Narrator
2002
Third Watch
as Mr. Parker
1999
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
as Himself - Narrator
1998
Thomas Jefferson
as Narrator (voice)
1997
Promised Land
1996
The West
as Self
1996
JAG
as Terrence Minnerly
1995
The Client
as Judge Harry Roosevelt
1995