Ossie Davis
Acting1917Cogdell, Georgia, USA
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.
Known For
Acting History
2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2005
Deacons for Defense
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
The Peace!
as Self
2004
She Hate Me
as Judge Buchanan
Baadasssss!
as Granddad
The L Word
TVas Melvin Porter• 4 eps
The Kennedy Center Honors
TVas Self• 1 eps
2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
as Himself
JAG
TVas Terrence Minnerly• 1 eps
2002
Bubba Ho-tep
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
TVas Narrator• 2 eps
2001
The Legend of the Candy Cane
as Julius (voice)
Feast of All Saints
as Jean-Jacques
2000
Dinosaur
as Yar (voice)
Finding Buck McHenry
as Buck McHenry
1999
American Journey
as Narrator (voice)
The Secret Path
as Too Tall
A Vow to Cherish
as Alexander Billman
The Soul Collector
as Mordecai
Third Watch
TVas Mr. Parker• 3 eps
1998
Doctor Dolittle
as Archer Dolittle
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
TVas Himself - Narrator
1997
1996
Get on the Bus
as Jeremiah
I'm Not Rappaport
as Midge Carter
Touched by an Angel
TVas Erasmus Jones / Gabriel• 4 eps
American Masters
TVas Self• 1 eps
Promised Land
TVas Erasmus Jones
The West
TVas Self / Self / John R. Gills (voice)
1995
The Client
TVas Judge Harry Roosevelt
1994
The Client
as Harry Roosevelt
Malcolm X: Make It Plain
as Self
Tony Awards
TVas Self - Presenter• 1 eps
The Stand
TVas Judge Richard Farris (credit only)• 2 eps
Reading Rainbow
TVas Self - Narrator (voice)• 1 eps
American Experience
TVas Self - Harlem Resident• 1 eps
Baseball
TVas (voice)• 7 eps
1993
1991
Jungle Fever
as Reverend Purify
1990
Joe Versus the Volcano
as Marshall
Evening Shade
TVas Ponder Blue
1989
Do the Right Thing
as Da Mayor
B.L. Stryker
TVas Oz Jackson
1988
School Daze
as Coach Odom
1985
Avenging Angel
as Capt. Harry Moradian
1984
The House of God
as Dr. Sanders
Harry & Son
as Raymond
1981
Purlie
Musical
1979
Freedom Man
as Benjamin Banneker
Hot Stuff
as Captain John Geiberger
Freedom Road
as Narrator
Roots: The Next Generations
TVas 'Dad' Jones
1978
King
TVas Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.• 3 eps
1977
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
as Dr. Fredericks
1976
The Tenth Level
as Reed
1975
Let's Do It Again
as Elder Johnson
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
as Narrator
1974
Hawaii Five-O
TVas Ramon Borelle• 1 eps
1973
Wattstax
as Self (uncredited)
Gordon's War
Director
1972
Malcolm X
as Eulogy (voice)
Black Girl
Director
1970
Kongi's Harvest
as Narrator
Cotton Comes to Harlem
Director
Cotton Comes to Harlem
Screenplay
Kongi's Harvest
Director
1969
1968
The Scalphunters
as Joseph Lee
1967
Run for Your Life
TVas Sgt. Dave Corbett• 1 eps
1966
A Man Called Adam
as Nelson Davis
The Fugitive
TVas Lt. Johnny Gaines• 1 eps
12 O'Clock High
TVas Major Glenn Luke• 1 eps
1965
The Hill
as Jacko King
The Defenders
TVas District Attorney Daniel Jackson / District Attorney / Nixie / Officer Bond / Assistant District Attorney• 3 eps
1964
Shock Treatment
as Capshaw
1963
The Cardinal
as Father Gillis
The Great Adventure
TVas John Ross• 1 eps
1955
Kraft Television Theatre
TVas The Emperor Jones• 1 eps
1951
14 Hours
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
1950
No Way Out
as John Brooks (uncredited)