Ossie Davis
Acting
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
Acting136
movieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
Self (archive footage)
Folk Britannia
2006
Self (archival footage)
movieDeacons for Defense
2005
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
movieShe Hate Me
2004
Judge Buchanan
movieProud
2004
Lorenzo DuFau
movieBaadasssss!
2004
Granddad
tvThe L Word
2004
Melvin Porter
movieBubba Ho-tep
2002
John F. "Jack" Kennedy
movieFeast of All Saints
2001
Jean-Jacques
movieThe Legend of the Candy Cane
2001
Julius (voice)
movieHere's to Life!
2000
Duncan Cox
movieDinosaur
2000
Yar (voice)
movieFinding Buck McHenry
2000
Buck McHenry
movieThe Unfinished Journey
1999
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Soul Collector
1999
Mordecai
tvThird Watch
1999
Mr. Parker
movieThe Secret Path
1999
Too Tall
movieA Vow to Cherish
1999
Alexander Billman
movieDoctor Dolittle
1998
Archer Dolittle
movie12 Angry Men
1997
Juror 2
movie4 Little Girls
1997
Self - Actor and Playwright
movieMiss Evers' Boys
1997
Mr. Evers
tvThomas Jefferson
1997
Narrator (voice)
movieI'm Not Rappaport
1996
Midge Carter
movieGet on the Bus
1996
Jeremiah / 'Pop'
tvPromised Land
1996
Erasmus Jones
tvThe West
1996
Self / Self / John R. Gills (voice)
tvJAG
1995
Terrence Minnerly
tvThe Client
1995
Judge Harry Roosevelt
movieThe Android Affair
1995
Dr. Winston
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Gabriel / Erasmus Jones
tvBaseball
1994
Various (voice) / (voice)
movieThe Client
1994
Harry Roosevelt
tvThe Stand
1994
Judge Richard Farris / Judge Richard Farris (credit only)
movieCop & ½
1993
Detective in Squad Room
movieGoin' Back to T-Town
1993
Narrator
tvAlex Haley's Queen
1993
Parson Dick
movieThe Ernest Green Story
1993
Grandfather
Lincoln
1992
Frederick Douglas (voice)
movieMalcolm X
1992
Eulogy Performer (voice)
movieJungle Fever
1991
Reverend Purify
tvEvening Shade
1990
Ponder Blue
movieJoe Versus the Volcano
1990
Marshall
movieDo the Right Thing
1989
Da Mayor
tvB.L. Stryker
1989
Oz Jackson
tvAmerican Experience
1988
Self - Harlem Resident
movieSchool Daze
1988
Coach Odom
movieSesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986
Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
movieAvenging Angel
1985
Capt. Harry Moradian
movieHarry & Son
1984
Raymond
movieThe House of God
1984
Dr. Sanders
tvReading Rainbow
1983
Self - Narrator (voice)
movieAll God's Children
1980
Blaine Whitfield
movieFreedom Road
1979
Narrator
movieHot Stuff
1979
Captain John Geiberger
tvRoots: The Next Generations
1979
'Dad' Jones
Freedom Man
1979
Benjamin Banneker
tvKing
1978
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
movieBilly: Portrait of a Street Kid
1977
Dr. Fredericks
movieCountdown at Kusini
1976
Ernest Motapo
movieLet's Do It Again
1975
Elder Johnson
movieWattstax
1973
Self (uncredited)
movieMalcolm X
1972
Eulogy (voice)
movieThe Sheriff
1971
James Lucas
movieKongi's Harvest
1970
Narrator
movieNight Gallery
1969
Osmond Portifoy
movieSlaves
1969
Luke
movieSam Whiskey
1969
Jed Hooker
movieTeacher, Teacher
1969
Charles Carter
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Ramon Borelle
movieThe Scalphunters
1968
Joseph Lee
movieThe Outsider
1967
Lt. Wagner
movieBlack Liberation
1967
Narrator
movieA Man Called Adam
1966
Nelson Davis
tvRun for Your Life
1965
Frankie Morton / Sgt. Dave Corbett / Dave Corbett
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
1965
Jason King (archival footage) / Jason King (archive footage)
movieThe Hill
1965
Jacko King
tv12 O'Clock High
1964
Major Glenn Luke
movieShock Treatment
1964
Capshaw
movieThe Cardinal
1963
Father Gillis
tvThe Great Adventure
1963
John Ross
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Lt. Johnny Gaines
movieGone Are the Days!
1963
Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
movieHands of Inge
1962
Narrator (voice)
tvThe Defenders
1961
Nixie / Officer Bond / District Attorney / Assistant District Attorney / District Attorney Daniel Jackson
movieJohn Brown's Raid
1960
Dangerfield Newby
tvBonanza
1959
Sam Davis
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Presenter
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Charles Carter
movieFourteen Hours
1951
Cab Driver (uncredited)
movieNo Way Out
1950
John Brooks (uncredited)
tvKraft Television Theatre
1947
The Emperor Jones
Writing9
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Writer
moviePurlie
1981
Musical
movieCountdown at Kusini
1976
Screenplay
movieCotton Comes to Harlem
1970
Screenplay
Directing5
movieCountdown at Kusini
1976
Director
movieGordon's War
1973
Director
movieBlack Girl
1972
Director
movieCotton Comes to Harlem
1970
Director
movieKongi's Harvest
1970
Director