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Ossie Davis

Ossie Davis

Acting

Born: December 18, 1917Cogdell, Georgia, USA

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
Filmography
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

Self (archive footage)

2022

The Peace!

Self

2005
Deacons for Defense

Deacons for Defense

Reverend 'Rev' Gregory

2005
The History Makers: Success

The History Makers: Success

Self

2005

Unstoppable

Self

2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

Self

2005
She Hate Me

She Hate Me

Judge Buchanan

2004
Proud

Proud

Lorenzo DuFau

2004
Baadasssss!

Baadasssss!

Granddad

2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks

Beah: A Black Woman Speaks

Self

2004
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker

The Evolution of an American Filmmaker

Self

2003

The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars

Narrator

2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

Himself

2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

2003
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

Self

2002
Bubba Ho-tep

Bubba Ho-tep

John F. "Jack" Kennedy

2002
Feast of All Saints

Feast of All Saints

Jean-Jacques

2001
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore

Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore

Narrator

2001
The Legend of the Candy Cane

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Julius (voice)

2001
Here's to Life!

Here's to Life!

Duncan Cox

2000
Dinosaur

Dinosaur

Yar (voice)

2000
Finding Buck McHenry

Finding Buck McHenry

Buck McHenry

2000
The Unfinished Journey

The Unfinished Journey

Narrator (voice)

1999
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

Caretaker

1999
The Soul Collector

The Soul Collector

Mordecai

1999
The Secret Path

The Secret Path

Too Tall

1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

Self

1999
A Vow to Cherish

A Vow to Cherish

Alexander Billman

1999
Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle

Archer Dolittle

1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Self

1998
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist

Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist

Self

1998
12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men

Juror 2

1997
4 Little Girls

4 Little Girls

Self - Actor and Playwright

1997

Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers

Narrator

1997
Miss Evers' Boys

Miss Evers' Boys

Mr. Evers

1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough

Self

1997
I'm Not Rappaport

I'm Not Rappaport

Midge Carter

1996
Get on the Bus

Get on the Bus

Jeremiah / 'Pop'

1996
The Android Affair

The Android Affair

Dr. Winston

1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Uncle Phil

1995
The Client

The Client

Harry Roosevelt

1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Uncle Phil

1994
Malcolm X: Make It Plain

Malcolm X: Make It Plain

Self

1994

Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World

Narrator

1994
Grumpy Old Men

Grumpy Old Men

Chuck

1993
Cop & ½

Cop & ½

Detective in Squad Room

1993
Goin' Back to T-Town

Goin' Back to T-Town

Narrator

1993
The Ernest Green Story

The Ernest Green Story

Grandfather

1993

Lincoln

Frederick Douglas (voice)

1992
The Real Malcolm X

The Real Malcolm X

1992
Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Eulogy Performer (voice)

1992
Gladiator

Gladiator

Noah

1992
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Self

1991
Jungle Fever

Jungle Fever

Reverend Purify

1991
Joe Versus the Volcano

Joe Versus the Volcano

Marshall

1990
The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes

1990

Making 'Do the Right Thing'

Self

1989
Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing

Da Mayor

1989
School Daze

School Daze

Coach Odom

1988
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories

Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories

Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)

1986
Avenging Angel

Avenging Angel

Capt. Harry Moradian

1985
Tyler Texas Black Film Collection

Tyler Texas Black Film Collection

Himself

1985
Harry & Son

Harry & Son

Raymond

1984

Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood

Narrator

1984
The House of God

The House of God

Dr. Sanders

1984
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Chuffy Russell

1981
Death of a Prophet

Death of a Prophet

1981
All God's Children

All God's Children

Blaine Whitfield

1980
Freedom Road

Freedom Road

Narrator

1979
Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff

Captain John Geiberger

1979

Freedom Man

Benjamin Banneker

1979
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid

Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid

Dr. Fredericks

1977
The Tenth Level

The Tenth Level

Reed

1976
Countdown at Kusini

Countdown at Kusini

Ernest Motapo

1976
Let's Do It Again

Let's Do It Again

Elder Johnson

1975
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

Narrator

1975
Wattstax

Wattstax

Self (uncredited)

1973
Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Eulogy (voice)

1972
The Sheriff

The Sheriff

James Lucas

1971
Kongi's Harvest

Kongi's Harvest

Narrator

1970
Night Gallery

Night Gallery

Osmond Portifoy

1969
Slaves

Slaves

Luke

1969
Sam Whiskey

Sam Whiskey

Jed Hooker

1969
Teacher, Teacher

Teacher, Teacher

Charles Carter

1969
The Fall

The Fall

1969
The Scalphunters

The Scalphunters

Joseph Lee

1968
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class

Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class

Narrator

1968
The Outsider

The Outsider

Lt. Wagner

1967

Now is the Time

Self

1967
Black Liberation

Black Liberation

Narrator

1967
A Man Called Adam

A Man Called Adam

Nelson Davis

1966

The Sun... the Sand... the Hill

Jason King (archive footage)

1965

The Sun... the Sand... the Hill

Jason King (archival footage)

1965
The Hill

The Hill

Jacko King

1965
Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment

Capshaw

1964
The Cardinal

The Cardinal

Father Gillis

1963
Gone Are the Days!

Gone Are the Days!

Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson

1963
Hands of Inge

Hands of Inge

Narrator (voice)

1962
John Brown's Raid

John Brown's Raid

Dangerfield Newby

1960
Fourteen Hours

Fourteen Hours

Cab Driver (uncredited)

1951
No Way Out

No Way Out

John Brooks (uncredited)

1950