Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

December 18, 1917

Died

February 4, 2005 (age 87)

Place of Birth

Cogdell, Georgia, USA

Also Known As

Ozzie Davis

Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis

Raiford Chatman Davis

IMDb

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.

Filmography

2022FilmLouis Armstrong's Black & Bluesas Self (archive footage)2006TVFolk Britanniaas Self (archival footage)2005FilmThe Peace!as Self 2005FilmDeacons for Defenseas Reverend 'Rev' Gregory 2005FilmThe History Makers: Successas Self 2005FilmUnstoppableas Self 2005FilmBy Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'as Self 2004FilmShe Hate Meas Judge Buchanan 2004FilmProudas Lorenzo DuFau 2004FilmBaadasssss!as Granddad 2004TVTV Revolution 2004FilmBeah: A Black Woman Speaksas Self 2004TVThe L Wordas Melvin Porter 2003FilmThe Evolution of an American Filmmakeras Self 2003FilmThe Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Warsas Narrator 2003FilmNat Turner: A Troublesome Propertyas Himself 2003FilmUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives 2002FilmTheater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'as Self 2002FilmBubba Ho-tepas John F. "Jack" Kennedy 2002TVChristianity: The First Two Thousand Yearsas Narrator 2001FilmFeast of All Saintsas Jean-Jacques 2001FilmNeighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmoreas Narrator 2001FilmThe Legend of the Candy Caneas Julius (voice)2000FilmHere's to Life!as Duncan Cox 2000FilmDinosauras Yar (voice)2000FilmFinding Buck McHenryas Buck McHenry 1999FilmThe Unfinished Journeyas Narrator (voice)1999FilmTrans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eveas Caretaker 1999FilmThe Soul Collectoras Mordecai 1999TVThird Watchas Mr. Parker 1999FilmThe Secret Pathas Too Tall 1999FilmPaul Robeson: Here I Standas Self 1999FilmA Vow to Cherishas Alexander Billman 1998TVChristianity: The First 1000 Yearsas Himself - Narrator 1998FilmDoctor Dolittleas Archer Dolittle 1998FilmSmall Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywoodas Self 1998FilmScandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklistas Self 1997Film12 Angry Menas Juror 2 1997Film4 Little Girlsas Self - Actor and Playwright 1997FilmJackie Robinson: Breaking Barriersas Narrator 1997FilmMiss Evers' Boysas Mr. Evers 1997TVThomas Jeffersonas Narrator (voice)1997FilmWalter Matthau: Diamond in the Roughas Self 1996FilmI'm Not Rappaportas Midge Carter 1996FilmGet on the Busas Jeremiah / 'Pop'1996TVPromised Land 1996TVThe Westas Self 1995TVJAGas Terrence Minnerly 1995TVThe Clientas Judge Harry Roosevelt 1995FilmThe Android Affairas Dr. Winston 1995FilmRay Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Uncle Phil 1994TVTouched by an Angelas Gabriel 1994TVBaseballas Various (voice)1994FilmThe Clientas Harry Roosevelt 1994FilmRay Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Uncle Phil 1994TVThe Standas Judge Richard Farris 1994FilmMalcolm X: Make It Plainas Self 1994FilmArthur Ashe: Citizen of the Worldas Narrator 1993FilmGrumpy Old Menas Chuck 1993FilmCop & ½as Detective in Squad Room 1993FilmGoin' Back to T-Townas Narrator 1993TVAlex Haley's Queenas Parson Dick 1993FilmThe Ernest Green Storyas Grandfather 1992FilmLincolnas Frederick Douglas (voice)1992FilmMalcolm Xas Eulogy Performer (voice)1992FilmThe Real Malcolm X 1992FilmGladiatoras Noah 1991FilmPreminger: Anatomy of a Filmmakeras Self 1991FilmJungle Feveras Reverend Purify 1990TVEvening Shadeas Ponder Blue 1990FilmJoe Versus the Volcanoas Marshall 1990FilmThe Red Shoes 1989FilmMaking 'Do the Right Thing'as Self 1989FilmDo the Right Thingas Da Mayor 1989TVB.L. Strykeras Oz Jackson 1988TVAmerican Experienceas Self - Harlem Resident 1988FilmSchool Dazeas Coach Odom 1986TVAmerican Mastersas Self 1986FilmSesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Storiesas Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)1985FilmAvenging Angelas Capt. Harry Moradian 1985FilmTyler Texas Black Film Collectionas Himself 1984FilmHarry & Sonas Raymond 1984FilmMarcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhoodas Narrator 1984FilmThe House of Godas Dr. Sanders 1983TVReading Rainbowas Self - Narrator (voice)1981FilmDon't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Chuffy Russell 1981FilmDeath of a Prophet 1980FilmAll God's Childrenas Blaine Whitfield 1979FilmFreedom Roadas Narrator 1979FilmHot Stuffas Captain John Geiberger 1979TVRoots: The Next Generationsas 'Dad' Jones 1979FilmFreedom Manas Benjamin Banneker 1978TVThe Kennedy Center Honorsas Self 1978TVKingas Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.1977FilmBilly: Portrait of a Street Kidas Dr. Fredericks 1976FilmThe Tenth Levelas Reed 1976FilmCountdown at Kusinias Ernest Motapo 1975FilmLet's Do It Againas Elder Johnson 1975FilmBlack Shadows on a Silver Screenas Narrator 1973FilmWattstaxas Self (uncredited)1972FilmMalcolm Xas Eulogy (voice)1971FilmThe Sheriffas James Lucas 1970FilmKongi's Harvestas Narrator 1969FilmNight Galleryas Osmond Portifoy 1969FilmSlavesas Luke 1969FilmSam Whiskeyas Jed Hooker 1969FilmTeacher, Teacheras Charles Carter 1969FilmThe Fall 1968TVHawaii Five-Oas Ramon Borelle 1968TVThe Name of the Gameas Kubani 1968FilmThe Scalphuntersas Joseph Lee 1968FilmStill A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Classas Narrator 1967FilmThe Outsideras Lt. Wagner 1967FilmBlack Liberationas Narrator 1967FilmNow is the Timeas Self 1966FilmA Man Called Adamas Nelson Davis 1965TVRun for Your Lifeas Frankie Morton 1965FilmThe Sun... the Sand... the Hillas Jason King (archival footage)1965FilmThe Hillas Jacko King 1964TV12 O'Clock Highas Major Glenn Luke 1964FilmShock Treatmentas Capshaw 1963FilmThe Cardinalas Father Gillis 1963TVThe Great Adventureas John Ross 1963TVThe Fugitiveas Lt. Johnny Gaines 1963FilmGone Are the Days!as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson 1962FilmHands of Ingeas Narrator (voice)1961TVThe Defendersas Nixie 1960FilmJohn Brown's Raidas Dangerfield Newby 1959TVBonanzaas Sam Davis 1951TVHallmark Hall of Fameas Charles Carter 1951FilmFourteen Hoursas Cab Driver (uncredited)1950FilmNo Way Outas John Brooks (uncredited)1947TVKraft Television Theatreas The Emperor Jones —FilmHaiti: Killing the Dream