
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.
TV Shows(34)
Folk Britannia
Self (archival footage)
2006
TV Revolution
2004

The L Word
Melvin Porter
2004

Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
Narrator
2002

Third Watch
Mr. Parker
1999
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
Himself - Narrator
1998

Thomas Jefferson
Narrator (voice)
1997

Promised Land
1996

The West
Self
1996

JAG
Terrence Minnerly
1995

The Client
Judge Harry Roosevelt
1995

Touched by an Angel
Gabriel
1994

Baseball
Various (voice)
1994

The Stand
Judge Richard Farris
1994

Alex Haley's Queen
Parson Dick
1993

Evening Shade
Ponder Blue
1990

B.L. Stryker
Oz Jackson
1989

American Experience
Self - Harlem Resident
1988

American Masters
Self
1986

Reading Rainbow
Self - Narrator (voice)
1983

Roots: The Next Generations
'Dad' Jones
1979

The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978

King
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
1978

Hawaii Five-O
Ramon Borelle
1968

The Name of the Game
Kubani
1968

Run for Your Life
Frankie Morton
1965

12 O'Clock High
Major Glenn Luke
1964

The Great Adventure
John Ross
1963

The Fugitive
Lt. Johnny Gaines
1963

The Defenders
Nixie
1961

Bonanza
Sam Davis
1959

Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Charles Carter
1951

Kraft Television Theatre
The Emperor Jones
1947
Movies(101)

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Peace!
Self
2005

Deacons for Defense
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
2005

The History Makers: Success
Self
2005
Unstoppable
Self
2005

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

She Hate Me
Judge Buchanan
2004

Proud
Lorenzo DuFau
2004

Baadasssss!
Granddad
2004

Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
Self
2004

The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
Self
2003
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
Narrator
2003

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Himself
2003

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003

Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
Self
2002

Bubba Ho-tep
John F. "Jack" Kennedy
2002

Feast of All Saints
Jean-Jacques
2001

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

The Legend of the Candy Cane
Julius (voice)
2001

Here's to Life!
Duncan Cox
2000

Dinosaur
Yar (voice)
2000

Finding Buck McHenry
Buck McHenry
2000

The Unfinished Journey
Narrator (voice)
1999

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Caretaker
1999

The Soul Collector
Mordecai
1999

The Secret Path
Too Tall
1999

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Self
1999

A Vow to Cherish
Alexander Billman
1999

Doctor Dolittle
Archer Dolittle
1998

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

Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
Self
1998

12 Angry Men
Juror 2
1997

4 Little Girls
Self - Actor and Playwright
1997
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
Narrator
1997

Miss Evers' Boys
Mr. Evers
1997

Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
Self
1997

I'm Not Rappaport
Midge Carter
1996

Get on the Bus
Jeremiah / 'Pop'
1996

The Android Affair
Dr. Winston
1995

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Uncle Phil
1995

The Client
Harry Roosevelt
1994

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
Uncle Phil
1994

Malcolm X: Make It Plain
Self
1994
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
Narrator
1994

Grumpy Old Men
Chuck
1993

Cop & ½
Detective in Squad Room
1993

Goin' Back to T-Town
Narrator
1993

The Ernest Green Story
Grandfather
1993
Lincoln
Frederick Douglas (voice)
1992

Malcolm X
Eulogy Performer (voice)
1992

The Real Malcolm X
1992

Gladiator
Noah
1992

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
Self
1991

Jungle Fever
Reverend Purify
1991

Joe Versus the Volcano
Marshall
1990

The Red Shoes
1990
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Self
1989

Do the Right Thing
Da Mayor
1989

School Daze
Coach Odom
1988

Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
1986

Avenging Angel
Capt. Harry Moradian
1985

Tyler Texas Black Film Collection
Himself
1985

Harry & Son
Raymond
1984
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
Narrator
1984

The House of God
Dr. Sanders
1984

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
Chuffy Russell
1981

Death of a Prophet
1981

All God's Children
Blaine Whitfield
1980

Freedom Road
Narrator
1979

Hot Stuff
Captain John Geiberger
1979
Freedom Man
Benjamin Banneker
1979

Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
Dr. Fredericks
1977

The Tenth Level
Reed
1976

Countdown at Kusini
Ernest Motapo
1976

Let's Do It Again
Elder Johnson
1975

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
Narrator
1975

Wattstax
Self (uncredited)
1973

Malcolm X
Eulogy (voice)
1972

The Sheriff
James Lucas
1971

Kongi's Harvest
Narrator
1970

Night Gallery
Osmond Portifoy
1969

Slaves
Luke
1969

Sam Whiskey
Jed Hooker
1969

Teacher, Teacher
Charles Carter
1969

The Fall
1969

The Scalphunters
Joseph Lee
1968

Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
Narrator
1968

The Outsider
Lt. Wagner
1967

Black Liberation
Narrator
1967
Now is the Time
Self
1967

A Man Called Adam
Nelson Davis
1966
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
Jason King (archival footage)
1965

The Hill
Jacko King
1965

Shock Treatment
Capshaw
1964

The Cardinal
Father Gillis
1963

Gone Are the Days!
Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
1963

Hands of Inge
Narrator (voice)
1962

John Brown's Raid
Dangerfield Newby
1960

Fourteen Hours
Cab Driver (uncredited)
1951

No Way Out
John Brooks (uncredited)
1950

Haiti: Killing the Dream