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