Ossie Davis
Actor · Director · WriterRaiford 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.
More details at TMDB
KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR102
- Love in Exile
Love in Exile
2026
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
Self (archive footage)
- The Peace!
The Peace!
2005
Self
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
2005
Self
- Unstoppable
Unstoppable
2005
Self
Deacons for Defense
2005
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
The History Makers: Success
2005
Self
Baadasssss!
2004
Granddad
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
2004
Self
Proud
2004
Lorenzo DuFau
She Hate Me
2004
Judge Buchanan
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
2003
Self
- The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
2003
Narrator
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
2003
Himself
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
Bubba Ho-tep
2002
John F. "Jack" Kennedy
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
2002
Self
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
2001
Narrator
Feast of All Saints
2001
Jean-Jacques
The Legend of the Candy Cane
2001
Julius (voice)
Dinosaur
2000
Yar (voice)
Finding Buck McHenry
2000
Buck McHenry
Here's to Life!
2000
Duncan Cox
The Secret Path
1999
Too Tall
The Soul Collector
1999
Mordecai
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
1999
Caretaker
A Vow to Cherish
1999
Alexander Billman
The Unfinished Journey
1999
Narrator (voice)
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
Self
Doctor Dolittle
1998
Archer Dolittle
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
1998
Self
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998
Self
12 Angry Men
1997
Juror 2
Miss Evers' Boys
1997
Mr. Evers
4 Little Girls
1997
Self - Actor and Playwright
- Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
1997
Narrator
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
1997
Self
I'm Not Rappaport
1996
Midge Carter
Get on the Bus
1996
Jeremiah / 'Pop'
The Android Affair
1995
Dr. Winston
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
1995
Uncle Phil
- Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
1994
Narrator
The Client
1994
Harry Roosevelt
Malcolm X: Make It Plain
1994
Self
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
Uncle Phil
Goin' Back to T-Town
1993
Narrator
Grumpy Old Men
1993
Chuck
The Ernest Green Story
1993
Grandfather
Cop & ½
1993
Detective in Squad Room
Malcolm X
1992
Eulogy Performer (voice)
Gladiator
1992
Noah
- Lincoln
Lincoln
1992
Frederick Douglas (voice)
The Real Malcolm X
1992
Jungle Fever
1991
Reverend Purify
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
1991
Self
Joe Versus the Volcano
1990
Marshall
The Red Shoes
1990
Do the Right Thing
1989
Da Mayor
- Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
1989
Self
School Daze
1988
Coach Odom
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986
Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
Avenging Angel
1985
Capt. Harry Moradian
Tyler Texas Black Film Collection
1985
Himself
Harry & Son
1984
Raymond
The House of God
1984
Dr. Sanders
- Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
1984
Narrator
Death of a Prophet
1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1981
Chuffy Russell
All God's Children
1980
Blaine Whitfield
Hot Stuff
1979
Captain John Geiberger
Freedom Road
1979
Narrator
- Freedom Man
Freedom Man
1979
Benjamin Banneker
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
1977
Dr. Fredericks
The Tenth Level
1976
Reed
Countdown at Kusini
1976
Ernest Motapo
Let's Do It Again
1975
Elder Johnson
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
1975
Narrator
Wattstax
1973
Self (uncredited)
Malcolm X
1972
Eulogy (voice)
The Sheriff
1971
James Lucas
Kongi's Harvest
1970
Narrator
Sam Whiskey
1969
Jed Hooker
Teacher, Teacher
1969
Charles Carter
Slaves
1969
Luke
The Fall
1969
Night Gallery
1969
Osmond Portifoy
The Scalphunters
1968
Joseph Lee
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
Narrator
The Outsider
1967
Lt. Wagner
Black Liberation
1967
Narrator
- Now is the Time
Now is the Time
1967
Self
A Man Called Adam
1966
Nelson Davis
The Hill
1965
Jacko King
- The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
1965
Jason King (archive footage), Jason King (archival footage)
Shock Treatment
1964
Capshaw
Gone Are the Days!
1963
Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
The Cardinal
1963
Father Gillis
Hands of Inge
1962
Narrator (voice)
John Brown's Raid
1960
Dangerfield Newby
Fourteen Hours
1951
Cab Driver (uncredited)
No Way Out
1950
John Brooks (uncredited)
Haiti: Killing the Dream
