Ossie Davis

Person

Ossie Davis

Acting December 18, 1917

Cogdell, 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-directe…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle

5.7 1998 Movie
Dinosaur

Dinosaur

6.6 2000 Movie
Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing

7.8 1989 Movie
Malcolm X

Malcolm X

7.6 1992 Movie
JAG

JAG

7.2 1995 TV Show
The Client

The Client

6.7 1994 Movie
Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

7.2 1994 TV Show
Bonanza

Bonanza

7.5 1959 TV Show
The L Word

The L Word

7.7 2004 TV Show
Grumpy Old Men

Grumpy Old Men

6.7 1993 Movie
Third Watch

Third Watch

7.9 1999 TV Show
Bubba Ho-tep

Bubba Ho-tep

6.5 2002 Movie

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Biography

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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

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2026
    Love in Exile

    Movie

  2. 2024
    Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

    Movie Writer

  3. 2022
    Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Movie Self (archive footage)

  4. 2006
    Folk Britannia

    TV show Self (archival footage)

  5. 2005
    The Peace!

    Movie Self

  6. 2005
    Deacons for Defense

    Movie Reverend 'Rev' Gregory

  7. 2005
    The History Makers: Success

    Movie Self

  8. 2005
    Unstoppable

    Movie Self

  9. 2005
    By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

    Movie Self

  10. 2004
    She Hate Me

    Movie Judge Buchanan

  11. 2004
    Proud

    Movie Lorenzo DuFau

  12. 2004
    Baadasssss!

    Movie Granddad

  13. 2004
    TV Revolution

    TV show

  14. 2004
    Beah: A Black Woman Speaks

    Movie Self

  15. 2004
    The L Word

    TV show Melvin Porter

  16. 2003
    The Evolution of an American Filmmaker

    Movie Self

More credits
  1. 2003
    The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars

    Movie Narrator

  2. 2003
    Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

    Movie Himself

  3. 2003
    Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

    Movie

  4. 2002
    Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

    Movie Self

  5. 2002
    Bubba Ho-tep

    Movie John F. "Jack" Kennedy

  6. 2002
    Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years

    TV show Narrator

  7. 2001
    Feast of All Saints

    Movie Jean-Jacques

  8. 2001
    Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore

    Movie Narrator

  9. 2001
    The Legend of the Candy Cane

    Movie Julius (voice)

  10. 2000
    Here's to Life!

    Movie Duncan Cox

  11. 2000
    Dinosaur

    Movie Yar (voice)

  12. 2000
    Finding Buck McHenry

    Movie Buck McHenry

  13. 1999
    The Unfinished Journey

    Movie Narrator (voice)

  14. 1999
    Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

    Movie Caretaker

  15. 1999
    The Soul Collector

    Movie Mordecai

  16. 1999
    Third Watch

    TV show Mr. Parker

  17. 1999
    The Secret Path

    Movie Too Tall

  18. 1999
    Paul Robeson: Here I Stand

    Movie Self

  19. 1999
    A Vow to Cherish

    Movie Alexander Billman

  20. 1998
    Christianity: The First 1000 Years

    TV show Himself - Narrator

  21. 1998
    Doctor Dolittle

    Movie Archer Dolittle

  22. 1998
    Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

    Movie Self

  23. 1998
    Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist

    Movie Self

  24. 1997
    12 Angry Men

    Movie Juror 2