Ossie Davis
Known for Acting · 135 credits
- Born
- 1917-12-18
- Died
- 2005-02-04
- Place of birth
- Cogdell, Georgia, USA
- Also known as
- Ozzie Davis · Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis · Raiford Chatman 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.
Known For
TV Shows (34)
JAG
1995
as Terrence Minnerly
Bonanza
1959
as Sam Davis
The Fugitive
1963
as Lt. Johnny Gaines
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Ramon Borelle
Third Watch
1999
as Mr. Parker
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Presenter
American Experience
1988
as Self - Harlem Resident
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Gabriel / Erasmus Jones
The L Word
2004
as Melvin Porter
Run for Your Life
1965
as Frankie Morton / Dave Corbett / Sgt. Dave Corbett
American Masters
1986
as Self
The Defenders
1961
as Nixie / Officer Bond / District Attorney / Assistant District Attorney / District Attorney Daniel Jackson
The Name of the Game
1968
as Kubani
Reading Rainbow
1983
as Self - Narrator (voice)
12 O'Clock High
1964
as Major Glenn Luke
Kraft Television Theatre
1947
as The Emperor Jones
The Stand
1994
as Judge Richard Farris / Judge Richard Farris (credit only)
Promised Land
1996
as Erasmus Jones
The Great Adventure
1963
as John Ross
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
Baseball
1994
as Various (voice)
Evening Shade
1990
as Ponder Blue
Roots: The Next Generations
1979
as 'Dad' Jones
The Client
1995
as Judge Harry Roosevelt
B.L. Stryker
1989
as Oz Jackson
Alex Haley's Queen
1993
as Parson Dick
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Charles Carter
The West
1996
as Self / Self / John R. Gills (voice)
King
1978
as Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
TV Revolution
2004
Thomas Jefferson
1997
as Narrator (voice)
Folk Britannia
2006
as Self (archival footage)
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
2002
as Narrator
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
1998
as Himself - Narrator
Movies (101)
Dinosaur
2000
as Yar (voice)
The Client
1994
as Harry Roosevelt
The Secret Path
1999
as Too Tall
Malcolm X
1992
as Eulogy Performer (voice)
12 Angry Men
1997
as Juror 2
Doctor Dolittle
1998
as Archer Dolittle
Gladiator
1992
as Noah
Do the Right Thing
1989
as Da Mayor
Grumpy Old Men
1993
as Chuck
Night Gallery
1969
as Osmond Portifoy
The House of God
1984
as Dr. Sanders
School Daze
1988
as Coach Odom
Bubba Ho-tep
2002
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
Joe Versus the Volcano
1990
as Marshall
The Cardinal
1963
as Father Gillis
Jungle Fever
1991
as Reverend Purify
Shock Treatment
1964
as Capshaw
Avenging Angel
1985
as Capt. Harry Moradian
Feast of All Saints
2001
as Jean-Jacques
The Fall
1969
The Hill
1965
as Jacko King
She Hate Me
2004
as Judge Buchanan
Cop & ½
1993
as Detective in Squad Room
The Outsider
1967
as Lt. Wagner
Miss Evers' Boys
1997
as Mr. Evers
The Scalphunters
1968
as Joseph Lee
Hot Stuff
1979
as Captain John Geiberger
A Man Called Adam
1966
as Nelson Davis
Slaves
1969
as Luke
Sam Whiskey
1969
as Jed Hooker
Baadasssss!
2004
as Granddad
No Way Out
1950
as John Brooks (uncredited)
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
1991
as Self
Let's Do It Again
1975
as Elder Johnson
Unstoppable
2005
as Self
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Harry & Son
1984
as Raymond
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
2003
as Self
Get on the Bus
1996
as Jeremiah / 'Pop'
The Peace!
2005
as Self
Fourteen Hours
1951
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
The Unfinished Journey
1999
as Narrator (voice)
4 Little Girls
1997
as Self - Actor and Playwright
The History Makers: Success
2005
as Self
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
1998
as Self
The Tenth Level
1976
as Reed
Freedom Road
1979
as Narrator
Lincoln
1992
as Frederick Douglas (voice)
Deacons for Defense
2005
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
1977
as Dr. Fredericks
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
as Uncle Phil
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
1997
as Self
All God's Children
1980
as Blaine Whitfield
Gone Are the Days!
1963
as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
The Soul Collector
1999
as Mordecai
Malcolm X
1972
as Eulogy (voice)
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
2004
as Self
The Ernest Green Story
1993
as Grandfather
I'm Not Rappaport
1996
as Midge Carter
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
1981
as Chuffy Russell
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
1975
as Narrator
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
1989
as Self
Proud
2004
as Lorenzo DuFau
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
1995
as Uncle Phil
The Real Malcolm X
1992
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
1999
as Caretaker
Wattstax
1973
as Self (uncredited)
The Legend of the Candy Cane
2001
as Julius (voice)
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
2005
as Self
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
2003
as Himself
Death of a Prophet
1981
The Sheriff
1971
as James Lucas
A Vow to Cherish
1999
as Alexander Billman
Finding Buck McHenry
2000
as Buck McHenry
John Brown's Raid
1960
as Dangerfield Newby
The Android Affair
1995
as Dr. Winston
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
1986
as Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998
as Self
Teacher, Teacher
1969
as Charles Carter
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
1968
as Narrator
Here's to Life!
2000
as Duncan Cox
The Red Shoes
1990
Malcolm X: Make It Plain
1994
as Self
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
1999
as Self
Goin' Back to T-Town
1993
as Narrator
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
1965
as Jason King (archival footage) / Jason King (archive footage)
Countdown at Kusini
1976
as Ernest Motapo
Haiti: Killing the Dream
Kongi's Harvest
1970
as Narrator
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
2001
as Narrator
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
2002
as Self
Freedom Man
1979
as Benjamin Banneker
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
1997
as Narrator
Black Liberation
1967
as Narrator
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
2003
as Narrator
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
1994
as Narrator
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
1984
as Narrator
Hands of Inge
1962
as Narrator (voice)
Tyler Texas Black Film Collection
1985
as Himself
Now is the Time
1967
as Self
About Ossie Davis
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, f… With 135 credits spanning from 1947 to 2022, Ossie Davis has appeared in 101 films and 34 TV shows.
Fans searching for Ossie Davis movies, Ossie Davis filmography, or the latest projects starring Ossie Davis can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Ossie Davis Movies
- Dinosaur (2000) — as Yar (voice)
- The Client (1994) — as Harry Roosevelt
- The Secret Path (1999) — as Too Tall
- Malcolm X (1992) — as Eulogy Performer (voice)
- 12 Angry Men (1997) — as Juror 2
Where to Watch Ossie Davis Films
Most Ossie Davis movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Ossie Davis, check our movies catalogue and browse page.