Ossie Davis
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 18, 1917
- Died
- February 4, 2005
- Birthplace
- 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-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
- The Man Who Loved the Stars
The Man Who Loved the Stars TBA
as Benjamin Banneker
- Love in Exile
Love in Exile 2026
Actor, Writer
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch 2024
Writer, Original Story
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues 2022
as Self (archive footage)
- The Peace!
The Peace! 2005
as Self
Deacons for Defense 2005
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
The History Makers: Success 2005
as Self
- Unstoppable
Unstoppable 2005
as Self
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' 2005
as Self
She Hate Me 2004
as Judge Buchanan
Proud 2004
as Lorenzo DuFau
Baadasssss! 2004
as Granddad
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks 2004
as Self
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker 2003
as Self
- The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars 2003
as Narrator
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property 2003
as Himself
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives 2003
Actor
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' 2002
as Self
Bubba Ho-tep 2002
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
Feast of All Saints 2001
as Jean-Jacques
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore 2001
as Narrator
The Legend of the Candy Cane 2001
as Julius (voice)
Here's to Life! 2000
as Duncan Cox
Dinosaur 2000
as Yar (voice)
Finding Buck McHenry 2000
as Buck McHenry
The Unfinished Journey 1999
as Narrator (voice)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve 1999
as Caretaker
The Soul Collector 1999
as Mordecai
The Secret Path 1999
as Too Tall
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand 1999
as Self
A Vow to Cherish 1999
as Alexander Billman
Doctor Dolittle 1998
as Archer Dolittle
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood 1998
as Self
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist 1998
as Self, Thanks
12 Angry Men 1997
as Juror 2
4 Little Girls 1997
as Self - Actor and Playwright
- Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers 1997
as Narrator
Miss Evers' Boys 1997
as Mr. Evers
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough 1997
as Self
I'm Not Rappaport 1996
as Midge Carter
Get on the Bus 1996
as Jeremiah / 'Pop'
The Android Affair 1995
as Dr. Winston
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder 1995
as Uncle Phil
The Client 1994
as Harry Roosevelt
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice 1994
as Uncle Phil
Malcolm X: Make It Plain 1994
as Self
- Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World 1994
as Narrator
Grumpy Old Men 1993
as Chuck
Cop & ½ 1993
as Detective in Squad Room
Goin' Back to T-Town 1993
as Narrator
The Ernest Green Story 1993
as Grandfather
- Lincoln
Lincoln 1992
as Frederick Douglas (voice)
The Real Malcolm X 1992
Actor
Malcolm X 1992
as Eulogy Performer (voice)
Haiti: Killing the Dream 1992
Actor
Gladiator 1992
as Noah
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker 1991
as Self
Jungle Fever 1991
as Reverend Purify
Joe Versus the Volcano 1990
as Marshall
The Red Shoes 1990
Actor
- Making 'Do the Right Thing'
Making 'Do the Right Thing' 1989
as Self
Do the Right Thing 1989
as Da Mayor
School Daze 1988
as Coach Odom
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories 1986
as Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
Avenging Angel 1985
as Capt. Harry Moradian
Tyler Texas Black Film Collection 1985
as Himself
Harry & Son 1984
as Raymond
- Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood 1984
as Narrator
The House of God 1984
as Dr. Sanders
For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers 1983
Writer
Purlie 1981
Musical
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige 1981
as Chuffy Russell
Death of a Prophet 1981
Actor
All God's Children 1980
as Blaine Whitfield
Freedom Road 1979
as Narrator
Hot Stuff 1979
as Captain John Geiberger
- Freedom Man
Freedom Man 1979
as Benjamin Banneker
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid 1977
as Dr. Fredericks
The Tenth Level 1976
as Reed
Countdown at Kusini 1976
as Ernest Motapo, Director, Screenplay
Let's Do It Again 1975
as Elder Johnson
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen 1975
as Narrator
Gordon's War 1973
Director
Wattstax 1973
as Self (uncredited)
Black Girl 1972
Director
Malcolm X 1972
as Eulogy (voice)
The Sheriff 1971
as James Lucas
Cotton Comes to Harlem 1970
Director, Screenplay
Kongi's Harvest 1970
as Narrator, Director
Night Gallery 1969
as Osmond Portifoy
Slaves 1969
as Luke
Sam Whiskey 1969
as Jed Hooker
Teacher, Teacher 1969
as Charles Carter
The Fall 1969
Actor
The Scalphunters 1968
as Joseph Lee
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class 1968
as Narrator
The Outsider 1967
as Lt. Wagner
- Now is the Time
Now is the Time 1967
as Self
Black Liberation 1967
as Narrator
A Man Called Adam 1966
as Nelson Davis
- The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill 1965
as Jason King (archival footage), as Jason King (archive footage)
The Hill 1965
as Jacko King
Shock Treatment 1964
as Capshaw
The Cardinal 1963
as Father Gillis
Gone Are the Days! 1963
as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson, Writer
Hands of Inge 1962
as Narrator (voice)
John Brown's Raid 1960
as Dangerfield Newby
Fourteen Hours 1951
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
No Way Out 1950
as John Brooks (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.