5.7
Movie
Acting
Ossie Davis
- Born
- Died
- (aged 87)
- Birthplace
- Cogdell, Georgia, USA
- Credits
- 144 titles
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.
Signature work
Known For
5.7
Movie
6.6
Movie
Dinosaur
7.8
Movie
Do the Right Thing
7.5
Movie
Malcolm X
6.7
Movie
The Client
7.7
TV
The L Word
6.7
Movie
Grumpy Old Men
6.5
Movie
Bubba Ho-tep
5.8
Movie
Joe Versus the Volcano
6.8
TV
The Stand
7.5
TV
Bonanza
7.7
Movie
12 Angry Men
7.7
Movie
Gladiator
7.3
TV
JAG
6.4
Movie
Jungle Fever
7.5
Movie
The Hill
8.0
TV
Third Watch
7.2
TV
Touched by an Angel
Acting credits 136
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Love in Exile Film | |
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2006 | Folk Britannia TV | Self (archival footage) (1 ep) |
| 2005 | The Peace! Film | Self |
| 2005 | Deacons for Defense Film | Reverend 'Rev' Gregory |
| 2005 | The History Makers: Success Film | Self |
| 2005 | Unstoppable Film | Self |
| 2005 | By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' Film | Self |
| 2004 | She Hate Me Film | Judge Buchanan |
| 2004 | Proud Film | Lorenzo DuFau |
| 2004 | Baadasssss! Film | Granddad |
| 2004 | TV Revolution TV | (2 ep) |
| 2004 | Beah: A Black Woman Speaks Film | Self |
| 2004 | The L Word TV | Melvin Porter (4 ep) |
| 2003 | The Evolution of an American Filmmaker Film | Self |
| 2003 | The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars Film | Narrator |
| 2003 | Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property Film | Himself |
| 2003 | Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Film | |
| 2002 | Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' Film | Self |
| 2002 | Bubba Ho-tep Film | John F. "Jack" Kennedy |
| 2002 | Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years TV | Narrator (2 ep) |
| 2001 | Feast of All Saints Film | Jean-Jacques |
| 2001 | Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore Film | Narrator |
| 2001 | The Legend of the Candy Cane Film | Julius (voice) |
| 2000 | Here's to Life! Film | Duncan Cox |
| 2000 | Dinosaur Film | Yar (voice) |
| 2000 | Finding Buck McHenry Film | Buck McHenry |
| 1999 | The Unfinished Journey Film | Narrator (voice) |
| 1999 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve Film | Caretaker |
| 1999 | The Soul Collector Film | Mordecai |
| 1999 | Third Watch TV | Mr. Parker (3 ep) |
| 1999 | The Secret Path Film | Too Tall |
| 1999 | Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Film | Self |
| 1999 | A Vow to Cherish Film | Alexander Billman |
| 1998 | Christianity: The First 1000 Years TV | Himself - Narrator (4 ep) |
| 1998 | Doctor Dolittle Film | Archer Dolittle |
| 1998 | Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood Film | Self |
| 1998 | Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist Film | Self |
| 1997 | 12 Angry Men Film | Juror 2 |
| 1997 | 4 Little Girls Film | Self - Actor and Playwright |
| 1997 | Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers Film | Narrator |
| 1997 | Miss Evers' Boys Film | Mr. Evers |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson TV | Narrator (voice) (2 ep) |
| 1997 | Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough Film | Self |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport Film | Midge Carter |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus Film | Jeremiah / 'Pop' |
| 1996 | Promised Land TV | Erasmus Jones (1 ep) |
| 1996 | The West TV | Self, Self / John R. Gills (voice) (9 ep) |
| 1995 | JAG TV | Terrence Minnerly (1 ep) |
| 1995 | The Client TV | Judge Harry Roosevelt (21 ep) |
| 1995 | The Android Affair Film | Dr. Winston |
| 1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder Film | Uncle Phil |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel TV | Gabriel, Erasmus Jones (2 ep) |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Various (voice) |
| 1994 | The Client Film | Harry Roosevelt |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice Film | Uncle Phil |
| 1994 | The Stand TV | Judge Richard Farris, Judge Richard Farris (credit only) (2 ep) |
| 1994 | Malcolm X: Make It Plain Film | Self |
| 1994 | Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World Film | Narrator |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men Film | Chuck |
Crew credits 13
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Love in Exile Film | Writer |
| 2024 | Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Film | Writer, Original Story |
| 1998 | Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist Film | Thanks |
| 1983 | For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers Film | Writer |
| 1982 | American Playhouse TV | Writer (1 ep) |
| 1981 | Purlie Film | Musical |
| 1976 | Countdown at Kusini Film | Director, Screenplay |
| 1973 | Gordon's War Film | Director |
| 1972 | Black Girl Film | Director |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem Film | Director, Screenplay |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest Film | Director |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side TV | Writer (1 ep) |
| 1963 | Gone Are the Days! Film | Writer |