Ossie Davis
Acting
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Ossie Davis
Filmography
Acting (103)
2026
2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Bluesas Self (archive footage)
6.7
2005
The Peace!as Self
5.0
2005
Deacons for Defenseas Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
6.4
2005
The History Makers: Successas Self
2005
Unstoppableas Self
6.0
2004
She Hate Meas Judge Buchanan
5.1
2004
Proudas Lorenzo DuFau
4.7
2004
Baadasssss!as Granddad
6.5
2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaksas Self
2003
7.3
2003
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Warsas Narrator
2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Propertyas Himself
6.4
2002
2002
Bubba Ho-tepas John F. "Jack" Kennedy
6.5
2001
Feast of All Saintsas Jean-Jacques
4.8
10.0
2001
The Legend of the Candy Caneas Julius (voice)
9.0
2000
Here's to Life!as Duncan Cox
10.0
2000
Dinosauras Yar (voice)
6.6
2000
Finding Buck McHenryas Buck McHenry
7.0
1999
The Unfinished Journeyas Narrator (voice)
6.5
1999
7.9
1999
The Soul Collectoras Mordecai
7.3
1999
The Secret Pathas Too Tall
7.5
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Standas Self
8.0
1999
A Vow to Cherishas Alexander Billman
6.0
1998
Doctor Dolittleas Archer Dolittle
5.7
8.3
1997
12 Angry Menas Juror 2
7.7
1997
4 Little Girlsas Self - Actor and Playwright
7.1
1997
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriersas Narrator
10.0
1997
Miss Evers' Boysas Mr. Evers
6.5
1997
6.5
1996
I'm Not Rappaportas Midge Carter
5.7
1996
Get on the Busas Jeremiah / 'Pop'
6.4
1995
The Android Affairas Dr. Winston
5.3
1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murderas Uncle Phil
7.0
1994
The Clientas Harry Roosevelt
6.7
1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justiceas Uncle Phil
10.0
1994
Malcolm X: Make It Plainas Self
9.0
1994
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the Worldas Narrator
9.0
1993
Grumpy Old Menas Chuck
6.7
1993
Cop & ½as Detective in Squad Room
4.6
1993
Goin' Back to T-Townas Narrator
1993
The Ernest Green Storyas Grandfather
6.9
1992
Lincolnas Frederick Douglas (voice)
7.3
1992
Malcolm Xas Eulogy Performer (voice)
7.6
8.0
9.0
1992
Gladiatoras Noah
7.6
1991
8.0
1991
Jungle Feveras Reverend Purify
6.4
1990
Joe Versus the Volcanoas Marshall
5.8
1990
10.0
1989
Making 'Do the Right Thing'as Self
6.9
1989
Do the Right Thingas Da Mayor
7.8
1988
School Dazeas Coach Odom
5.7
1986
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Storiesas Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
1985
Avenging Angelas Capt. Harry Moradian
5.2
1985
Tyler Texas Black Film Collectionas Himself
7.0
1984
Harry & Sonas Raymond
5.9
1984
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhoodas Narrator
1984
The House of Godas Dr. Sanders
3.2
1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paigeas Chuffy Russell
6.6
4.8
1980
All God's Childrenas Blaine Whitfield
6.5
1979
Freedom Roadas Narrator
5.2
1979
Hot Stuffas Captain John Geiberger
7.0
1979
Freedom Manas Benjamin Banneker
1977
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kidas Dr. Fredericks
8.0
1976
The Tenth Levelas Reed
5.3
1976
Countdown at Kusinias Ernest Motapo
7.0
1975
Let's Do It Againas Elder Johnson
6.9
1975
Black Shadows on a Silver Screenas Narrator
1973
Wattstaxas Self (uncredited)
6.7
1972
Malcolm Xas Eulogy (voice)
6.7
1971
The Sheriffas James Lucas
6.0
1970
Kongi's Harvestas Narrator
7.5
1969
Night Galleryas Osmond Portifoy
6.7
1969
Slavesas Luke
6.3
1969
Sam Whiskeyas Jed Hooker
5.8
1969
Teacher, Teacheras Charles Carter
10.0
1969
7.2
1968
The Scalphuntersas Joseph Lee
6.4
1968
7.0
1967
The Outsideras Lt. Wagner
8.0
1967
Black Liberationas Narrator
1967
Now is the Timeas Self
1966
A Man Called Adamas Nelson Davis
6.5
1965
The Sun... the Sand... the Hillas Jason King (archival footage)
2.7
1965
The Sun... the Sand... the Hillas Jason King (archive footage)
2.7
1965
The Hillas Jacko King
7.5
1964
Shock Treatmentas Capshaw
6.8
1963
The Cardinalas Father Gillis
6.5
1963
Gone Are the Days!as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
7.5
1962
Hands of Ingeas Narrator (voice)
1960
John Brown's Raidas Dangerfield Newby
1951
Fourteen Hoursas Cab Driver (uncredited)
7.3
1950
No Way Outas John Brooks (uncredited)
6.9
Production & Directing (14)
2026
Love in ExileWriter
2024
8.3
7.0
1981
PurlieMusical
6.5
1976
Countdown at KusiniDirector
7.0
1976
Countdown at KusiniScreenplay
7.0
1973
Gordon's WarDirector
6.8
1972
Black GirlDirector
6.8
1970
Cotton Comes to HarlemDirector
6.2
1970
Cotton Comes to HarlemScreenplay
6.2
1970
Kongi's HarvestDirector
7.5
1963
Gone Are the Days!Writer
7.5