Ossie Davis

Acting • 1917-12-18 • 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.

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Filmography

2026
Love in ExileFilm
2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & BluesFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 6.6
2006
Folk BritanniaTV
Self (archival footage) • 1 episodes
2005
Deacons for DefenseFilm
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
★ 6.4
2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'Film
Self
★ 6.0
2005
The Peace!Film
Self
★ 5.0
2005
The History Makers: SuccessFilm
Self
2005
UnstoppableFilm
Self
2004
The L WordTV
Melvin Porter • 4 episodes
★ 7.7
2004
She Hate MeFilm
Judge Buchanan
★ 5.2
2004
Baadasssss!Film
Granddad
★ 6.5
2004
ProudFilm
Lorenzo DuFau
★ 4.7
2004
TV RevolutionTV
2004
Beah: A Black Woman SpeaksFilm
Self
2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome PropertyFilm
Himself
★ 6.4
2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave NarrativesFilm
★ 5.2
2003
The Evolution of an American FilmmakerFilm
Self
★ 7.2
2003
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two WarsFilm
Narrator
2002
Bubba Ho-tepFilm
John F. "Jack" Kennedy
★ 6.5
2002
Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsTV
Narrator • 2 episodes
★ 6.0
2002
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'Film
Self
2001
Feast of All SaintsFilm
Jean-Jacques
★ 4.8
2001
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The FillmoreFilm
Narrator
★ 10.0
2001
The Legend of the Candy CaneFilm
Julius (voice)
★ 9.0
2000
DinosaurFilm
Yar (voice)
★ 6.6
2000
Here's to Life!Film
Duncan Cox
★ 10.0
2000
Finding Buck McHenryFilm
Buck McHenry
★ 7.0
1999
Third WatchTV
Mr. Parker • 3 episodes
★ 8.0
1999
The Secret PathFilm
Too Tall
★ 7.5
1999
The Soul CollectorFilm
Mordecai
★ 7.3
1999
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas EveFilm
Caretaker
★ 7.9
1999
A Vow to CherishFilm
Alexander Billman
★ 6.0
1999
The Unfinished JourneyFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 6.5
1999
Paul Robeson: Here I StandFilm
Self
★ 8.0
1998
Doctor DolittleFilm
Archer Dolittle
★ 5.7
1998
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the BlacklistFilm
Self
★ 8.2
1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in HollywoodFilm
Self
★ 9.0
1998
Christianity: The First 1000 YearsTV
Himself - Narrator • 4 episodes
1997
12 Angry MenFilm
Juror 2
★ 7.7
1997
4 Little GirlsFilm
Self - Actor and Playwright
★ 7.1
1997
Miss Evers' BoysFilm
Mr. Evers
★ 6.5
1997
Thomas JeffersonTV
Narrator (voice) • 2 episodes
★ 7.7
1997
Jackie Robinson: Breaking BarriersFilm
Narrator
★ 10.0
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the RoughFilm
Self
★ 6.5
1996
Get on the BusFilm
Jeremiah / 'Pop'
★ 6.4
1996
The WestTV
Self • 9 episodes
★ 8.4
1996
The WestTV
Self / John R. Gills (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.4
1996
I'm Not RappaportFilm
Midge Carter
★ 5.7
1996
Promised LandTV
★ 6.5
1996
Promised LandTV
Erasmus Jones • 2 episodes
★ 6.5
1995
JAGTV
Terrence Minnerly • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1995
The ClientTV
Judge Harry Roosevelt • 21 episodes
★ 7.0
1995
The Android AffairFilm
Dr. Winston
★ 5.3
1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for MurderFilm
Uncle Phil
★ 7.0
1994
Touched by an AngelTV
Gabriel • 2 episodes
★ 7.2
1994
Touched by an AngelTV
Erasmus Jones • 4 episodes
★ 7.2
1994
The ClientFilm
Harry Roosevelt
★ 6.7
1994
The StandTV
Judge Richard Farris • 2 episodes
★ 6.8
1994
The StandTV
Judge Richard Farris (credit only) • 2 episodes
★ 6.8
1994
BaseballTV
Various (voice)
★ 7.6
1994
BaseballTV
(voice) • 7 episodes
★ 7.6
1994
Malcolm X: Make It PlainFilm
Self
★ 9.0
1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For JusticeFilm
Uncle Phil
★ 10.0
1994
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the WorldFilm
Narrator
★ 9.0
1993
Grumpy Old MenFilm
Chuck
★ 6.7
1993
Cop & ½Film
Detective in Squad Room
★ 4.6
1993
Alex Haley's QueenTV
Parson Dick • 3 episodes
★ 7.0
1993
The Ernest Green StoryFilm
Grandfather
★ 6.9
1993
Goin' Back to T-TownFilm
Narrator
1992
Malcolm XFilm
Eulogy Performer (voice)
★ 7.6
1992
GladiatorFilm
Noah
★ 7.7
1992
LincolnFilm
Frederick Douglas (voice)
★ 7.3
1992
Haiti: Killing the DreamFilm
★ 9.0
1992
The Real Malcolm XFilm
★ 8.0
1991
Jungle FeverFilm
Reverend Purify
★ 6.4
1991
Preminger: Anatomy of a FilmmakerFilm
Self
★ 8.0
1990
Joe Versus the VolcanoFilm
Marshall
★ 5.8
1990
Evening ShadeTV
Ponder Blue • 100 episodes
★ 5.8
1990
The Red ShoesFilm
★ 10.0
1989
Do the Right ThingFilm
Da Mayor
★ 7.8
1989
B.L. StrykerTV
Oz Jackson • 12 episodes
★ 6.1
1989
Making 'Do the Right Thing'Film
Self
★ 6.9
1988
American ExperienceTV
Self - Harlem Resident • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
1988
School DazeFilm
Coach Odom
★ 5.6
1986
American MastersTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1986
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & StoriesFilm
Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
1985
Avenging AngelFilm
Capt. Harry Moradian
★ 5.3
1985
Tyler Texas Black Film CollectionFilm
Himself
★ 7.0
1984
Harry & SonFilm
Raymond
★ 5.9
1984
The House of GodFilm
Dr. Sanders
★ 3.2
1984
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black NationhoodFilm
Narrator
1983
Reading RainbowTV
Self - Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.4
1981
Death of a ProphetFilm
★ 4.8
1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" PaigeFilm
Chuffy Russell
★ 6.6
1980
All God's ChildrenFilm
Blaine Whitfield
★ 6.5
1979
Roots: The Next GenerationsTV
'Dad' Jones • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1979
Hot StuffFilm
Captain John Geiberger
★ 6.8
1979
Freedom RoadFilm
Narrator
★ 5.2
1979
Freedom ManFilm
Benjamin Banneker
1978
The Kennedy Center HonorsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
1978
KingTV
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. • 3 episodes
★ 6.6
1977
Billy: Portrait of a Street KidFilm
Dr. Fredericks
★ 8.0
1976
The Tenth LevelFilm
Reed
★ 5.3
1976
Countdown at KusiniFilm
Ernest Motapo
★ 7.0
1975
Let's Do It AgainFilm
Elder Johnson
★ 7.0
1975
Black Shadows on a Silver ScreenFilm
Narrator
1973
WattstaxFilm
Self (uncredited)
★ 6.8
1972
Malcolm XFilm
Eulogy (voice)
★ 6.7
1971
The SheriffFilm
James Lucas
★ 6.0
1970
Kongi's HarvestFilm
Narrator
★ 7.5
1969
Hawaii Five-OTV
Ramon Borelle • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1969
Sam WhiskeyFilm
Jed Hooker
★ 5.7
1969
Night GalleryFilm
Osmond Portifoy
★ 6.7
1969
SlavesFilm
Luke
★ 6.2
1969
The FallFilm
★ 7.2
1969
Teacher, TeacherFilm
Charles Carter
★ 10.0
1968
The ScalphuntersFilm
Joseph Lee
★ 6.4
1968
The Name of the GameTV
Kubani • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1968
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle ClassFilm
Narrator
★ 7.0
1967
The OutsiderFilm
Lt. Wagner
★ 8.0
1967
Now is the TimeFilm
Self
1967
Black LiberationFilm
Narrator
1966
A Man Called AdamFilm
Nelson Davis
★ 6.5
1965
The HillFilm
Jacko King
★ 7.5
1965
Run for Your LifeTV
Frankie Morton • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1965
Run for Your LifeTV
Dave Corbett • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1965
Run for Your LifeTV
Sgt. Dave Corbett • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
1965
The Sun... the Sand... the HillFilm
Jason King (archive footage)
★ 2.7
1965
The Sun... the Sand... the HillFilm
Jason King (archival footage)
★ 2.7
1964
12 O'Clock HighTV
Major Glenn Luke • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1964
Shock TreatmentFilm
Capshaw
★ 6.8
1963
The FugitiveTV
Lt. Johnny Gaines • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1963
The CardinalFilm
Father Gillis
★ 6.5
1963
The Great AdventureTV
John Ross • 1 episodes
★ 10.0
1963
Gone Are the Days!Film
Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
★ 7.5
1962
Hands of IngeFilm
Narrator (voice)
1961
The DefendersTV
Nixie • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1961
The DefendersTV
Officer Bond • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1961
The DefendersTV
Assistant District Attorney • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1961
The DefendersTV
District Attorney • 2 episodes
★ 6.3
1961
The DefendersTV
District Attorney Daniel Jackson • 3 episodes
★ 6.3
1960
John Brown's RaidFilm
Dangerfield Newby
1959
BonanzaTV
Sam Davis • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Presenter • 1 episodes
1951
Fourteen HoursFilm
Cab Driver (uncredited)
★ 7.2
1951
Hallmark Hall of FameTV
Charles Carter • 1 episodes
★ 8.8
1950
No Way OutFilm
John Brooks (uncredited)
★ 7.0
1947
Kraft Television TheatreTV
The Emperor Jones • 1 episodes
★ 7.8

Known For

Doctor Dolittle

Do the Right Thing

Dinosaur

Third Watch

Bubba Ho-tep

12 Angry Men

Fan Club

From Nerdspin

Filmography