Ossie Davis

Ossie Davis

Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He is best known for his roles in the Spike Lee-directed films Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X.

More details

Known For

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959 • as Sam Davis

JAG

JAG

1995 • as Terrence Minnerly

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968 • as Ramon Borelle

Third Watch

Third Watch

1999 • as Mr. Parker

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

1963 • as Lt. Johnny Gaines

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

1994 • as Gabriel

Filmography

2022

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/27/2022

2006

TV
Folk Britannia
as Self (archival footage)
TV - Released: 2/3/2006

2005

Movie
The Peace!
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/20/2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/8/2005
Movie
Unstoppable
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/13/2005
Deacons for Defense
Deacons for Defense
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
Movie - Released: 4/5/2005
The History Makers: Success
The History Makers: Success
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/15/2005

2004

Baadasssss!
Baadasssss!
as Granddad
Movie - Released: 5/28/2004
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/25/2004
Movie
Proud
as Lorenzo DuFau
Movie - Released: 7/2/2004
She Hate Me
She Hate Me
as Judge Buchanan
Movie - Released: 7/30/2004
The L Word
The L Word
as Melvin Porter
TV - Released: 1/18/2004
TV
TV Revolution
TV - Released: 5/23/2004

2003

The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
as Self
Movie - Released: 5/20/2003
Movie
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 2/28/2003
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
as Himself
Movie - Released: 2/16/2003
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Movie - Released: 2/10/2003

2002

Bubba Ho-tep
Bubba Ho-tep
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
Movie - Released: 6/9/2002
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/14/2002
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
as Narrator
TV - Released: 6/1/2002

2001

Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 6/11/2001
Feast of All Saints
Feast of All Saints
as Jean-Jacques
Movie - Released: 11/11/2001
The Legend of the Candy Cane
The Legend of the Candy Cane
as Julius (voice)
Movie - Released: 6/1/2001

2000

Dinosaur
Dinosaur
as Yar (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/19/2000
Finding Buck McHenry
Finding Buck McHenry
as Buck McHenry
Movie - Released: 4/16/2000
Here's to Life!
Here's to Life!
as Duncan Cox
Movie - Released: 9/18/2000

1999

The Secret Path
The Secret Path
as Too Tall
Movie - Released: 4/2/1999
The Soul Collector
The Soul Collector
as Mordecai
Movie - Released: 10/24/1999
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
as Caretaker
Movie - Released: 12/14/1999
A Vow to Cherish
A Vow to Cherish
as Alexander Billman
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
Movie
The Unfinished Journey
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 12/31/1999
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/24/1999
Third Watch
Third Watch
as Mr. Parker
TV - Released: 9/23/1999

1998

Doctor Dolittle
Doctor Dolittle
as Archer Dolittle
Movie - Released: 6/26/1998
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1998
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/10/1998
TV
Christianity: The First 1000 Years
as Himself - Narrator
TV - Released: 11/29/1998

1997

12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men
as Juror 2
Movie - Released: 8/17/1997
Miss Evers' Boys
Miss Evers' Boys
as Mr. Evers
Movie - Released: 2/22/1997
4 Little Girls
4 Little Girls
as Self - Actor and Playwright
Movie - Released: 7/9/1997
Movie
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 6/23/1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1997
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
as Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 2/18/1997

1996

I'm Not Rappaport
I'm Not Rappaport
as Midge Carter
Movie - Released: 12/24/1996
Get on the Bus
Get on the Bus
as Jeremiah
Movie - Released: 10/16/1996
Promised Land
Promised Land
TV - Released: 9/17/1996
The West
The West
as Self
TV - Released: 9/15/1996
Promised Land
Promised Land
as Erasmus Jones
TV - Released: 9/17/1996
The West
The West
as Self / John R. Gills (voice)
TV - Released: 9/15/1996

1995

The Android Affair
The Android Affair
as Dr. Winston
Movie - Released: 4/12/1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
as Uncle Phil
Movie - Released: 3/20/1995
JAG
JAG
as Terrence Minnerly
TV - Released: 9/23/1995
The Client
The Client
as Judge Harry Roosevelt
TV - Released: 9/17/1995

1994

Movie
Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 1/1/1994
The Client
The Client
as Harry Roosevelt
Movie - Released: 7/20/1994
Malcolm X: Make It Plain
Malcolm X: Make It Plain
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/26/1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
as Uncle Phil
Movie - Released: 5/13/1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Gabriel
TV - Released: 9/21/1994
The Stand
The Stand
as Judge Richard Farris
TV - Released: 5/8/1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Erasmus Jones
TV - Released: 9/21/1994
Baseball
Baseball
as Various (voice)
TV - Released: 9/18/1994
The Stand
The Stand
as Judge Richard Farris (credit only)
TV - Released: 5/8/1994
Baseball
Baseball
as (voice)
TV - Released: 9/18/1994

1993

Goin' Back to T-Town
Goin' Back to T-Town
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 3/1/1993
Grumpy Old Men
Grumpy Old Men
as Chuck
Movie - Released: 12/25/1993
The Ernest Green Story
The Ernest Green Story
as Grandfather
Movie - Released: 1/17/1993
Cop & ½
Cop & ½
as Detective in Squad Room
Movie - Released: 4/2/1993
Alex Haley's Queen
Alex Haley's Queen
as Parson Dick
TV - Released: 2/14/1993

1992

Malcolm X
Malcolm X
as Eulogy Performer (voice)
Movie - Released: 11/18/1992
Gladiator
Gladiator
as Noah
Movie - Released: 3/6/1992
Movie
Lincoln
as Frederick Douglas (voice)
Movie - Released: 12/26/1992

1991

Jungle Fever
Jungle Fever
as Reverend Purify
Movie - Released: 6/7/1991
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/28/1991

1990

Joe Versus the Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcano
as Marshall
Movie - Released: 3/9/1990
The Red Shoes
The Red Shoes
Movie - Released: 2/7/1990
Evening Shade
Evening Shade
as Ponder Blue
TV - Released: 9/21/1990

1989

Do the Right Thing
Do the Right Thing
as Da Mayor
Movie - Released: 6/14/1989
Movie
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/3/1989
B.L. Stryker
B.L. Stryker
as Oz Jackson
TV - Released: 2/13/1989

1988

School Daze
School Daze
as Coach Odom
Movie - Released: 2/12/1988
American Experience
American Experience
as Self - Harlem Resident
TV - Released: 10/4/1988

1986

Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories
as Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1986
American Masters
American Masters
as Self
TV - Released: 6/23/1986

1985

Avenging Angel
Avenging Angel
as Capt. Harry Moradian
Movie - Released: 1/11/1985
Movie
Tyler Texas Black Film Collection
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/8/1985

1984

Harry & Son
Harry & Son
as Raymond
Movie - Released: 3/2/1984
The House of God
The House of God
as Dr. Sanders
Movie - Released: 1/1/1984
Movie
Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 2/7/1984

1983

Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TV - Released: 6/6/1983

1981

Death of a Prophet
Death of a Prophet
Movie - Released: 1/1/1981
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige
as Chuffy Russell
Movie - Released: 5/31/1981

1980

All God's Children
All God's Children
as Blaine Whitfield
Movie - Released: 4/28/1980

1979

Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff
as Captain John Geiberger
Movie - Released: 8/10/1979
Freedom Road
Freedom Road
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 10/29/1979
Movie
Freedom Man
as Benjamin Banneker
Movie - Released: 1/1/1979
Roots: The Next Generations
Roots: The Next Generations
as Dad Jones
TV - Released: 2/18/1979

1978

The Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
TV - Released: 12/28/1978
King
King
as Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
TV - Released: 2/12/1978

1977

Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
as Dr. Fredericks
Movie - Released: 9/12/1977

1976

The Tenth Level
The Tenth Level
as Reed
Movie - Released: 8/26/1976
Countdown at Kusini
Countdown at Kusini
as Ernest Motapo
Movie - Released: 4/16/1976

1975

Let's Do It Again
Let's Do It Again
as Elder Johnson
Movie - Released: 10/11/1975
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 4/19/1975

1973

Wattstax
Wattstax
as Self (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 2/4/1973

1972

Malcolm X
Malcolm X
as Eulogy (voice)
Movie - Released: 5/24/1972

1971

The Sheriff
The Sheriff
as James Lucas
Movie - Released: 3/30/1971

1970

Kongi's Harvest
Kongi's Harvest
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 5/1/1970

1969

Sam Whiskey
Sam Whiskey
as Jed Hooker
Movie - Released: 4/1/1969
Teacher, Teacher
Teacher, Teacher
as Charles Carter
Movie - Released: 2/5/1969
Slaves
Slaves
as Luke
Movie - Released: 7/2/1969
The Fall
The Fall
Movie - Released: 1/15/1969
Night Gallery
Night Gallery
as Osmond Portifoy
Movie - Released: 11/8/1969

1968

The Scalphunters
The Scalphunters
as Joseph Lee
Movie - Released: 2/29/1968
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 1/2/1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
as Ramon Borelle
TV - Released: 9/20/1968
The Name of the Game
The Name of the Game
as Kubani
TV - Released: 9/20/1968

1967

The Outsider
The Outsider
as Lt. Wagner
Movie - Released: 11/21/1967
Black Liberation
Black Liberation
as Narrator
Movie - Released: 1/1/1967

1966

A Man Called Adam
A Man Called Adam
as Nelson Davis
Movie - Released: 3/16/1966

1965

The Hill
The Hill
as Jacko King
Movie - Released: 6/17/1965
Movie
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
as Jason King (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/1/1965
Movie
The Sun... the Sand... the Hill
as Jason King (archival footage)
Movie - Released: 7/1/1965
Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life
as Frankie Morton
TV - Released: 9/13/1965
Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life
as Dave Corbett
TV - Released: 9/13/1965
Run for Your Life
Run for Your Life
as Sgt. Dave Corbett
TV - Released: 9/13/1965

1964

Shock Treatment
Shock Treatment
as Capshaw
Movie - Released: 7/22/1964
12 O'Clock High
12 O'Clock High
as Major Glenn Luke
TV - Released: 9/18/1964

1963

Gone Are the Days!
Gone Are the Days!
as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson
Movie - Released: 8/9/1963
The Cardinal
The Cardinal
as Father Gillis
Movie - Released: 12/12/1963
The Great Adventure
The Great Adventure
as John Ross
TV - Released: 9/27/1963
The Fugitive
The Fugitive
as Lt. Johnny Gaines
TV - Released: 9/17/1963

1962

Hands of Inge
Hands of Inge
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1962

1961

The Defenders
The Defenders
as Nixie
TV - Released: 9/16/1961
The Defenders
The Defenders
as Officer Bond
TV - Released: 9/16/1961
The Defenders
The Defenders
as District Attorney
TV - Released: 9/16/1961
The Defenders
The Defenders
as Assistant District Attorney
TV - Released: 9/16/1961
The Defenders
The Defenders
as District Attorney Daniel Jackson
TV - Released: 9/16/1961

1960

John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid
as Dangerfield Newby
Movie - Released: 10/25/1960

1959

Bonanza
Bonanza
as Sam Davis
TV - Released: 9/12/1959

1956

Tony Awards
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
TV - Released: 4/1/1956

1951

Fourteen Hours
Fourteen Hours
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 4/1/1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Charles Carter
TV - Released: 12/24/1951

1950

No Way Out
No Way Out
as John Brooks (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 8/16/1950

1947

Kraft Television Theatre
Kraft Television Theatre
as The Emperor Jones
TV - Released: 5/7/1947

Unknown

Haiti: Killing the Dream
Haiti: Killing the Dream
Movie