Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. As an actor, Davis was best known for appearing in the films, television, and on stage. He appeared in the films Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho Tep (2002), and The Client (1994), along television series such as Car 54, Where Are You?' and Touched by an Angel.
In addition to being an actor, he directed a number of films including Cotton Comes to Harlem, Gordon’s War, among others as well as writing several plays and children's books.
He was married to actress Ruby Dee and they had three children, including musician Guy Davis.
Davis died in 2005 at the age of 87.
Selected Filmography
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Film roles
- No Way Out (1950) - John Brooks (Uncredited Role)
- Fourteen Hours (1951) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
- The Joe Louis Story (1953) - Bob (uncredited)
- Gone Are the Days! (1963) - Rev. Purlie Victorious Judson (also writer)
- The Cardinal (1963) - Father Gillis
- Shock Treatment (1964) - Capshaw
- The Hill (1965) - Jacko King
- A Man Called Adam (1966) - Nelson Davis
- The Scalphunters (1968) - Joseph Lee
- Sam Whiskey (1969) - Jed Hooker
- Slaves (1969) - Luke
- The Sheriff (1970) - James Lucas
- Let's Do It Again (1975) - Elder Johnson
- Cool Red (1976) - Ernest Motapo (also director and writer)
- Hot Stuff (1979) - Captain John Geiberger
- Freedom Road (1979) - Narrator
- All God's Children (1980) - Blaine Whitfield
- Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige (1981) - Chuffy Russell
- Harry and Son (1984) - Raymond
- The House of God (1984) - Dr. Sanders
- Avenging Angel (1985) - Captain Harry Morgan
- School Daze (1988) - Coach Odom
- Do the Right Thing (1989) - Da Mayor
- The Red Shoes (1990) - Narrator/Alphonse
- Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) - Marshall
- Jungle Fever (1991) - The Good Reverend Doctor Purify
- Gladiator (1992) - Noah
- Malcolm X (1992) - Eulogy Performer (voice)
- Lincoln (1992) - Frederick Douglass
- The Ernest Green Story (1993) - Grandfather
- Cop and a Half (1993) - Detective in Squad Room (uncredited)
- Grumpy Old Men (1993) - Chuck
- The Client (1994) - Harry Roosevelt
- Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder (1995) - Uncle Phil
- The Android Affair (1995) - Dr. Winston
- Get on the Bus (1996) - Jeremiah
- I'm Not Rappaport (1996) - Midge Carter
- Miss Evers' Boys (1997) - Mr. Evers
- 12 Angry Men (1997) - Juror #2
- Dr. Dolittle (1998) - Archer Dolittle
- The Secret Path (1999) - Too Tall
- The Soul Collector (1999) - Mordecai
- The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (1999) - The Caretaker
- A Vow to Cherish (1999) - Alexander Billman
- Finding Buck Mc Henry (2000) - Buck McHenry
- Dinosaur (2000) - Yar
- Here's To Life (2000) - Duncan Cox
- Bubba Ho Tep (2002) - Jack
- Deacons For Defense (2003) - Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
- Baadasssss (2003) - Granddad
- She Hate Me (2004) - Judge Buchanan
- Proud (2004) - Lorenzo DuFau
Television roles
- Kraft Theatre (1955) - The Emperor Jones
- Play of the Week (1960-1961) - Will Harris
- The Defenders (1961-1965) - DA Daniel Jackson/District Attorney/ADA/Officer Bond/Nixie
- Car 54, Where Are You? (1962-1963) - Officer Omar Anderson
- The Great Adventure (1963) - John Ross
- The Doctors and the Nurses (1964) - Dr. Farmer
- Slattery's People (1965) - Jack Phillips
- The Fugitive (1966) - Lt. Johnny Gaines
- 12 O'Clock High (1966) - Major Glenn Luke
- Run for Your Life (1966-1967) - Sgt. Dave Crobett/Frankie Morton
- NYPD (1968) - Dempsey
- The Name of the Game (1969) - Kubani
- Bonanza (1969) - Sam Davis
- Night Gallery (1969) - Osmund Portifoy
- Hawaii Five-O (1974) - Ramon Borelle
- King (1978) - Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) - Dad Jones
- BL Stryker (1989-1990) - Oz Jackson
- Evening Shade (1990-1994) - Ponder Blue
- Queen (1993) - Parson Dick
- The American Experience (1993) - Narrator
- The Stand (1994 - Judge Richard Farris
- The Great Battles of the Civil War (1994) - W.H. Carney (voice)
- The Client (1995-1996) - Judge Harry Roosevelt
- Promised Land (1996-1998) - Erasmus Jones
- Touched by an Angel (1996-2002) - Erasmus Jones/Gabriel/Gabe
- Cosby (1999) - Fred
- Third Watch (1999-2000) - Mr. Parker
- City of Angels (2000) - Henry Charles
- Philly (2002) - Gilbert Willoughby
- ''JAG' (2003) - Terrence Minnerly
- The L Word (2003-2004) - Melvin Porter
Video game roles
- Ripper (1996) -Ben Dodds
Director
- Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) (also writer)
- Kongi Harvest (1970)
- Black Girl (1972)
- Gordon's War (1973)
Writer
- East Side?West Side (1963)
- History of the Negro People (1965)
- Purlie Victorious (1961)
- Purlie (1981)
- American Playhouse (1983)
Books
- Escape to Freedom: The Story of Young Frederick Douglas (1977)
- Langston (1982)
- Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears (1984)
- Just Like Martin (1992)
- Life Lit by Some Large Vision: Selected Speeches and Writings (2006) (edited by Ruby Dee)
