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Ossie Davis
Actor, Director, Writer, Additional Credits
Born December 18, 1917Died February 4, 2005 (87 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Ossie Davis Filmography
| 2010 | |
| 2004 | She Hate Me · as Judge Buchanan |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2004 | The L Word (TV Series) · as Melvin Porter |
| 2003 | Baadasssss! · as Granddad |
| 2003 | Deacons for Defense · as Reverend 'rev' Gregory |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | Bubba Ho-Tep · as John F. "jack" Kennedy |
| 2002 | The Tuskegee Airmen · as Narrator |
| 2001 | The Feast of All Saints · as Jean-Jacques |
| 2001 | Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2001 | Philly (TV Series) · as Gilbert Willoughby |
| 2001 | Legend of the Candy Cane · as Julius (voice) |
| 2000 | Here's to Life! · as Duncan Cox |
| 2000 | Dinosaur · as Yar (voice) |
| 2000 | Finding Buck McHenry · as Buck Mchenry |
| 2000 | City of Angels (TV Series) · as Henry, King Of England |
| 1999 | Between the Lions (TV Series) · as Woodcutter |
| 1999 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve · as Caretaker |
| 1999 | The Soul Collector · as Mordecai |
| 1999 | Third Watch (TV Series) · as Mr. Parker |
| 1999 | Independent Lens (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1999 | The Secret Path · as Too Tall |
| 1999 | A Vow to Cherish · as Alexander Billman |
| 1998 | Doctor Dolittle · as Archer Dolittle |
| 1997 | 12 Angry Men · as Juror 2 |
| 1997 | Miss Evers' Boys · as Mr. Evers |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport · as Midge Carter |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus · as Jeremiah |
| 1996 | Cosby (TV Series) · as Fred |
| 1996 | Promised Land (TV Series) · as Erasmus Jones |
| 1995 | JAG (TV Series) · as Terrence Minnerly |
| 1995 | The Client (TV Series) · as Judge Harry Roosevelt |
| 1995 | The Android Affair · as Dr. Winston |
| 1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder · as Uncle Phil |
| 1994 | The Great Battles of the Civil War (TV Series) · as W. H. Carney |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Erasmus Jones |
| 1994 | Baseball (TV Series) · as (voice) |
| 1994 | The Client · as Harry Roosevelt |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice · as Uncle Phil |
| 1994 | The Stand (TV Series) · as Judge Richard Farris (credit Only) |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men · as Chuck |
| 1993 | Cop & ½ · as Detective In Squad Room |
| 1993 | Goin' Back to T-Town · as Narrator |
| 1993 | Alex Haley's Queen (TV Series) · as Parson Dick |
| 1993 | The Ernest Green Story · as Grandfather |
| 1992 | Lincoln · as Frederick Douglas (voice) |
| 1992 | Malcolm X · as Eulogy Performer (voice) |
| 1992 | |
| 1992 | Gladiator · as Noah |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever · as Reverend Purify |
| 1990 | Evening Shade (TV Series) · as Ponder Blue |
| 1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano · as Marshall |
| 1990 | |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing · as Da Mayor |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker (TV Series) · as Oz Jackson |
| 1988 | School Daze · as Coach Odom |
| 1986 | Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories · as Anansi The Spider (sleepytime Songs And Stories) (voice) |
| 1985 | Avenging Angel · as Capt. Harry Moradian |
| 1984 | Harry & Son · as Raymond |
| 1981 | The House of God · as Dr. Sanders |
| 1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige · as Chuffy Russell |
| 1981 | |
| 1980 | All God's Children · as Blaine Whitfield |
| 1979 | Hot Stuff · as Captain John Geiberger |
| 1979 | Freedom Road · as Narrator |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations (TV Series) · as 'dad' Jones |
| 1979 | Freedom Man · as Benjamin Banneker |
| 1978 | King (1978) (TV Series) · as Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. |
| 1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid · as Dr. Fredericks |
| 1976 | The Tenth Level · as Reed |
| 1976 | Cool Red · as Ernest Motapo |
| 1975 | NBC Special Treat (TV Series) · as Mr. Elgin |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again · as Elder Johnson |
| 1972 | Malcolm X · as Eulogy (voice) |
| 1971 | The Sheriff · as James Lucas |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest · as Narrator |
| 1969 | Night Gallery · as Osmond Portifoy |
| 1969 | Night Gallery (TV Series) · as Osmund Portifoy (segment: The Cemetery) |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as (segment "love And High Spirits") |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Anansi The Spider |
| 1969 | |
| 1969 | Sam Whiskey · as Jed Hooker |
| 1969 | Teacher, Teacher · as Charles Carter |
| 1969 | |
| 1968 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) · as Kubani |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) · as Ramon Borelle |
| 1968 | The Scalphunters · as Joseph Lee |
| 1967 | The Outsider · as Lt. Wagner |
| 1967 | N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) · as Lieuteant Dempsey |
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam · as Nelson Davis |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life (TV Series) · as Sgt. Dave Corbett |
| 1965 | The Hill · as Jacko King |
| 1964 | Slattery's People (TV Series) · as Jack Phillips |
| 1964 | 12 O'Clock High (TV Series) · as Major Glenn Luke |
| 1964 | Shock Treatment · as Capshaw |
| 1963 | The Cardinal · as Father Gillis |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) · as John Ross |
| 1963 | Gone Are the Days! · as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson |
| 1963 | The Fugitive (TV Series) · as Lt. Johnny Gaines |
| 1962 | The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) · as Dr. Farmer |
| 1961 | Car 54, Where Are You? (TV Series) · as Officer Omar Anderson |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as District Attorney Daniel Jackson |
| 1959 | The Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Will Harris |
| 1959 | |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | The Joe Louis Story · as Bob |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Charles Carter |
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours · as Cab Driver (uncredited) |
| 1950 | No Way Out · as John Brooks (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as The Emperor Jones |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | I Am Burt Reynolds · as Self |
| 2019 | What's My Name: Muhammad Ali · as Self |
| 2018 | |
| 2015 | And When I Die, I Won't Stay Dead · as Self |
| 2014 | 50 Years with Peter Paul and Mary · as Self - Actor |
| 2013 | |
| 2005 | The Peace! DVD · as Self |
| 2005 | The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - In Memoriam |
| 2005 | The 77th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2005 | The History Makers · as Self |
| 2005 | |
| 2005 | 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2004 | The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts · as Self - Honoree |
| 2004 | Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Beah: A Black Woman Speaks · as Self |
| 2003 | 2003 Trumpet Awards · as Self |
| 2003 | Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property · as Himself |
| 2003 | XXI Century (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 2002 | The Last Poets · as Self |
| 2001 | 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Life Achievement Award Recipient |
| 2001 | Jazz (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | The Century: America's Time (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1999 | 30th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | The Directors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | The Roseanne Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | 4 Little Girls · as Self - Actor And Playwright |
| 1997 | Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough · as Self |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | The West (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | Dramatic Moments in Black Sports History · as Self |
| 1994 | The 48th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1994 | The African Burial Ground: An American Discovery · as Self - Narrator |
| 1994 | 26th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1993 | Great Books (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker · as Self |
| 1991 | Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1991 | The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1991 | |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | 22nd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | Making Do the Right Thing · as Self |
| 1989 | National Memorial Day Concert (TV Series) · as Self - Master Of Ceremonies |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | American Experience (TV Series) · as Self - Harlem Resident |
| 1987 | Eyes on the Prize (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1983 | Reading Rainbow (TV Series) · as Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center Honors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1976 | Working in the Theatre (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | Wattstax · as Self (uncredited) |
| 1969 | He Said, She Said (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | 60 Minutes (TV Series) · as Self - Actor (segment "malcolm X") |
| 1968 | |
| 1968 | What's My Line? (1968) (TV Series) · as Self - Mystery Guest |
| 1968 | Black Journal (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1967 | The Phil Donahue Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | Missing Links (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 1956 | To Tell the Truth (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1956 | The Price Is Right (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1956 | Tony Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 1954 | Camera Three (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self |
Zinzun: A Revolutionary Activist · as Self |
| 1976 | |
| 1973 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1970 | |
| 1970 |
| 1983 | |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Cool Red · as Screenplay |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem · as Screenplay |
| 1963 | |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side (TV Series) |
| 1982 | Purlie · as Musical |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Playwright |