Social Entertainment / People

Ossie Davis

Acting · Born December 18, 1917 · 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.

Movies with Ossie Davis

• The Client (1994) — Harry Roosevelt
• Dinosaur (2000) — Yar (voice)
• Do the Right Thing (1989) — Da Mayor
• Jungle Fever (1991) — Reverend Purify
• Doctor Dolittle (1998) — Archer Dolittle
• Malcolm X (1992) — Eulogy Performer (voice)
• Grumpy Old Men (1993) — Chuck
• Gladiator (1992) — Noah
• 12 Angry Men (1997) — Juror 2
• Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) — Marshall
• Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022) — Self (archive footage)
• She Hate Me (2004) — Judge Buchanan

TV shows with Ossie Davis

• Evening Shade (1990) — Ponder Blue
• The Client (1995) — Judge Harry Roosevelt
• Baseball (1994) — (voice)
• B.L. Stryker (1989) — Oz Jackson
• The West (1996) — Self