---
name: "Ossie Davis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ossie-davis"
fi1m_id: "ossie-davis"
imdb_id: "nm0001115"
tmdb_id: 15531
wikidata_id: "Q515632"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 December 1917"
died: "4 February 2005"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-05T19:49:00.275910+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ossie Davis

## Identity

Ossie Davis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ossie-davis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ossie-davis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001115
- **TMDB ID:** 15531
- **Wikidata ID:** Q515632
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossie_Davis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q515632, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001115/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15531

Actor. Born 18 December 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. Died 4 February 2005.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 December 1917, Cogdell, Georgia, USA
- **Died:** 4 February 2005
- **Active:** 1989–2000
- **Also known as:** Ozzie Davis, Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis, Raiford Chatman Davis
- **Frequently works with:** [Ruby Dee](https://film.one/person/ruby-dee.md)
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 93 (1), 1990s 61 (2), 2000s 52 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 64 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Family 2, Adventure 1, Animation 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $804m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossie_Davis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q515632, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001115/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15531

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Dinosaur*](https://film.one/film/dinosaur.md) (52), [*Doctor Dolittle*](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md) (50)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Do the Right Thing*](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) (93)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ossie Davis

> Ossie Davis gave wise elders a deep baritone and an approachable dignity that made us want to listen. That fatherly presence could become an excuse to give him too little else to play.

Ossie Davis's voice makes us listen before we have decided what to make of the man speaking. As Da Mayor, the neighbourhood elder in Spike Lee's *Do the Right Thing* (1989), he brings a fatherly warmth to a film full of disagreement. We felt an immediate affection for him because his deep baritone gives the character dignity without making him remote. The neighbours cannot even agree about the pictures on a pizzeria wall. Davis is worth attending to among them, but Lee has plenty of other people who expect to be heard.

It is easy to let those elder roles obscure the work that came before. Davis made his film debut alongside Sidney Poitier in *No Way Out* (1950), then wrote and starred in the stage satire *Purlie Victorious* (1961). His feature directing debut was *Cotton Comes to Harlem* (1970). The actor later called upon to supply good judgement had also written a leading role for himself and taken charge behind the camera. His long collaboration with Ruby Dee, on stage and screen, belongs in that wider picture of his work.

From the late 1980s, Lee repeatedly cast him as a community elder or moral voice. Davis's vocal authority also found work in *Malcolm X* (1992). The risk is that the familiar father figure arrives with wisdom already assumed, leaving the actor little to discover. We want a part to ask more of him than sounding right. That reservation concerns the casting as much as the acting: a dignified presence is useful, but it can make thin writing too easy to accept.

In *Do the Right Thing*, the pleasure is in hearing that voice among neighbours who have their own claims on our attention. A few conversations run long; the performances, humour and force of Lee's filmmaking make the time worthwhile. Davis's warmth gives us a particular reason to care about someone within that ensemble. Start there, and do not mistake a fatherly manner for a promise of a quiet evening.

## Biography

Ossie Davis was an American actor, director, writer and activist. Born Raiford Chatman Davis on 18 December 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, he attended Howard University before joining the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem. He made his Broadway debut in 1946 in Jeb.

Davis frequently collaborated with his wife, actress Ruby Dee, whom he married in 1948. Their stage work included A Raisin in the Sun. On screen he appeared in films such as The Hill (1965) and several directed by Spike Lee, including School Daze (1988) and Do the Right Thing (1989), in which he played Da Mayor.

Later roles included appearances in Malcolm X (1992), Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Client (1994), Dr. Dolittle (1998) and Bubba Ho-Tep (2002). Davis and Dee received the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004. He died on 4 February 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida.

*Sources: britannica.com, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, georgiaencyclopedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Dinosaur* (2000), Fi1m 52, as Yar (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/dinosaur.md)
- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), Fi1m 50, as Archer Dolittle — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)
- *The Client* (1994), Fi1m 72, as Harry Roosevelt — [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Fi1m 93, as Da Mayor — [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md)

## Complete filmography (117)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Love in Exile* (2026), Writer
- *Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch* (2024), Writer, Original Story
- *Deacons for Defense* (2005), as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
- *She Hate Me* (2004), as Judge Buchanan
- *Proud* (2004), as Lorenzo DuFau
- *Baadasssss!* (2004), as Granddad
- *TV Revolution* (2004), series, Actor
- *The L Word* (2004), series, as Melvin Porter
- *The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars* (2003), as Narrator
- *Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives* (2003), Actor
- *Bubba Ho-tep* (2002), as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
- *Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years* (2002), series, as Narrator
- *Feast of All Saints* (2001), as Jean-Jacques
- *Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore* (2001), as Narrator
- *The Legend of the Candy Cane* (2001), as Julius (voice)
- *Here's to Life!* (2000), as Duncan Cox
- *Dinosaur* (2000), as Yar (voice) — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/dinosaur.md)
- *Finding Buck McHenry* (2000), as Buck McHenry
- *The Unfinished Journey* (1999), as Narrator (voice)
- *Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve* (1999), as Caretaker
- *The Soul Collector* (1999), as Mordecai
- *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Mr. Parker
- *The Secret Path* (1999), as Too Tall
- *A Vow to Cherish* (1999), as Alexander Billman
- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), as Archer Dolittle — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)
- *Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist* (1998), Thanks
- *12 Angry Men* (1997), as Juror 2
- *Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers* (1997), as Narrator
- *Miss Evers' Boys* (1997), as Mr. Evers
- *Thomas Jefferson* (1997), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *I'm Not Rappaport* (1996), as Midge Carter
- *Get on the Bus* (1996), as Jeremiah / 'Pop'
- *Promised Land* (1996), series, as Erasmus Jones
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Terrence Minnerly
- *The Client* (1995), series, as Judge Harry Roosevelt
- *The Android Affair* (1995), as Dr. Winston
- *Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder* (1995), as Uncle Phil
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Gabriel, Erasmus Jones
- *Baseball* (1994), series, as Various (voice), (voice)
- *The Client* (1994), as Harry Roosevelt — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice* (1994), as Uncle Phil
- *The Stand* (1994), series, as Judge Richard Farris, Judge Richard Farris (credit only)
- *Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World* (1994), as Narrator
- *Grumpy Old Men* (1993), as Chuck
- *Cop & ½* (1993), as Detective in Squad Room
- *Goin' Back to T-Town* (1993), as Narrator
- *Alex Haley's Queen* (1993), series, as Parson Dick
- *The Ernest Green Story* (1993), as Grandfather
- *Lincoln* (1992), as Frederick Douglas (voice)
- *Malcolm X* (1992), as Eulogy Performer (voice) — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/malcolm-x.md)
- *The Real Malcolm X* (1992), Actor
- *Haiti: Killing the Dream* (1992), Actor
- *Gladiator* (1992), as Noah
- *Jungle Fever* (1991), as Reverend Purify
- *Evening Shade* (1990), series, as Ponder Blue
- *Joe Versus the Volcano* (1990), as Marshall
- *The Red Shoes* (1990), Actor
- *Do the Right Thing* (1989), as Da Mayor — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md)
- *B.L. Stryker* (1989), series, as Oz Jackson
- *School Daze* (1988), as Coach Odom
- *Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories* (1986), as Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)
- *Avenging Angel* (1985), as Capt. Harry Moradian
- *Harry & Son* (1984), as Raymond
- *Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood* (1984), as Narrator
- *The House of God* (1984), as Dr. Sanders
- *For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers* (1983), Writer
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, Writer
- *Purlie* (1981), Musical
- *Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige* (1981), as Chuffy Russell
- *Death of a Prophet* (1981), Actor
- *All God's Children* (1980), as Blaine Whitfield
- *Freedom Road* (1979), as Narrator
- *Hot Stuff* (1979), as Captain John Geiberger
- *Roots: The Next Generations* (1979), series, as 'Dad' Jones
- *Freedom Man* (1979), as Benjamin Banneker
- *King* (1978), series, as Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.
- *Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid* (1977), as Dr. Fredericks
- *The Tenth Level* (1976), as Reed
- *Countdown at Kusini* (1976), as Ernest Motapo · Director, Screenplay
- *Let's Do It Again* (1975), as Elder Johnson
- *Black Shadows on a Silver Screen* (1975), as Narrator
- *Gordon's War* (1973), Director
- *Black Girl* (1972), Director
- *Malcolm X* (1972), as Eulogy (voice)
- *The Sheriff* (1971), as James Lucas
- *Cotton Comes to Harlem* (1970), Director, Screenplay
- *Kongi's Harvest* (1970), Narrator, Director
- *Night Gallery* (1969), as Osmond Portifoy
- *Slaves* (1969), as Luke
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Ramon Borelle
- *Sam Whiskey* (1969), as Jed Hooker
- *Teacher, Teacher* (1969), as Charles Carter
- *The Fall* (1969), Actor
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Kubani
- *The Scalphunters* (1968), as Joseph Lee
- *Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class* (1968), as Narrator
- *The Outsider* (1967), as Lt. Wagner
- *Black Liberation* (1967), as Narrator
- *A Man Called Adam* (1966), as Nelson Davis
- *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Frankie Morton, Sgt. Dave Corbett, Dave Corbett
- *The Sun... the Sand... the Hill* (1965), as Jason King (archival footage), Jason King (archive footage)
- *The Hill* (1965), as Jacko King
- *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as Major Glenn Luke
- *Shock Treatment* (1964), as Capshaw
- *The Cardinal* (1963), as Father Gillis
- *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as John Ross
- *East Side/West Side* (1963), series, Writer
- *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Lt. Johnny Gaines — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *Gone Are the Days!* (1963), as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson · Writer
- *Hands of Inge* (1962), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Nixie, Officer Bond, District Attorney · Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney Daniel Jackson
- *John Brown's Raid* (1960), as Dangerfield Newby
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Sam Davis
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Charles Carter
- *Fourteen Hours* (1951), as Cab Driver (uncredited)
- *No Way Out* (1950), as John Brooks (uncredited)
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, as The Emperor Jones

## Gallery

- ![Ossie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-a73c77e64983.jpg) Ossie Davis — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Ossie_Davis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ossie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-160c5f68a382.jpg) Ossie Davis — Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington%2C_D.C._%28Actor_Ossie_Davis.%29_-_NARA_-_542018.jpg/1280px-Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington%2C_D.C._%28Actor_Ossie_Davis.%29_-_NARA_-_542018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dedication Of Freedom Place, New York, New York. Participants include Floyd McKissick, Percy Sutton, William F. Ryan, Ted Weiss, Ossie Davis, Ben Chaney, Willia (1967)](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-1fa2d8c18eb2.png) Dedication Of Freedom Place, New York, New York. Participants include Floyd McKissick, Percy Sutton, William F. Ryan, Ted Weiss, Ossie Davis, Ben Chaney, Willia (1967) — Bill Andrews for The Worker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Dedication_Of_Freedom_Place%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Bill_Andrews._Nov_1967_Slide_18.png/1280px-Dedication_Of_Freedom_Place%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Bill_Andrews._Nov_1967_Slide_18.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dedication Of Freedom Place, New York, New York. Participants include Floyd McKissick, Percy Sutton, William F. Ryan, Ted Weiss, Ossie Davis, Ben Chaney, Willia (1967)](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-cff943276361.png) Dedication Of Freedom Place, New York, New York. Participants include Floyd McKissick, Percy Sutton, William F. Ryan, Ted Weiss, Ossie Davis, Ben Chaney, Willia (1967) — Bill Andrews for The Worker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Dedication_Of_Freedom_Place%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Bill_Andrews._Nov_1967_Slide_18_Edit.png/1280px-Dedication_Of_Freedom_Place%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Bill_Andrews._Nov_1967_Slide_18_Edit.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ossie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-91396402d324.jpg) Ossie Davis — Image via TMDB
- ![Ossie Davis](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-ba7f8476ea79.jpg) Ossie Davis — Image via TMDB
- ![Demonstration Against Genocide of African Americans, Overseas Press Club, New York, New York. Participants include Glenn Chase, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis, Roger (1970)](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-ef5009f13da0.png) Demonstration Against Genocide of African Americans, Overseas Press Club, New York, New York. Participants include Glenn Chase, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis, Roger (1970) — Sheldon Ramsdell for the Daily World, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Demonstration_Against_Genocide_of_African_Americans%2C_Overseas_Press_Club%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Sheldon_Ramsdell._Jun_18%2C_1970_Slide_33.png/1280px-Demonstration_Against_Genocide_of_African_Americans%2C_Overseas_Press_Club%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Sheldon_Ramsdell._Jun_18%2C_1970_Slide_33.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Demonstration Against Genocide of African Americans, Overseas Press Club, New York, New York. Participants include Glenn Chase, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis, Roger (1970)](https://film.one/media/person/119533/gallery-708f3b819bc6.png) Demonstration Against Genocide of African Americans, Overseas Press Club, New York, New York. Participants include Glenn Chase, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis, Roger (1970) — Sheldon Ramsdell for the Daily World, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Demonstration_Against_Genocide_of_African_Americans%2C_Overseas_Press_Club%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Sheldon_Ramsdell._Jun_18%2C_1970_Slide_9.png/1280px-Demonstration_Against_Genocide_of_African_Americans%2C_Overseas_Press_Club%2C_New_York%2C_New_York._Photos_by_Sheldon_Ramsdell._Jun_18%2C_1970_Slide_9.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1968: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (nominated), for *The Scalphunters*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 2005: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The L Word*
- 1997: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Miss Evers' Boys*
- 1978: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *King*

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 2001: Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (won)

### Other awards — 9 won, 7 nominated

- Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording 2006: Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording (won)
- Marian Anderson Award 2005: Marian Anderson Award (won)
- Kennedy Center Honors 2004: Kennedy Center Honors (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special 2004: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special (nominated), for *Deacons for Defense*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special 2001: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special (nominated)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2001: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *City of Angels*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 1999: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Promised Land*
- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 1998: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (nominated), for *Miss Evers' Boys*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture 1997: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Get on the Bus*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 1996: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *The Client*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 1989: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (won), for *Do the Right Thing*
- NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award 1987: NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award (won)
- Coretta Scott King Award 1979: Coretta Scott King Award (won)
- Paul Robeson Award 1975: Paul Robeson Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Musical 1970: Tony Award for Best Musical (nominated), for *Purlie*
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical 1958: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ossie-davis