Ossie Davis

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations See more awards »

Known For

Doctor Dolittle (1998)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

Dinosaur (2000)

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Filmography

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Actor (107 titles)

2004-2005 The L Word (TV series)
Melvin Porter

– L'Chaim (2005) … Melvin Porter

– Loud & Proud (2005) … Melvin Porter

– Land Ahoy (2005) … Melvin Porter

– Lawfully (2004) … Melvin Porter

2004 Proud
Lorenzo DuFau

2004 She Hate Me
Judge Buchanan

2003 JAG (TV series)
Terrence Minnerly

– Close Quarters (2003) … Terrence Minnerly

2003 Baadasssss!
Granddad

2003 Deacons for Defense (TV movie)
Reverend 'Rev' Gregory

1996-2002 Touched by an Angel (TV series)
Erasmus Jones / Gabriel

– Remembering Me: Part 2 (2002) … Gabriel

– The Christmas Gift (1999) … Gabriel

– Vengeance Is Mine: Part 1 (1998) … Erasmus Jones

– The Homecoming: Part 1 (1996) … Erasmus Jones

– Promised Land (1996) … Erasmus Jones

2002 Presidio Med (TV series)
Otis Clayton

– This Baby's Gonna Fly (2002) … Otis Clayton

2002 Bubba Ho-Tep
Jack

2002 Philly (TV series)
Gilbert Willoughby

– The Curse of the Klopman Diamonds (2002) … Gilbert Willoughby

2001 Feast of All Saints (TV movie)
Jean-Jacques

2001 Legend of the Candy Cane (TV movie)
Julius (voice)

2000 Here's to Life!
Duncan Cox

2000 Dinosaur
Yar (voice)

2000 Finding Buck McHenry (TV movie)
Buck McHenry

1999-2000 Third Watch (TV series)
Mr. Parker

– Men (2000) … Mr. Parker

– Journey to the Himalayas (2000) … Mr. Parker

– Modern Designs for Better Living (1999) … Mr. Parker

2000 City of Angels (TV series)
Henry, King of England / Henry Charles

– To Halve or Halve Not (2000) … Henry, King of England/Henry Charles

– When Worlds Colitis (2000) … Henry, King of England

2000 J.C. Leyendecker: The Great American Illustrator (TV movie)
Narrator

1999 The Soul Collector (TV movie)
Mordecai

1999 The Secret Path (TV movie)
Too Tall

1999 Cosby (TV series)
Fred

– Ol' Betsy (1999) … Fred

1999 The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (TV movie)
The Caretaker

1999 A Vow to Cherish (TV movie)
Alexander Billman

1996-1998 Promised Land (TV series)
Erasmus Jones

– Baptism of Fire (1998) … Erasmus Jones

– A Hand Up Is Not a Hand Out: Part 2 (1998) … Erasmus Jones

– A Hand Up Is Not a Hand Out: Part 1 (1998) … Erasmus Jones

– Designated Driver (1998) … Erasmus Jones

– Stealing Home: Part 2 (1997) … Erasmus Jones

See all 6 episodes »

1998 Doctor Dolittle
Archer Dolittle

1998 Alyson's Closet (short)
Postman Extraordinaire

1997 12 Angry Men (TV movie)
Juror #2

1997 Miss Evers' Boys (TV movie)
Mr. Evers

1997 The Protector (TV series)

1997 Thomas Jefferson (TV mini-series)
Narrator (voice)

1996 I'm Not Rappaport
Midge Carter

1996 Get on the Bus
Jeremiah

1995-1996 The Client (TV series)
Judge Harry Roosevelt

– The High Ground (1996) … Judge Harry Roosevelt

– The Morning After (1996) … Judge Harry Roosevelt

– Motherless Child (1996) (credit only)

– The Way Things Never Were (1995) (credit only)

– Happily Ever After (1995) … Judge Harry Roosevelt

See all 14 episodes »

1996 Home of the Brave (TV movie)
Erasmus Jones

1996 Ripper (Video Game)
Ben Dodds

1995 The Android Affair (TV movie)
Dr. Winston

1995 Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder (TV movie)
Uncle Phil

1994 The Great Battles of the Civil War (TV mini-series documentary)
W. H. Carney

1994 The Client
Harry Roosevelt

1990-1994 Evening Shade (TV series)
Ponder Blue

– I Left My Ring in Evening Shade (1994) … Ponder Blue

– The Odder Couple (1994) … Ponder Blue

– Mama Knows Best (1994) … Ponder Blue

– Wood Climbs to New Heights (1994) … Ponder Blue

– Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wood? (1994) … Ponder Blue

See all 97 episodes »

1994 Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice (TV movie)
Uncle Phil

1994 The Stand (TV mini-series)
Judge Richard Farris

– The Stand (1994) … Judge Richard Farris

– The Betrayal (1994) … Judge Richard Farris

– The Dreams (1994) … Judge Richard Farris

1993 Grumpy Old Men
Chuck

1993 Cop and ½
Detective in Squad Room (uncredited)

1993 Queen (TV mini-series)
Parson Dick

1993 The Ernest Green Story (TV movie)
Grandfather

1992 Lincoln (TV movie)
Frederick Douglas (voice)

1992 Malcolm X
Eulogy Performer (voice)

1992 Gladiator
Noah

1991 Jungle Fever
The Good Reverend Doctor Purify

1990 We'll Take Manhattan (TV movie)
Man in Subway

1989-1990 B.L. Stryker (TV series)
Oz / Oz Jackson

– Night Train (1990) … Oz Jackson

– Plates (1990) … Oz Jackson

– High Rise (1990) … Oz Jackson

– Grand Theft Hotel (1990) … Oz Jackson

– Winner Takes All (1990) … Oz Jackson

See all 12 episodes »

1990 Joe Versus the Volcano
Marshall

1990 The Red Shoes (TV short)
Narrator (voice)

1989 Do the Right Thing
Da Mayor

1988 School Daze
Coach Odom

1985 Avenging Angel
Captain Harry Moradian

1984 Harry & Son
Raymond

1984 The House of God
Dr. Sanders

1981 Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige (TV movie)
Chuffy Russell

1980 Ossie and Ruby! (TV series)
Co-host (1980-81)

1980 All God's Children (TV movie)
Blaine Whitfield

1979 Freedom Road (TV movie)
Narrator

1979 Hot Stuff
Captain John Geiberger

1979 Roots: The Next Generations (TV mini-series)
Dad Jones

– Episode #1.3 (1979) … Dad Jones

1978 King (TV mini-series)
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

– Episode #1.3 (1978) … Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

– Episode #1.2 (1978) … Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

– Episode #1.1 (1978) … Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

1977 NBC Special Treat (TV series)
Mr. Eolin

– A Piece of Cake (1977) … Mr. Eolin

1977 Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid (TV movie)
Dr. Fredericks

1976 The Tenth Level (TV movie)
Reed

1976 Cool Red
Ernest Motapo

1975 Let's Do It Again
Elder Johnson

1974 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Ramon Borelle

– Hara-Kiri: Murder (1974) … Ramon Borelle

1973 The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People (TV series)

– Today Is Ours

1973 Love, American Style (TV series)
(segment "Love and High Spirits")

– Love and the Games People Play/Love and High Spirits/Love and the Memento/Love and the Single Husband/Love and the Stutter (1973) … (segment "Love and High Spirits")

1971 The Sheriff (TV movie)
James Lucas

1969 Rod Serling's Night Gallery (TV series)
Osmund Portifoy

– Night Gallery (1969) … Osmund Portifoy

1969 Slaves
Luke

1969 Sam Whiskey
Jed Hooker

1969 Bonanza (TV series)
Sam Davis

– The Wish (1969) … Sam Davis

1969 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Kubani

– The Third Choice (1969) … Kubani

1969 Teacher, Teacher (TV movie)
Charles Carter

1968 The Scalphunters
Joseph Lee

1968 N.Y.P.D. (TV series)
Dempsey

– Nothing Is Real But the Dead: Part 2 (1968) … Dempsey

1967 The Outsider (TV movie)
Lt. Wagner

1966-1967 Run for Your Life (TV series)
Dave Corbett / Frankie Morton / Sgt. Dave Corbett

– A Rage for Justice: Part 2 (1967) … Sgt. Dave Corbett

– Flight from Tirana: Part 1 (1967) … Dave Corbett

– A Game of Violence (1966) … Frankie Morton

1966 12 O'Clock High (TV series)
Major Glenn Luke

– Graveyard (1966) … Major Glenn Luke

1966 The Fugitive (TV series)
Johnny Gaines

– Death Is the Door Prize (1966) … Johnny Gaines

1966 A Man Called Adam
Nelson Davis

1965 Slattery's People (TV series)
Jack Phillips

– What Can You Do with a Wounded Tiger? (1965) … Jack Phillips

1965 The Hill
Jacko King

1961-1965 The Defenders (TV series)
District Attorney Daniel Jackson / District Attorney / Assistant District Attorney / …

– The Sworn Twelve (1965) … District Attorney Daniel Jackson

– Nobody Asks What Side You're On (1965) … District Attorney Daniel Jackson

– Fires of the Mind (1965) … District Attorney Daniel Jackson

– Turning Point (1964) … Assistant District Attorney

– Mind Over Murder (1964) … District Attorney

See all 8 episodes »

1964 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series)
Dr. Farmer

– The Family Resemblance (1964) … Dr. Farmer

1964 Shock Treatment
Capshaw

1963 The Cardinal
Father Gillis

1963 The Great Adventure (TV series)
John Ross

– Go Down, Moses (1963) … John Ross

1963 Gone Are the Days!
Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson

1962-1963 Car 54, Where Are You? (TV series)
Officer Omar Anderson / Officer Omar

– Here Comes Charlie (1963) … Officer Omar Anderson

– The Star Boarder (1963) … Officer Omar Anderson

– The Presidential Itch (1963) … Officer Omar Anderson

– Benny the Bookie's Last Chance (1963) … Officer Omar Anderson

– Stop Thief (1962) … Officer Omar Anderson

See all 7 episodes »

1962 Seven Times Monday (TV movie)
Will

1960-1961 Play of the Week (TV series)
Will

– Black Monday (1961)

– Seven Times Monday (1960) … Will

1960 John Brown's Raid (TV movie)
Dangerfield Newby

1960 CBS Repertoire Workshop (TV series)

– Brown Girl, Brownstones (1960)

1960 Playhouse 90 (TV series)

– John Brown's Raid (1960)

1955 The Emperor Jones (TV movie)
Brutus Jones

1955 Kraft Theatre (TV series)
The Emperor Jones

– The Emperor Jones (1955) … The Emperor Jones

1953 The Joe Louis Story
Bob (uncredited)

1951 Fourteen Hours
Cab Driver (uncredited)

1950 No Way Out
John Brooks (uncredited)

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Director (6 titles)

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Writer (6 titles)

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Miscellaneous Crew (2 titles)

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Producer (1 title)

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Soundtrack (1 title)

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Thanks (4 titles)

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Self (89 titles)

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Archive Footage (12 titles)

Personal Details

Other Works:

Music DVD: "Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas" playing "The Caretaker". See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie | 1 Print Biography | 17 Articles | See more »

Alternate Names:

Ozzie Davis

Height:

6' 3" (1.91 m)

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Did You Know?

Trivia:

The county clerk misunderstood his mother's dialectal pronunciation of his initials "R.C." when he was born. He thought he heard "Ossie" and registered him as such. The name stuck. See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius

Ossie Davis (1917–2005)

Trivia:

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Died:

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Known For

Filmography

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Alternate Names:

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