Ossie Davis Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Up 500 this week

Ossie Davis (1917–2005)


Trivia:

Served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medical technician. See more trivia »

Related Lists

a list of 46 people by Chocolatelegz created 3 months ago
 
a list of 100 people by erico_oktaviannes created 4 months ago
 
a list of 32 people by HawkHerald created 6 months ago
 
a list of 161 people by Tomcsányi Gyula created 07 Nov 2011
 

Do you have a demo reel?

Connect with IMDb


Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Ossie Davis.
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActor (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
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
 
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
 
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
Motherless Child (1996) (credit only)
The Way Things Never Were (1995) (credit only)
 
1996 Home of the Brave (TV movie)
Erasmus Jones
 
1996 Ripper (Video Game)
Ben Dodds
 
1995 The Android Affair (TV movie)
Dr. Winston
 
1994 The Great Battles of the Civil War (TV mini-series documentary)
W. H. Carney
 
1994 The Stand (TV mini-series)
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
 
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
 
1990 Joe Versus the Volcano
Marshall
 
1990 The Red Shoes (TV short)
Narrator (voice)
 
1988 School Daze
Coach Odom
 
1985 Avenging Angel
Captain Harry Moradian
 
1984 Harry & Son
Raymond
 
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 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.
 
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 Love, American Style (TV series)
(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
 
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
 
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
 
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)
 
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
 
1953 The Joe Louis Story
Bob (uncredited)
 
1951 Fourteen Hours
Cab Driver (uncredited)
 
1950 No Way Out
John Brooks (uncredited)
 
Show ShowDirector (6 titles)
1987 Crown Dick (TV movie)
 
1976 Cool Red
 
1973 Gordon's War
 
1972 Black Girl
 
1970 Kongi's Harvest
 
Show ShowWriter (6 titles)
1981 Purlie (TV movie) (play "Purlie Victorious")
 
1976 Cool Red
 
1963 East Side/West Side (TV series)
I Before E Except After C (1963) (story / written by)
 
1963 Gone Are the Days! (play "Purlie Victorious" / screenplay)
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (2 titles)
2001 We Shall Not Be Moved (TV documentary) (narrator)
 
1992 Malcolm X (writer: eulogy)
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1991 Hands Upon the Heart (producer)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1970 Cotton Comes to Harlem (lyrics: "Ain't Now, But it's Gona Be")
 
Show ShowThanks (4 titles)
2013 Independent Lens (TV series documentary) (in memory of - 1 episode)
 
2007 Three Days to Vegas (in memory of: 1917-2005)
 
2004 Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (documentary) (special thanks)
 
1998 Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist (documentary) (thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (89 titles)
2005 The Peace! DVD (video documentary)
Himself
 
2005 Character Studies (TV series)
Himself
Ruth (2005) … Himself
 
2005 Tavis Smiley (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 21 February 2005 (2005) … Himself
 
2005 The History Makers (video documentary)
Himself
 
2005 The Struggle (video)
Himself
 
2005 Making of 'King' (video documentary short)
 
2005 The Civil Rights Movement (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2005 By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2005 A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho (documentary)
 
2004 Emmy's Greatest Moments (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2004 The Story Behind Baadasssss!: The Birth of Black Cinema (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2004 Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2004 Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' (video documentary)
Himself
 
2004 A Wealth of Wisdom (TV series)
Himself - Panelist
 
2004 Book TV (TV series)
Himself - Panelist
A Wealth of Wisdom (2004) … Himself - Panelist
 
2004 Independent Lens (TV series documentary)
Himself / Narrator
 
2003 Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Spike Lee's '25th Hour': The Evolution of an American Filmmaker (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2003 2003 Trumpet Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
2003 Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property (documentary)
Himself
 
2003 XXI Century (TV series documentary)
Himself - Actor
War, Peace, and Patriotism (2003) … Himself - Actor
 
2002 That's Black Entertainment: Westerns (TV documentary)
Interviewee
 
2002 An Evening with Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee (TV movie)
Himself - Interviewee
 
2002 Hughes' Dream Harlem (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
2002 Why Can't We Be a Family Again? (documentary short)
Narrator (voice)
 
2002 School's Out: Self-taught Artists (documentary short)
Bill Traylor
 
2002 The Tuskegee Airmen (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
2002 Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2002 The Last Poets (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2001 Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (TV mini-series documentary)
Narrator
 
2001 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
2001 Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary)
Himself
Rosa Parks (2001) … Himself
 
2001 Freedom Never Dies: The Legacy of Harry T. Moore (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
2001 Voice of the Voiceless (documentary)
Himself
 
2000 The Gospel According to Mr. Allen (documentary)
Narrator
 
2000 The Directors (TV series documentary)
Himself
The Films of Spike Lee (2000) … Himself
 
1999 The Unfinished Journey (documentary short)
Narration (voice)
 
1999 30th NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1996-1999 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Himself / Narrator
Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999) … Himself/Narrator (voice)
Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice (1996) … Himself
 
1999 The Century: America's Time (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
1920-1929: Boom to Bust (1999) … Himself
1929-1936: Stormy Weather (1999) … Himself
 
1999 Great Books (TV series)
Himself
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1999) … Himself
 
1998 NY TV: By the People Who Made It - Part I & II (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1998 Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist (documentary)
Himself
 
1997 4 Little Girls (documentary)
Himself - Actor and Playwright
 
1997 Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers (video documentary)
Narrator
 
1997 The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 24 January 1997 (1997) … Himself
 
1997 The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1996 The West (TV series documentary)
Fight No More Forever (1996) (voice)
 
1995 Dramatic Moments in Black Sports History (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 VH1 Legends (TV series documentary)
Narrator
 
1994 Reading Rainbow (TV series)
Himself
Summer (1994) … Himself (voice)
 
1994 Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World (TV documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
1994 Baseball (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
The Capital of Baseball (1994) … Himself
The National Pastime (1994) … Himself (voice)
Shadow Ball (1994) … Himself (voice)
A National Heirloom (1994) … Himself (voice)
The Faith of Fifty Million People (1994) … Himself (voice)
 
1994 The 48th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter
 
1994 The American Experience (TV series documentary)
Himself - Harlem Resident
Malcolm X: Make It Plain (1994) … Himself - Harlem Resident (also archive footage)
 
1994 26th NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1993 The Great Depression (TV series documentary)
Himself
To Be Somebody (1993) … Himself
 
1991 Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (documentary)
Himself
 
1991 The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Audience Member
 
1990 22nd NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1989 Making 'Do the Right Thing' (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1989 Today (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 5 July 1989 (1989) … Himself
 
1988 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 9 October 1988 (1988) … Himself
 
1984 A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers (TV series documentary)
Himself
Episode dated 25 April 1984 (1984) … Himself
Episode dated 18 April 1984 (1984) … Himself
 
1984 A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. (TV special documentary)
Narrator (voice)
 
1981 Death of a Prophet (TV movie)
Himself
 
1978 Tony Brown's Journal (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 25 May 1978 (1978) … Himself
 
1977 Black Journal (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 20 February 1977 (1977) … Himself
 
1975 Black Shadows on the Silver Screen (TV documentary)
Narrator
 
1973 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 9 August 1973 (1973) … Himself - Mystery Guest
 
1973 Wattstax (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1972 Malcolm X (documentary)
Eulogy (voice) (also archive footage)
 
1969-1970 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 25 June 1970 (1970) … Himself
Episode dated 26 November 1969 (1969) … Himself
 
1970 He Said, She Said (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 13 June 1970 (1970) … Himself
 
1969 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.45 (1969) … Himself
 
1969 The Fall (documentary)
Himself
 
1968 Look Up and Live (TV series)
Himself
Continuity of Despair (1968) … Himself
 
1968 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 3 January 1968 (1968) … Himself
 
1964 Freedom Spectacular (TV movie)
Himself
 
1963 To Tell the Truth (TV series)
Himself - Guest Panelist
Episode dated 16 December 1963 (1963) … Himself - Guest Panelist
Episode dated 4 November 1963 (1963) … Himself - Guest Panelist
 
1962 The 16th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (12 titles)
2010 Democracy Now! (TV series)
 
2006 Segregating the Greatest Generation (documentary)
Himself
 
2005 The Black Movie Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2005 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
2005 The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself (In Memoriam)
 
2005 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2005 The 77th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Memorial Tribute
 
2005 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (video documentary)
 
1992 The Real Malcolm X (TV documentary)
Himself - Delivers Eulogy (uncredited)
 
1986 Sesame Street: Bedtime Stories and Songs (video short)
Narrator (segment "Anansi Tale") (voice) (as Ozzie Davis)
 
1965 The Sun... the Sand... the Hill. (documentary short)
Jacko King
 

Related Videos

Baadasssss! -- Mario Van Peebles's half documentary/half homage to his father Melvin's 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Evening Shade: :  -- Clip: At the Barbecue Villa 12 Angry Men -- Trailer for 12 Angry Men
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

Narration for numerous United Negro College Fund public service announcements. See more »

Publicity Listings:

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

Alternate Names:

Ozzie Davis

Height:

6' 3" (1.91 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a medical technician. See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius