Directed credits
5
Emerging
Beginning to build directing work.
Director
Ossie Davis
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
0.8
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 5Directed series: 0All crew credits: 11
TMDB ID: 15531
IMDb ID: nm0001115
Known for: Acting
Born: December 18, 1917
Died: February 4, 2005
Age: 87
Place of birth: Cogdell, Georgia, USA
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1947 - 2024
Years active: 78
Average TMDB rating: 6.75
Wikidata: Q515632
Also known as
Ozzie Davis • Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis • Raiford Chatman Davis
Frequent jobs
Director (5)Writer (4)Musical (1)Thanks (1)
Biography
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.
Photos
Movies
Directed Movies
Movies directed by Ossie Davis.
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Ossie Davis.
7.8
Do the Right Thing
as Da Mayor
1989 Movie
7.7
12 Angry Men
as Juror 2
1997 Movie
7.6
Gladiator
as Noah
1992 Movie
7.5
Malcolm X
as Eulogy Performer (voice)
1992 Movie
7.5
The Hill
as Jacko King
1965 Movie
6.9
No Way Out
as John Brooks (uncredited)
1950 Movie
6.7
Grumpy Old Men
as Chuck
1993 Movie
6.7
The Client
as Harry Roosevelt
1994 Movie
6.5
Dinosaur
as Yar (voice)
2000 Movie
6.5
Bubba Ho-tep
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
2002 Movie
6.4
The Scalphunters
as Joseph Lee
1968 Movie
6.4
Jungle Fever
as Reverend Purify
1991 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Ossie Davis.
7.9
Third Watch
as Mr. Parker • 3 eps
1999 Series
7.6
The L Word
as Melvin Porter • 4 eps
2004 Series
7.5
Bonanza
as Sam Davis • 1 eps
1959 Series
7.3
JAG
as Terrence Minnerly • 1 eps
1995 Series
7.2
Touched by an Angel
as Gabriel • 2 eps
1994 Series
7.1
Hawaii Five-O
as Ramon Borelle • 1 eps
1968 Series
6.8
The Stand
as Judge Richard Farris • 2 eps
1994 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Ossie Davis.
6.5
Dinosaur
as Yar (voice)
2000 Movie
6.7
The Client
as Harry Roosevelt
1994 Movie
7.5
Malcolm X
as Eulogy Performer (voice)
1992 Movie
6.5
Bubba Ho-tep
as John F. "Jack" Kennedy
2002 Movie
5.7
Doctor Dolittle
as Archer Dolittle
1998 Movie
7.8
Do the Right Thing
as Da Mayor
1989 Movie
7.5
The Secret Path
as Too Tall
1999 Movie
6.4
Jungle Fever
as Reverend Purify
1991 Movie
7.6
Gladiator
as Noah
1992 Movie
5.8
Joe Versus the Volcano
as Marshall
1990 Movie
7.7
12 Angry Men
as Juror 2
1997 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Ossie Davis.
7.3
JAG
as Terrence Minnerly • 1 eps
1995 Series
7.5
Bonanza
as Sam Davis • 1 eps
1959 Series
6.6
American Experience
as Self - Harlem Resident • 1 eps
1988 Series
7.2
The Fugitive
as Lt. Johnny Gaines • 1 eps
1963 Series
7.9
Third Watch
as Mr. Parker • 3 eps
1999 Series
7.1
Hawaii Five-O
as Ramon Borelle • 1 eps
1968 Series
7.2
Touched by an Angel
as Gabriel • 2 eps
1994 Series
6.8
The Stand
as Judge Richard Farris • 2 eps
1994 Series
7.5
American Masters
as Self • 1 eps
1986 Series
7.6
The L Word
as Melvin Porter • 4 eps
2004 Series
8.4
Reading Rainbow
as Self - Narrator (voice) • 1 eps
1983 Series
7.2
Run for Your Life
as Frankie Morton • 1 eps
1965 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Ossie Davis.
Series
Other Crew Work in Series
Additional series credits for Ossie Davis.
Movies
Acting Appearances in Movies
Movie cast credits for Ossie Davis.
6.7
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2022 Movie
6.2
Deacons for Defense
as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory
2005 Movie
The History Makers: Success
as Self
2005 Movie
5.0
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'
as Self
2005 Movie
5.1
She Hate Me
as Judge Buchanan
2004 Movie
4.4
Proud
as Lorenzo DuFau
2004 Movie
6.5
Baadasssss!
as Granddad
2004 Movie
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
as Self
2004 Movie
7.3
The Evolution of an American Filmmaker
as Self
2003 Movie
6.1
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property
as Himself
2003 Movie
4.8
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
2003 Movie
Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun'
as Self
2002 Movie
Series
Acting Appearances in Series
Series cast credits for Ossie Davis.
7.6
The L Word
as Melvin Porter • 4 eps
2004 Series
6.0
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
as Narrator • 2 eps
2002 Series
7.9
Third Watch
as Mr. Parker • 3 eps
1999 Series
8.0
Thomas Jefferson
as Narrator (voice) • 2 eps
1997 Series
6.1
Promised Land
1 eps
1996 Series
8.4
The West
as Self • 9 eps
1996 Series
7.3
JAG
as Terrence Minnerly • 1 eps
1995 Series
6.8
The Client
as Judge Harry Roosevelt • 21 eps
1995 Series
7.2
Touched by an Angel
as Gabriel • 2 eps
1994 Series
7.4
Baseball
as Various (voice)
1994 Series
6.8
The Stand
as Judge Richard Farris • 2 eps
1994 Series
7.0
Alex Haley's Queen
as Parson Dick • 3 eps
1993 Series