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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.
The roles that explain the career.
60 credits across 4 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Love in Exile | Film | |
| 2026 | Love in Exile | Writer | Film |
| 2005 | Deacons for Defense | Reverend 'Rev' Gregory | Film |
| 2005 | The Peace! | Self | Film |
| 2004 | She Hate Me | Judge Buchanan | Film |
| 2004 | Baadasssss! | Granddad | Film |
| 2004 | Proud | Lorenzo DuFau | Film |
| 2004 | Beah: A Black Woman Speaks | Self | Film |
| 2003 | Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives | Film | |
| 2003 | Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property | Himself | Film |
| 2002 | Bubba Ho-tep | John F. "Jack" Kennedy | Film |
| 2001 | The Legend of the Candy Cane | Julius (voice) | Film |
| 2001 | Feast of All Saints | Jean-Jacques | Film |
| 2000 | Finding Buck McHenry | Buck McHenry | Film |
| 2000 | Dinosaur | Yar (voice) | Film |
| 1999 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve | Caretaker | Film |
| 1999 | The Secret Path | Too Tall | Film |
| 1999 | The Unfinished Journey | Narrator (voice) | Film |
| 1998 | Doctor Dolittle | Archer Dolittle | Film |
| 1997 | 12 Angry Men | Juror 2 | Film |
| 1997 | Miss Evers' Boys | Mr. Evers | Film |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport | Midge Carter | Film |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Jeremiah / 'Pop' | Film |
| 1994 | The Client | Harry Roosevelt | Film |
| 1994 | Malcolm X: Make It Plain | Self | Film |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men | Chuck | Film |
| 1993 | Cop & ½ | Detective in Squad Room | Film |
| 1992 | Gladiator | Noah | Film |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker | Self | Film |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever | Reverend Purify | Film |
| 1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano | Marshall | Film |
| 1990 | Evening Shade | Ponder Blue | TV |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing | Da Mayor | Film |
| 1989 | Making 'Do the Right Thing' | Self | Film |
| 1988 | School Daze | Coach Odom | Film |
| 1985 | Avenging Angel | Capt. Harry Moradian | Film |
| 1984 | Harry & Son | Raymond | Film |
| 1984 | The House of God | Dr. Sanders | Film |
| 1981 | Death of a Prophet | Film | |
| 1979 | Freedom Road | Narrator | Film |
| 1979 | Hot Stuff | Captain John Geiberger | Film |
| 1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid | Dr. Fredericks | Film |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | Elder Johnson | Film |
| 1973 | Wattstax | Self (uncredited) | Film |
| 1973 | Gordon's War | Director | Film |
| 1972 | Malcolm X | Eulogy (voice) | Film |
| 1972 | Black Girl | Director | Film |
| 1971 | The Sheriff | James Lucas | Film |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest | Narrator | Film |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Director | Film |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest | Director | Film |
| 1969 | Sam Whiskey | Jed Hooker | Film |
| 1969 | Night Gallery | Osmond Portifoy | Film |
| 1968 | The Scalphunters | Joseph Lee | Film |
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam | Nelson Davis | Film |
| 1965 | The Hill | Jacko King | Film |
| 1964 | Shock Treatment | Capshaw | Film |
| 1963 | The Cardinal | Father Gillis | Film |
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours | Cab Driver (uncredited) | Film |
| 1950 | No Way Out | John Brooks (uncredited) | Film |
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