Actor
Ossie Davis
- Born: 4 December 1917, Cogdell, Georgia, USA
- Estimated net worth: 2 million USD
Ossie Davis was a renowned American actor, director, and civil rights activist known for his powerful performances in both film and theater. He is best recognized for roles in 'Do the Right Thing' and 'The Stand'. Davis had a distinctive voice and was…
Ossie Davis: best films and shows
About Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis was a renowned American actor, director, and civil rights activist known for his powerful performances in both film and theater. He is best recognized for roles in 'Do the Right Thing' and 'The Stand'. Davis had a distinctive voice and was celebrated for his ability to portray complex characters, often tackling social issues through his work.
- Born
- 4 December 1917, Cogdell, Georgia, USA
- Died
- 4 February 2005
- Known for
- Acting
- Height
- 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Spouses
- Ruth Davis (1945-2005)
- Children
- 3 children, including Guy Davis and Hasna Davis
- Parents
- Mary (mother), and a father whose name is not widely reported
- Estimated net worth
- 2 million USD
Fun facts about Ossie Davis
- Ossie Davis was also a playwright and wrote several plays, including the acclaimed 'Purlie Victorious'.
- He served as a captain in the Army during World War II, contributing to his strong sense of social justice.
Famous Ossie Davis quotes
“We're all in this together.”
“You can't be a hero without a hero's journey.”
“The future is not a gift; it is an achievement.”
Ossie Davis filmography
Cast (148)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Love in Exile Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues Movie | Self (archive footage) | 6.7 |
| 2006 | Folk Britannia TV | Self (archival footage) | |
| 2005 | The Peace! Movie | Self | 5.0 |
| 2005 | Deacons for Defense Movie | Reverend 'Rev' Gregory | 6.4 |
| 2005 | The History Makers: Success Movie | Self | |
| 2005 | Unstoppable Movie | Self | |
| 2005 | By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' Movie | Self | 6.0 |
| 2004 | She Hate Me Movie | Judge Buchanan | 5.1 |
| 2004 | Proud Movie | Lorenzo DuFau | 4.7 |
Show 138 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Baadasssss! Movie | Granddad | 6.5 |
| 2004 | TV Revolution TV | Unknown character | |
| 2004 | Beah: A Black Woman Speaks Movie | Self | |
| 2004 | The L Word TV | Melvin Porter | 7.7 |
| 2003 | The Evolution of an American Filmmaker Movie | Self | 7.2 |
| 2003 | The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars Movie | Narrator | |
| 2003 | Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property Movie | Himself | 6.4 |
| 2003 | Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Movie | Unknown character | 5.2 |
| 2002 | Theater Talk: 'A Raisin in the Sun' Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | Bubba Ho-tep Movie | John F. "Jack" Kennedy | 6.5 |
| 2002 | Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years TV | Narrator | 6.0 |
| 2001 | Feast of All Saints Movie | Jean-Jacques | 4.8 |
| 2001 | Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore Movie | Narrator | 10.0 |
| 2001 | The Legend of the Candy Cane Movie | Julius (voice) | 9.0 |
| 2000 | Here's to Life! Movie | Duncan Cox | 10.0 |
| 2000 | Dinosaur Movie | Yar (voice) | 6.6 |
| 2000 | Finding Buck McHenry Movie | Buck McHenry | 7.0 |
| 1999 | The Unfinished Journey Movie | Narrator (voice) | 6.5 |
| 1999 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve Movie | Caretaker | 7.9 |
| 1999 | The Soul Collector Movie | Mordecai | 7.3 |
| 1999 | Third Watch TV | Mr. Parker | 7.9 |
| 1999 | The Secret Path Movie | Too Tall | 7.5 |
| 1999 | Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 1999 | A Vow to Cherish Movie | Alexander Billman | 6.0 |
| 1998 | Christianity: The First 1000 Years TV | Himself - Narrator | |
| 1998 | Doctor Dolittle Movie | Archer Dolittle | 5.7 |
| 1998 | Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood Movie | Self | 9.0 |
| 1998 | Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist Movie | Self | 8.2 |
| 1997 | 12 Angry Men Movie | Juror 2 | 7.7 |
| 1997 | 4 Little Girls Movie | Self - Actor and Playwright | 7.1 |
| 1997 | Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers Movie | Narrator | 10.0 |
| 1997 | Miss Evers' Boys Movie | Mr. Evers | 6.5 |
| 1997 | Thomas Jefferson TV | Narrator (voice) | 7.5 |
| 1997 | Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough Movie | Self | 6.5 |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport Movie | Midge Carter | 5.7 |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus Movie | Jeremiah / 'Pop' | 6.4 |
| 1996 | Promised Land TV | Unknown character | 6.5 |
| 1996 | Promised Land TV | Erasmus Jones | 6.5 |
| 1996 | The West TV | Self / John R. Gills (voice) | 8.4 |
| 1996 | The West TV | Self | 8.4 |
| 1995 | JAG TV | Terrence Minnerly | 7.3 |
| 1995 | The Client TV | Judge Harry Roosevelt | 7.0 |
| 1995 | The Android Affair Movie | Dr. Winston | 5.3 |
| 1995 | Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder Movie | Uncle Phil | 7.0 |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel TV | Gabriel | 7.2 |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel TV | Erasmus Jones | 7.2 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | (voice) | 7.5 |
| 1994 | Baseball TV | Various (voice) | 7.5 |
| 1994 | The Client Movie | Harry Roosevelt | 6.7 |
| 1994 | Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice Movie | Uncle Phil | 10.0 |
| 1994 | The Stand TV | Judge Richard Farris (credit only) | 6.8 |
| 1994 | The Stand TV | Judge Richard Farris | 6.8 |
| 1994 | Malcolm X: Make It Plain Movie | Self | 9.0 |
| 1994 | Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World Movie | Narrator | 9.0 |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men Movie | Chuck | 6.7 |
| 1993 | Cop & ½ Movie | Detective in Squad Room | 4.6 |
| 1993 | Goin' Back to T-Town Movie | Narrator | |
| 1993 | Alex Haley's Queen TV | Parson Dick | 7.0 |
| 1993 | The Ernest Green Story Movie | Grandfather | 6.9 |
| 1992 | Lincoln Movie | Frederick Douglas (voice) | 7.3 |
| 1992 | Malcolm X Movie | Eulogy Performer (voice) | 7.5 |
| 1992 | The Real Malcolm X Movie | Unknown character | 8.0 |
| 1992 | Haiti: Killing the Dream Movie | Unknown character | 9.0 |
| 1992 | Gladiator Movie | Noah | 7.7 |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever Movie | Reverend Purify | 6.4 |
| 1990 | Evening Shade TV | Ponder Blue | 5.8 |
| 1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano Movie | Marshall | 5.8 |
| 1990 | The Red Shoes Movie | Unknown character | 10.0 |
| 1989 | Making 'Do the Right Thing' Movie | Self | 6.9 |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing Movie | Da Mayor | 7.8 |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker TV | Oz Jackson | 6.1 |
| 1988 | American Experience TV | Self - Harlem Resident | 6.5 |
| 1988 | School Daze Movie | Coach Odom | 5.6 |
| 1986 | American Masters TV | Self | 7.0 |
| 1986 | Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories Movie | Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice) | |
| 1985 | Avenging Angel Movie | Capt. Harry Moradian | 5.2 |
| 1985 | Tyler Texas Black Film Collection Movie | Himself | 7.0 |
| 1984 | Harry & Son Movie | Raymond | 5.9 |
| 1984 | Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood Movie | Narrator | |
| 1984 | The House of God Movie | Dr. Sanders | 3.2 |
| 1983 | Reading Rainbow TV | Self - Narrator (voice) | 8.4 |
| 1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige Movie | Chuffy Russell | 6.6 |
| 1981 | Death of a Prophet Movie | Unknown character | 4.8 |
| 1980 | All God's Children Movie | Blaine Whitfield | 6.5 |
| 1979 | Freedom Road Movie | Narrator | 5.2 |
| 1979 | Hot Stuff Movie | Captain John Geiberger | 6.8 |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations TV | 'Dad' Jones | 7.5 |
| 1979 | Freedom Man Movie | Benjamin Banneker | |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center Honors TV | Self | 7.4 |
| 1978 | King TV | Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. | 6.6 |
| 1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid Movie | Dr. Fredericks | 8.0 |
| 1976 | The Tenth Level Movie | Reed | 5.3 |
| 1976 | Countdown at Kusini Movie | Ernest Motapo | 7.0 |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again Movie | Elder Johnson | 6.9 |
| 1975 | Black Shadows on a Silver Screen Movie | Narrator | |
| 1973 | Wattstax Movie | Self (uncredited) | 6.8 |
| 1972 | Malcolm X Movie | Eulogy (voice) | 6.7 |
| 1971 | The Sheriff Movie | James Lucas | 6.0 |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest Movie | Narrator | 7.5 |
| 1969 | Night Gallery Movie | Osmond Portifoy | 6.7 |
| 1969 | Slaves Movie | Luke | 6.2 |
| 1969 | Hawaii Five-O TV | Ramon Borelle | 7.2 |
| 1969 | Sam Whiskey Movie | Jed Hooker | 5.7 |
| 1969 | Teacher, Teacher Movie | Charles Carter | 10.0 |
| 1969 | The Fall Movie | Unknown character | 7.2 |
| 1968 | The Name of the Game TV | Kubani | 7.0 |
| 1968 | The Scalphunters Movie | Joseph Lee | 6.4 |
| 1968 | Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class Movie | Narrator | 7.0 |
| 1967 | The Outsider Movie | Lt. Wagner | 8.0 |
| 1967 | Black Liberation Movie | Narrator | |
| 1967 | Now is the Time Movie | Self | |
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam Movie | Nelson Davis | 6.5 |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life TV | Frankie Morton | 7.1 |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life TV | Dave Corbett | 7.1 |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life TV | Sgt. Dave Corbett | 7.1 |
| 1965 | The Sun... the Sand... the Hill Movie | Jason King (archival footage) | 2.7 |
| 1965 | The Sun... the Sand... the Hill Movie | Jason King (archive footage) | 2.7 |
| 1965 | The Hill Movie | Jacko King | 7.5 |
| 1964 | 12 O'Clock High TV | Major Glenn Luke | 7.2 |
| 1964 | Shock Treatment Movie | Capshaw | 6.8 |
| 1963 | The Cardinal Movie | Father Gillis | 6.5 |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure TV | John Ross | 10.0 |
| 1963 | The Fugitive TV | Lt. Johnny Gaines | 7.3 |
| 1963 | Gone Are the Days! Movie | Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson | 7.5 |
| 1962 | Hands of Inge Movie | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1961 | The Defenders TV | District Attorney Daniel Jackson | 6.3 |
| 1961 | The Defenders TV | Assistant District Attorney | 6.3 |
| 1961 | The Defenders TV | District Attorney | 6.3 |
| 1961 | The Defenders TV | Officer Bond | 6.3 |
| 1961 | The Defenders TV | Nixie | 6.3 |
| 1960 | John Brown's Raid Movie | Dangerfield Newby | |
| 1959 | Bonanza TV | Sam Davis | 7.5 |
| 1956 | Tony Awards TV | Self - Presenter | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame TV | Charles Carter | 8.8 |
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours Movie | Cab Driver (uncredited) | 7.3 |
| 1950 | No Way Out Movie | John Brooks (uncredited) | 6.9 |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre TV | The Emperor Jones | 7.8 |
Crew (16)
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Love in Exile Movie | Writer · Writing | |
| 2024 | Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Movie | Writer · Writing | |
| 2024 | Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Movie | Original Story · Writing | |
| 1998 | Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist Movie | Thanks · Crew | 8.2 |
| 1983 | For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers Movie | Writer · Writing | 7.0 |
Show 11 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | American Playhouse TV | Writer · Writing | 6.6 |
| 1981 | Purlie Movie | Musical · Writing | 6.5 |
| 1976 | Countdown at Kusini Movie | Director · Directing | 7.0 |
| 1976 | Countdown at Kusini Movie | Screenplay · Writing | 7.0 |
| 1973 | Gordon's War Movie | Director · Directing | 6.8 |
| 1972 | Black Girl Movie | Director · Directing | 6.8 |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem Movie | Director · Directing | 6.2 |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem Movie | Screenplay · Writing | 6.2 |
| 1970 | Kongi's Harvest Movie | Director · Directing | 7.5 |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side TV | Writer · Writing | 7.8 |
| 1963 | Gone Are the Days! Movie | Writer · Writing | 7.5 |
Latest releases
- Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues2022 / TMDB 6.7
- Deacons for Defense2005 / TMDB 6.4
- The History Makers: Success2005
Questions about Ossie Davis
What are some of Ossie Davis's most famous films?
Ossie Davis is known for his roles in 'Do the Right Thing', 'The Stand', and 'Bubba Ho-Tep'. His performances often addressed social issues and showcased his versatility as an actor.
Did Ossie Davis receive any awards?
Ossie Davis received numerous accolades throughout his career, including an NAACP Image Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
What was Ossie Davis's first film?
Ossie Davis made his film debut in 'No Way Out' (1950), where he starred alongside Sidney Poitier, marking the beginning of a distinguished film career.
How did Ossie Davis contribute to civil rights?
Ossie Davis was an active civil rights advocate, participating in marches and supporting various movements. He often used his platform to promote equality and justice.
What was Ossie Davis's acting style?
Ossie Davis was known for his commanding presence and ability to convey deep emotion. His performances often combined strength with vulnerability, making his characters relatable and impactful.
What is Ossie Davis's estimated net worth?
Ossie Davis's estimated net worth is around 2 million USD, reflecting his successful career in acting, directing, and activism.
What was Ossie Davis's role in theater?
Ossie Davis was also a prominent figure in theater, known for his work on Broadway. He wrote and starred in several plays that highlighted social issues and African American culture.
Did Ossie Davis collaborate with any other notable actors?
Ossie Davis frequently collaborated with his wife, Ruby Dee, as well as other notable actors like Sidney Poitier and Spike Lee, contributing to impactful films and performances.