Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis | |
---|---|
Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
Education | Howard University Columbia University |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1939–2005 |
Spouse | |
Children | 3, including Guy Davis |
Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor,
Davis started his career in theatre acting with the
Davis's credits as a film director include Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Black Girl (1972), and Gordon's War (1973). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Scalphunters (1968). Davis also acted in The Hill (1965), A Man Called Adam (1966), Lets Do It Again (1975), School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Client (1994), and Dr. Dolittle (1998).
For his portrayal of Martin Luther King Sr. in the NBC miniseries King (1978) he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He was also Emmy-nominated for his roles in Teacher, Teacher (1969), Miss Evers' Boys (1997), and The L Word (2005). He won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album with his wife Ruby Dee for Ossie and Ruby (2005).
Early life
Raiford Chatman Davis was born in Cogdell, Georgia, the son of Kince Charles Davis, a railway construction engineer, and his wife Laura (née Cooper; July 9, 1898 – June 6, 2004).[6][7] He inadvertently became known as "Ossie" when his birth certificate was being filed and his mother's pronunciation of his name as "R. C. Davis" was misheard by the Clinch County courthouse clerk.[8] Davis experienced racism from an early age when the KKK threatened to shoot his father, whose job they felt was too advanced for a black man to have. His siblings included scientist William Conan Davis, social worker Essie Davis Morgan, pharmacist Kenneth Curtis Davis, and biology teacher James Davis.[9]
Following the wishes of his parents, he attended
Career
1939–1959: Acting debut and Broadway work
When Davis wanted to pursue a career in acting, he ran into the usual roadblocks that black people suffered at that time as they generally could only portray stereotypical characters such as Stepin Fetchit. Instead, he tried to follow the example of Sidney Poitier and play more distinguished characters. When he found it necessary to play a Pullman porter or a butler, he played those characters realistically, not as a caricature.
In 1961 he wrote and starred in the
1970–1989: Directorial work
In addition to acting, Davis, along with
During this time he acted in the western comedy Sam Whiskey with Burt Reynolds and Angie Dickinson, the drama Slaves starring Dionne Warwick, and the action comedy Hot Stuck with Dom DeLuise and Suzanne Pleshette. Davis starred with Cosby and Poitier in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again. Davis, however, never had the tremendous commercial or critical success that either of them enjoyed. As a playwright, Davis wrote Paul Robeson: All-American, which is frequently performed in theatre programs for young audiences.
In 1976, Davis appeared on
1990–2005: Later work and final roles
Davis also appeared in several popular 1990s films, including the studio comedies
In 1994, Davis played Judge Richard Farris in the
From 1999 to 2000 he played Mr. Parker in the NBC crime drama Third Watch. He also took roles in Deacons for Defense and JAG both in 2003. Davis's last role was a several episode guest role on the Showtime drama series The L Word, as a father struggling with the acceptance of his daughter Bette (Jennifer Beals) parenting a child with her lesbian partner. In his final episodes, his character took ill and died. His wife Ruby Dee was present during the filming of his own death scene. That episode, which aired shortly after Davis's own death, aired with a dedication to the actor.[13] After Davis's death, actor Dennis Haysbert portrayed him in the 2015 film Experimenter.
Personal life
Marriage
In 1948, Davis married actress Ruby Dee, whom he had met on the set of Robert Ardrey's 1946 play Jeb. In their joint autobiography With Ossie and Ruby, they described their decision to have an open marriage, later changing their minds.[14] In the mid-1960s they moved to the New York suburb of New Rochelle, where they remained ever after.[15][16] Their son Guy Davis is a blues musician and former actor, who appeared in the film Beat Street (1984) and the daytime soap opera One Life to Live. Their daughters are Nora Davis Day and Hasna Muhammad.
Political activism
Davis and Dee were well known as
Death
Davis was found dead in a
Davis's funeral was held in New York City on February 12, 2005. The line to enter The Riverside Church, located on the edge of Harlem, stretched for several blocks, with a thousand or more members of the public unable to attend as the church filled to its 2,100 capacity.[19] Speakers included Davis's children and grandchildren, as well as Alan Alda, Burt Reynolds, Amiri Baraka, Avery Brooks, Angela Bassett, Spike Lee, Attallah Shabazz, Tavis Smiley, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Harry Belafonte, and former president Bill Clinton, among many others.[20] Wynton Marsalis performed a musical tribute. Burt Reynolds, who early in his career had worked with Davis, said "Ossie Davis took the bad parts of the South out of me.... I know what a man is because of Ossie Davis." Ms. Shabazz, oldest daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, spoke lovingly of the man she and her five sisters called Uncle Ossie, saying he had provided exceptional support to her and her sisters after her father's assassination. Bill Clinton arrived midway through the service, and said from the pulpit "I asked to be seated in the back. I would proudly ride on the back of Ossie Davis's bus any day," adding that Davis "would have made a great president."[21]
Delivering the eulogy, Harry Belafonte said: Ossie Davis "embraced the greatest forces of our times. Paul Robeson, Dr.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | No Way Out | John Brooks | uncredited |
1951 | Fourteen Hours | Cab Driver | uncredited |
1953 | The Joe Louis Story | Bob | uncredited |
1963 | Gone Are the Days! | Rev. Purlie Victorious Judson | aka Purlie Victorious |
The Cardinal | Father Gillis | ||
1964 | Shock Treatment | Capshaw | |
1965 | The Hill | Jacko King | |
1966 | A Man Called Adam | Nelson Davis | |
1967 | Silent Revolution | ||
1968 | The Scalphunters | Joseph Lee | |
1969 | Sam Whiskey | Jed Hooker | |
Slaves | Luke | ||
1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | — | Director |
1972 | Black Girl | — | Director |
1973 | Gordon's War | — | Director |
1973 | Kongi's Harvest | — | Director |
1973 | Wattstax | Himself | uncredited |
1975 | Let's Do It Again | Elder Johnson | |
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen | Documentary[23] | ||
1976 | Countdown at Kusini | Ernest Motapo | Also director |
1979 | Hot Stuff | Captain John Geiberger | |
Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars | [24] | ||
1984 | Harry & Son | Raymond | |
The House of God | Dr. Sanders | ||
1985 | Avenging Angel | Captain Harry Moradian | |
1986 | From Dreams To Reality: A Tribute to Minority Inventors |
Himself | Documentary |
1987 | Crown Dick | — | Director; Television movie |
1988 | School Daze | Coach Odom | |
1989 | Do the Right Thing | Da Mayor | |
1990 | Joe Versus the Volcano | Marshall | |
1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker | Himself | Documentary |
Jungle Fever | The Good Reverend Doctor Purify | ||
1992 | Gladiator | Noah | |
Malcolm X | Eulogy Performer | Voice | |
1993 | Cop and a Half | Detective in Squad Room | Uncredited |
Grumpy Old Men | Chuck | ||
1994 | The Client | Harry Roosevelt | |
1996 | Get on the Bus | Jeremiah | |
I'm Not Rappaport | Midge Carter | ||
1997 | 4 Little Girls | Himself | Documentary |
1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Archer Dolittle | |
Alyson's Closet | Postman Extraordinaire | Short film | |
1999 | The Unfinished Journey | Narration | Voice; Documentary short |
2000 | The Gospel According to Mr. Allen | Narrator | Documentary |
Dinosaur | Yar | Voice | |
Here's to Life! | Duncan Cox | ||
2001 | Voice of the Voiceless | Himself | Documentary |
2002 | Why Can't We Be a Family Again? | Narrator | Voice; Documentary short |
Bubba Ho-Tep | Jack | ||
2003 | Unchained Memories | Reader #6 | Documentary |
Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property | Himself | Documentary | |
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks | Himself | Documentary | |
BAADASSSSS! |
Granddad | ||
2004 | She Hate Me | Judge Buchanan | |
Proud | Lorenzo DuFau | ||
2005 | A Trumpet at the Walls of Jericho | Documentary |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1955 | Kraft Theatre |
Brutus Jones | Episode: " The Emperor Jones "
|
1960 | Play of the Week | Will Harris | 2 episodes |
1960 | Playhouse 90 | Performer | Episode: "John Brown's Raid" |
1961 | The Defenders | District Attorney | 8 episodes |
1962 | Seven Times Monday | Will | Television movie |
1962 | The Catholic Hour | Performer | Episode: "The Sign of Fire" |
1962-1963 | Car 54 Where Are You? |
Officer Omar Anderson | 6 episodes |
1963 | The Great Adventure |
John Ross | Episode: "Go Down, Moses" |
1964 | The Doctors and the Nurses |
Dr. Farmer | Episode: "The Family Resemblance" |
1964 | CBS Show of the Week | Performer | Episode: "Neighbours" |
1966 | The Fugitive | Lieutenant Johnny Gaines | Episode: "Death is the Door Prize" |
1966–1967 | Run for Your Life | Performer | 3 episodes |
1967 | 12 O'Clock High | Major Glenn Luke | Episode: "The Graveyard" |
1968 | N.Y.P.D. | Dempsey | 2 episodes |
1969 | Bonanza: The Wish | Sam Davis | Episode: "The Wish" |
1969 | The Name of the Game | Kubani | Episode: "The Third Choice" |
1969 | Night Gallery | Osmund Portifoy | Pilot; Segment: "The Cemetery" |
1971 | The Sheriff | Sheriff James Lucas | Television movie |
1973 | Love, American Style | Performer | Episode: "Love and High Spirits" |
1974 | Hawaii Five-O | Ramon Borelle | Episode: "Hara-Kiri: Murder" |
1976 | The Tenth Level | Reed | Television movie |
1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid | Dr. Fredericks | Television movie |
1978 | King |
Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. | Miniseries |
1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Dad Jones | Miniseries |
Freedom Road | Narrator | Television movie | |
1980 | All God's Children | Blaine Whitfield | Television movie |
1980–1981 | Ossie and Ruby! | Co-host | TV Series |
1981 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige |
Chuffy Russell | Television movie |
Death of a Prophet | Himself | Television movie | |
1989 | Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars | Performer | Television movie [25] |
1989–1990 | B.L. Stryker | 'Oz' Jackson | 12 episodes |
1990 | We'll Take Manhattan | Man in Subway | Television movie |
1990–1994 | Evening Shade | Ponder Blue | 99 episodes |
1993 | Alex Haley's Queen | Parson Dick | Miniseries |
The Ernest Green Story | Grandfather | Television movie | |
1994 | The Stand | Judge Richard Farris | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
1995 | Ray Alexander | Uncle Phil | Television movie |
The Android Affair | Dr. Winston | Television movie | |
1995–1996 | The Client | Judge Harry Roosevelt | 14 episodes |
1996 | Home of the Brave | Erasmus Jones | Television movie |
1996–1998 | Promised Land | Erasmus Jones | 10 episodes |
1996–2002 | Touched By An Angel |
Erasmus Jones / Gabriel / Gabe | 6 episodes |
1997 | Miss Evers' Boys | Mr. Evers | Television movie |
12 Angry Men | Juror #2 | Television movie | |
1999 | The Secret Path | 'Too Tall' | Television movie |
The Soul Collector | Mordecai | Television movie | |
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve | The Caretaker | Television movie | |
A Vow to Cherish | Alexander Billman | Television movie | |
1999–2000 | Third Watch | Mr. Parker | 3 episodes |
2001 | Between the Lions | Woodcutter | Episode: Bug Beard |
2000 | Finding Buck McHenry | Buck McHenry | Television movie |
2001 | Legend of the Candy Cane | Julius | Voice; Television movie |
The Feast of All Saints |
Jean-Jacques | Television movie | |
2002 | Persidio Med | Otis Clayton | Episode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly" |
2003 | Deacons for Defense |
Reverend Gregory | Television movie |
JAG | Terrence Minnerly | Episode: "Close Quarters" | |
2004–2005 | The L Word | Melvin Porter | Final appearance; 4 episodes |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1939 | Joy Exceeding Glory | Reverend Stokes | Rose McClendon Players |
1940 | On Strivers Row | Chuck Reynolds | |
1940 | Booker T. Washington | Fred | |
1941 | Black Women in White | Performer | |
1946 | Jeb | Jeb Turner | Martin Beck Theatre , Broadway
|
1946 | Anna Lucasta | Rudolph | Mansfield Touring Company |
1948 | The Leading Lady | Trem | National Theatre, Broadway |
1949 | The Smile of the World | Stewart | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
1949 | Stevedore | Lonnie Thompson | Equity Library Theatre |
1950 | The Wisteria Trees | Jacques | Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway |
1951 | The Royal Family | Jo | City Center, Broadway |
1951 | The Green Pastures | Gabriel | Broadway Theatre, Broadway |
1951 | Remains to Be Seen | Al | Morosco Theatre, Broadway |
1953 | Touchstone | Dr. Joseph Clay | Music Box Theatre, Broadway |
1955 | The Wisteria Trees | Jacques | City Center, Broadway |
1956 | No Time for Sergeants | A Lieutenant | Alvin Theatre |
1957 | Jamaica | Cicero | Imperial Theatre, Broadway |
1959 | A Raisin in the Sun | Walter Lee Younger (replacement) |
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway |
1961 | Purlie Victorious | Purlie Victorious / Also writer | Cort Theatre , Broadway
|
1963 | Ballad for Bimshire | Sir Radio | Mayfair Theatre |
1865 | The Zulu and the Zayda | Johannes | Cort Theatre |
1972 | Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death | Performer | Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
1979 | Take It from the Top | The Lord / Also director | New Federal Theatre |
1983 | Zora is My Name! | Performer | American Playhouse |
1986 | I'm Not Rappaport | Midge (replacement) | Booth Theatre, Broadway |
1988 | A Celebration of Paul Robeson | Performer | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
1995 | Two Hah Hahs and a Homeboy | Performer | Crossroads Theatre Company |
Discography
- Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, Vol. 1: (Folkways Records, 1966)
- Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, Vol. 2: (Folkways, 1966)
- Frederick Douglass' The Meaning of July 4 for the Negro: (Folkways, 1975)
- Frederick Douglass' Speeches inc. The Dred Scott Decision: (Folkways, 1976)
Awards and honors
In 1989, Ossie Davis and his wife, actress/activist Ruby Dee, were named to the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. In 1995, they were awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the country and presented in a White House ceremony by the President of the United States.[5] In 1994, Davis was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.[26] In 2004, they were recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.[27] According to the Kennedy Center Honors:
- "The Honors recipients recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts— whether in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television — are selected by the Center's Board of Trustees. The primary criterion in the selection process is excellence. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement; the selection process, over the years, has produced balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines."[28]
Year | Association | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 | Tony Award |
Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Jamaica | Nominated | |
1967 | Golden Globe Award |
Best Supporting Actor | The Scalphunters | Nominated | |
1969 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | Hallmark Hall of Fame: Teacher, Teacher | Nominated | |
1978 | Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | King | Nominated | ||
1997 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Miss Evers' Boys | Nominated | ||
2005 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | The L Word | Nominated | ||
2001 | Daytime Emmy Award |
Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special | Finding Buck McHenry | Nominated | |
2001 | Grammy Award |
Best Spoken Word | The Complete Shakespeare Sonnets | Nominated | |
2007 | With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together | Won | |||
1984 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Adapted Drama Anthology | For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story | Won |
Bibliography
- Davis, Ossie (1961). Purlie Victorious. New York: Samuel French Inc. Plays. ISBN 978-0-573-61435-4.
- Davis, Ossie (1977). Escape to Freedom: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. New York: Samuel French. ISBN 978-0-573-65031-4.
- Davis, Ossie (1982). Langston. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 978-0-440-04634-9.
- Davis, Ossie; Dee, Ruby (1984). Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears (Audio). Caedmon. ISBN 978-0-694-51187-7.
- Davis, Ossie (1992). Just Like Martin. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN 978-0-671-73202-8.
- Davis, Ossie; Dee, Ruby (1998). With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together. New York: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-688-15396-0.
- Davis, Ossie (2006). Dee, Ruby (ed.). Life Lit by Some Large Vision: Selected Speeches and Writings. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-416-52549-3.
References
- ^ Ossie Davis – Awards IMDb. 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012
- ^ Ossie Davis Television Credits Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Official Website of Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee. 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012
- ^ Books Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Official Website oOssie Davis & Ruby Dee. 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012
- ^ Dagan, Carmel Oscar-Nominated Actress Ruby Dee Dies at 91. Variety. June 12, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2016
- ^ a b Lifetime Honors – National Medal of Arts Archived 2013-08-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Ossie Davis Biography". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
- ^ "Davis, Laura Cooper". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. June 9, 2004. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
- ^ "Ossie Davis Biography". IMDb. 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2007.
- ^ Davis, William C. (February 1, 2013). "The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with William Davis" (PDF). HistoryMakers.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Theatre: 'Purlie Victorious' Romps In; Ossie Davis Stars in His Play at Cort". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "The Scalphunters". rogerebert.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
- ^ Severo, Richard; Martin, Douglas (February 5, 2005). "Ossie Davis, Actor, Writer and Eloquent Champion of Racial Justice, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2007.
- ^ Sheri Stritof; Bob Stritof. "Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee on Open Marriage". About.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved January 11, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Greene, Donna. "Q&A/Ossie Davis; Involved in a Community Beyond Theater", The New York Times, October 25, 1998.
- ^ "Lincoln Avenue Corridor NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK". The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Davis, Ossie (February 27, 1965). "Malcolm X's Eulogy". The Official Website of Malcolm X. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
- Today. Associated Press. February 9, 2005.
- ^ "Celebs Say Goodbye to Ossie Davis in Harlem". Fox News. Associated Press. January 13, 2015.
- ^ "<Remembering Ossie Davis 1917-2005: Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, Bill Clinton Pay Tribute to the Famed Actor & Civil Rights Activist". Democracy Now!. February 14, 2005.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ "Ossie Davis: He belonged to all of us". The Final Call. February 17, 2005.
- OCLC 4186675– via Open WorldCat.
- ^ "Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars". Baltimore, Maryland: Enoch Pratt Free Library. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ Erikson, Hal (2016). "Review Summary: Benjamin Banneker: The Man Who Loved the Stars (1989)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ "Ossie Davis". The History Makers.
- ^ Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Kennedy Center Honors. September 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
- ^ 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Kennedy Center Honors. 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
External links
- The official site of Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee
- Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
- Ossie Davis at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ossie Davis at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Ossie Davis at IMDb
- Ossie Davis at Find a Grave
- Ossie Davis at the TCM Movie Database
- Eulogy of Malcolm X
- Ossie Davis' oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- Ossie Davis at Smithsonian Folkways
- Ossie Davis at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Appearances on C-SPAN