Ossie Davis was an American actor and director.
Biography[]
Born Raiford Davis in Cogdell, Georgia, he began acting with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem and made his first professional theatre appearance in Joy Exceeding Glory. He began a prolific acting career onscreen, with a major appearance in The Hill in 1955 and other roles including the films Hot Stuff and Jungle Fever and television series including Hawaii Five-O and Evening Shade. He wrote the stage play Paul Robeson All-American.
Davis directed the films Cotton Comes to Harlem, Gordon’s War and Countdown at Kusini. He continued to act in theatre (Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death and I’m Not Rappaport) television (the television film remake of 12 Angry Men) and films such as The Nutty Professor and Bubba Ho-Tep. He was also a committed civil rights activist.
Davis passed away in 2005.
Singing[]
Davis originated roles in three stage musicals in the 1950s and 60s; Jamaica, Ballad for Bimshire and The Zulu and the Zayda.
Television[]
Car 54, Where Are You? (1962)[]
- Deck the Halls
Stage[]
Jamaica (1957)(originated the role)[]
- Little Biscuit (duet)
- What Good Does It Do? (contains solo lines)
Ballad for Bimshire (1963)(originated the role)[]
The Zulu and the Zayda (1965)(originated the role)[]
- Tkambuza (solo)
- Crocodile Wife (solo)
- The Water Wears Down the Stone (solo)
- Cold, Cold Room (solo)