The Golden Throats Wiki
Advertisement

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)

Gallery[]

Advertisement