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Ossie Davis

Ossie Davis

Actor, also writer and director · Died February 4, 2005, aged 87 · Cogdell, Georgia, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 18, 1917
Died
February 4, 2005 (aged 87)
From
Cogdell, Georgia, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer and director
Titles
67 on MovieCove · 118 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 45% in 30 days

What are Ossie Davis' films like?

Across their 53 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Self.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
20%
Self
17%
Morality
17%
Bonds
16%
Power
15%
Survival
9%
Ideas
6%
Justice15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 48 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 20 · Serious 8 · Dark 20

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 29 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 22 · Intense 15

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 25 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 30 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 22 · Even-paced 26 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 29 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 38 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

35 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 14 of 35 analyzed roles.

Mentor
14 of 35
Ally
12 of 35
Threshold guardian
4 of 35
Herald
3 of 35
Hero
1 of 35
Shadow
1 of 35
Show the 35 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
33
Melancholic
21
Contemplative
15
Warm
12
Hopeful
14
Other
42

How their films linger

Hopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous7
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ossie Davis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 67 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ossie Davis' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

118 credits, 67 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Love in Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Writer · Actor

  • Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Original Story · Writer

  • Deacons for Defense(2003)

    as Reverend 'Rev' Gregory

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • She Hate Me(2004)

    as Judge Buchanan

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Proud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Lorenzo DuFau

  • Baadasssss!(2003)

    as Granddad

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • TV Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The L Word(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · as Melvin Porter

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(2004)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator

  • Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives(2003)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Bubba Ho-Tep(2002)

    as John F. "Jack" Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator

  • The Feast of All Saints(2001)

    as Jean-Jacques

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • The Legend of the Candy Cane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Julius (voice)

  • Here's to Life! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Duncan Cox

  • Dinosaur(2000)

    as Yar (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Finding Buck McHenry(2000)

    as Buck McHenry

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Unfinished Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve(1999)

    as Caretaker

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Soul Collector(1999)

    as Mordecai

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mr. Parker

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Secret Path(1999)

    as Too Tall

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A Vow to Cherish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Alexander Billman

  • Doctor Dolittle(1998)

    as Archer Dolittle

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist(1998)

    Thanks · as Self

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • 12 Angry Men(1997)

    as Juror 2

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Narrator

  • Miss Evers' Boys(1997)

    as Mr. Evers

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Thomas Jefferson(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • I'm Not Rappaport(1996)

    as Midge Carter

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Get on the Bus(1996)

    as Jeremiah / 'Pop'

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Erasmus Jones

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Terrence Minnerly

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Client (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 21 episodes · as Judge Harry Roosevelt

  • The Android Affair(1995)

    as Dr. Winston

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder(1995)

    as Uncle Phil

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Erasmus Jones · as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Baseball(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · as (voice) · as Various (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Client(1994)

    as Harry Roosevelt

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice(1994)

    as Uncle Phil

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Stand(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge Richard Farris · as Judge Richard Farris (credit only)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Narrator

  • Grumpy Old Men(1993)

    as Chuck

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Cop & ½(1993)

    as Detective in Squad Room

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Goin' Back to T-Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Narrator

  • Queen(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Parson Dick

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Ernest Green Story(1993)

    as Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Lincoln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Frederick Douglas (voice)

  • Malcolm X(1992)

    as Eulogy Performer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Real Malcolm X(1992)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Haiti: Killing the Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Gladiator(1992)

    as Noah

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Fever(1991)

    as Reverend Purify

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Evening Shade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 100 episodes · as Ponder Blue

  • Joe Versus the Volcano(1990)

    as Marshall

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Red Shoes(1990)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Do the Right Thing(1989)

    as Da Mayor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • B.L. Stryker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 12 episodes · as Oz Jackson

  • School Daze(1988)

    as Coach Odom

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Sesame Street: Sleepytime Songs & Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Anansi the Spider (Sleepytime Songs and Stories) (voice)

  • Avenging Angel(1985)

    as Capt. Harry Moradian

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Harry & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Raymond

  • Marcus Garvey: Toward Black Nationhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Narrator

  • The House of God(1981)

    as Dr. Sanders

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Purlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Musical

  • Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige(1981)

    as Chuffy Russell

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Death of a Prophet(1981)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • All God's Children(1980)

    as Blaine Whitfield

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Freedom Road(1979)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Hot Stuff(1979)

    as Captain John Geiberger

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Dad' Jones

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Freedom Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Benjamin Banneker

  • King(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid(1977)

    as Dr. Fredericks

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Tenth Level (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Reed

  • Countdown at Kusini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Screenplay · as Ernest Motapo

  • Let's Do It Again(1975)

    as Elder Johnson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Black Shadows on the Silver Screen(1975)

    as Narrator

  • Gordon's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Black Girl(1972)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Malcolm X(1972)

    as Eulogy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as James Lucas

  • Cotton Comes to Harlem(1970)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kongi's Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · as Narrator

  • Night Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Osmond Portifoy

  • Slaves(1969)

    as Luke

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Ramon Borelle

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Sam Whiskey(1969)

    as Jed Hooker

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Teacher, Teacher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Charles Carter

  • The Fall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Kubani

  • The Scalphunters(1968)

    as Joseph Lee

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Still A Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Narrator

  • The Outsider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Lt. Wagner

  • Black Liberation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Narrator

  • A Man Called Adam(1966)

    as Nelson Davis

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Corbett · as Frankie Morton · as Sgt. Dave Corbett

  • The Sun... the Sand... the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Jason King (archival footage) · as Jason King (archive footage)

  • The Hill(1965)

    as Jacko King

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • 12 O'Clock High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Glenn Luke

  • Shock Treatment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Capshaw

  • The Cardinal(1963)

    as Father Gillis

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ross

  • East Side/West Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • The Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Johnny Gaines

  • Gone Are the Days! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer · as Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson

  • Hands of Inge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Defenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 3 episodes · as Assistant District Attorney · as District Attorney · as District Attorney Daniel Jackson · as Nixie · as Officer Bond

  • John Brown's Raid(1960)

    as Dangerfield Newby

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Davis

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Carter

  • Fourteen Hours(1951)

    as Cab Driver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • No Way Out(1950)

    as John Brooks (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Kraft Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Show 1 episode · as The Emperor Jones

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 117 titles from 1947 to 2026; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

Dinosaur (2000)

$350M worldwide

Highest rated

Baseball (1994)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Dinosaur (2000)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19472026

Peak 1997 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 117: 104 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting5 of 117: 2 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting9 of 117: 5 only writing, 4 with another roleOther crew1 of 117: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

117 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s4 · acting1960s25 · 24 acting · 2 crew1970s16 · 13 acting · 5 crew1980s14 · 11 acting · 3 crew1990s39 · 38 acting · 1 crew2000s16 · acting2020s2 · 1 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 27 roles
50759095

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ossie Davis' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of the 54 of 55 with a score; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 66 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

30 of their 66 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

The Red Shoes (1990)

93rd percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Baseball (1994)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ossie Davis' work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles12–57 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles10–62 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles48–93 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles14–33 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles17–67 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ossie Davis work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ossie Davis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ruby Dee shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles