People named Ossie Davis

Ossie Davis Born December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA Died February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA (natural causes) Birth Name Raiford Chatman Davis Height 6' 2¼" (1.89 m) Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA as Raiford Chatman Davis. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and The Client (1994). He was married to Ruby Dee. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Spouse (1) Ruby Dee (9 December 1948 - 4 February 2005) ( his death) ( 3 children) Trade Mark (1) Deep commanding voice Named to NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame with his wife, Ruby Dee, in 1989. The county clerk misunderstood his mother's dialectal pronunciation of his initials "R.C." when he was born. He thought he heard "Ossie" and registered him as such. The name stuck. Was a featured speaker at the funeral of both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Lived in New Rochelle, New York. Recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, along with Elton John, Joan Sutherland, John Williams, Warren Beatty and wife Ruby Dee. Had three children his with Ruby Dee: Guy Davis, Nora Day, and Hasna Muhammad. Was the oldest of five children. His brother, Dr. William Davis, a professor in San Antonio, TX, holds several patents, one of which is for the chemical process to produce instant mashed potatoes. Twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1958 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Jamaica", and in 1970 as co-author of the book for Best Musical nominee "Purlie". Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch). He and his wife Ruby Dee were awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1995 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, D.C. Had played the father of Jennifer Beals' character on The L Word (2004). In a powerful performance, fitting of his legacy, his character died in the episode, The L Word: L-Chaim (2005). This was his final performance before his own death, and the episode was dedicated to his memory. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 128-130. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007. Broadway debut as playwright with "Purlie Victorious" in 1961. Studied drama with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem, New York City. Served in the United States Army during World War II as a medical technician. Had appeared with his wife Ruby Dee in nine films: No Way Out (1950), Gone Are the Days! (1963), The Sheriff (1971), Cool Red (1976), Roots: The Next Generations (1979), All God's Children (1980), Do the Right Thing (1989), Jungle Fever (1991) and The Stand (1994). Grandfather of Muta'Ali Muhammad. Sang with the Melloharps, a vocal group, who had "I Love Only You" on Tin Pan Alley 145 in 1955. His ashes are inurned at Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York. He was a lifelong liberal Democrat. Personal Quotes (4) College ain't so much where you been as how you talk when you get back. Struggle is strengthening. Battling with evil gives us the power to battle evil even more. Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change--it can not only move us, it makes us move. I find, in being black, a thing of beauty: a joy; a strength; a secret cup of gladness.

Ossie B Davis of Picayune, Pearl River County, Mississippi was born on March 8, 1921, and died at age 65 years old in January 1987.

Ossie J Davis of Paducah, McCracken County, KY was born on August 29, 1916, and died at age 85 years old on July 10, 2002.

Ossie L Davis of Richmond, Contra Costa County, CA was born on August 4, 1928, and died at age 68 years old on August 23, 1996.

Ossie Davis of Sleepy Eye, Brown County, Minnesota was born on December 20, 1911, and died at age 70 years old in November 1982.

Ossie M Davis of Shelby, Cleveland County, NC was born on July 14, 1937, and died at age 69 years old on July 26, 2006.

Ossie Davis of Mountain View, Kiowa County, Oklahoma was born on November 22, 1895, and died at age 75 years old in May 1971.

Ossie Davis of Jones, Oklahoma County, OK was born on November 5, 1889, and died at age 81 years old on July 15, 1971.

Ossie Davis of Atlanta, Fulton County, GA was born on May 14, 1921, and died at age 74 years old on March 10, 1996.

Ossie Davis of Holbrook, Navajo County, AZ was born on September 10, 1903, and died at age 91 years old on November 16, 1994.

Ossie Davis was born on May 11, 1953, and died at age 26 years old in April 1980. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ossie Davis.

Ossie Davis of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama was born on March 15, 1890, and died at age 79 years old in October 1969.

Ossie R Davis of Medon, Madison County, TN was born on February 22, 1927, and died at age 77 years old on March 19, 2004.

Ossie Davis of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana was born on September 20, 1893, and died at age 94 years old in November 1987.

Ossie Davis of Petersburg, Lincoln County, Tennessee was born on March 25, 1888, and died at age 91 years old in May 1979.

Ossie Davis of Florida was born on October 19, 1896, and died at age 79 years old in September 1976.

Ossie Davis of Williston, Levy County, Florida was born on October 20, 1898, and died at age 68 years old in July 1967.

Ossie Davis of Aston, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was born on September 18, 1914, and died at age 67 years old in August 1982.

Ossie M Davis of Macon, Bibb County, GA was born on November 30, 1908, and died at age 80 years old in November 1988.

Ossie Davis was born on June 8, 1925, and died at age 54 years old in December 1979. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ossie Davis.

Ossie Davis was born on July 3, 1934, and died at age 24 years old in August 1958. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ossie Davis.

Ossie Davis of High Point, Guilford County, North Carolina was born on April 21, 1888, and died at age 89 years old in June 1977.

Ossie B Davis of Camden, Camden County, NJ was born on January 14, 1926, and died at age 70 years old on December 15, 1996.

Ossie Davis was born on March 28, 1920, and died at age 53 years old in November 1973. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ossie Davis.

Ossie Davis of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA was born on September 27, 1928, and died at age 73 years old on September 18, 2002.

Ossie Davis of Hartford, Hartford County, CT was born on September 13, 1922, and died at age 51 years old in February 1974.