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.