- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRaiford Chatman Davis
- Height6′ 2¼″ (1.89 m)
- Ossie Davis was born on December 18, 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Do the Right Thing (1989), Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). He was married to Ruby Dee. He died on February 4, 2005 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA.
- Deep commanding voice
- Was a featured speaker at the funeral of both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, L-Chaim (2005). This was his final performance before his own death, and the episode was dedicated to his memory.
- Served in the United States Army during World War II as a medical technician.
- 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.
- [Speaking about the Harlem Renaissance] If I had to choose between Heaven and Harlem, Harlem would win every time.
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