Ossie Davis: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Raiford Chatman Davis
Born	December 18, 1917 • Georgia
Died	February 4, 2005 (aged 87) • Miami Beach • Florida
Awards And Honors	Grammy Award (2006) • Kennedy Center Honors (2004) • National Medal of Arts (1995)
Notable Works	“Gone Are the Days” • “Purlie Victorious”
Notable Family Members	spouse Ruby Dee

Photos

Ossie Davis, seated on a stoop, and Spike Lee, standing and holding a pizza box, in a scene from the film Do the Right Thing, with brownstone steps and greenery behind them.

Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Laura Bush, and President George W. Bush stand in the presidential box with hands on their chests during the national anthem at the Kennedy Center.

See All Images →

Spike Lee wearing a suit, tie, and tortoiseshell glasses at the 2007 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

Spike Lee

American filmmaker

Tyler Perry wearing a black suit and white shirt, holding an award and posing in front of a step and repeat backdrop at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Tyler Perry

American playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director

Mel Brooks in a tuxedo smiles widely and points at his Emmy Award trophy while posing in front of a blue Emmy Awards backdrop.

Mel Brooks

American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor

default image

Ruby Dee

American actress

Woody Allen speaking into a microphone with hands raised beside his face during a press conference, against a red background.

Woody Allen

American director, writer, and actor

Michael Imperioli poses in a dark suit and black shirt in front of a purple backdrop at the Los Angeles premiere of The White Lotus Season 2.

Michael Imperioli

American actor

Barbra Streisand in 2010, wearing a layered necklace and a black jacket, with straight shoulder-length hair, smiling slightly at an event.

Barbra Streisand

American singer and actress

Steve Martin, wearing glasses and a black tuxedo with a bow tie, smiles while posing at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills.

Steve Martin

American actor and writer

Sidney Poitier smiling and wearing a light gray suit, blue shirt, and patterned tie at an event.

Sidney Poitier

Bahamanian American actor

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin

American writer and producer

Tracy Letts wearing a tuxedo and glasses, smiling and holding his Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, standing in front of a Tony Awards backdrop.

Tracy Letts

American actor and playwright

Umeki, Miyoshi; Buttons, Red: Sayonara

Joshua Logan

American director and producer

Garson Kanin

Garson Kanin

American writer and director

David Mamet wearing glasses and a gray jacket over a black shirt, shown from the shoulders up with a neutral expression.

David Mamet

American author

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

American playwright and actor

Ruth Gordon

Ruth Gordon

American writer and actress

Larry David wearing glasses, a gray shirt, striped tie, and dark suit jacket, smiling at the camera.

Larry David

American comedian, writer, and actor

Mae West as Sister Annie Alden in Klondike Annie wears a large purple feathered hat and matching dress, with blonde curls and chandelier earrings, against a blue curtain backdrop.

Mae West

American actress

default image

Dore Schary

American producer

Orson Welles

Orson Welles

American actor, director, and writer

USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood

Pop Culture Quiz