OSSIE DAVIS

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Ossie Davis

Born: 18 / 12 / 1917 , Cogdell , Usa – Decede le 4 Fevrier 2005

BIOGRAPHY:

Davis was born Raiford Chatman Davis in Cogdell, Clinch County, Georgia, a son of Kince Charles Davis, a railway construction engineer, and his wife Laura (nee Cooper; July 9, 1898 – June 6, 2004). The name Ossie came from a county clerk who misheard his mother’s pronunciation of his initials “R.C.” when he was born.

So he inadvertently became “Ossie” when his mother told the courthouse clerk in Clinch County, Ga., who was filing his birth certificate that his name was R.C. Davis. Davis experienced racism from an early age when the KKK threatened to shoot his father, whose job they felt was too advanced for a black man to have.

Following the wishes of his parents, he attended Howard University but dropped out in 1939 to fulfill his desire for an acting career in New York; he later attended Columbia University School of General Studies. His acting career, which spanned eight decades, began in 1939 with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem.

During World War II, Davis served in the United States Army in the Medical Corps. He made his film debut in 1950 in the Sidney Poitier film No Way Out.

He voiced Anansi the spider on the PBS children’s television series Sesame Street in its animation segments.

INTERVIEW:

MORE MOVIE WITH: Ossie Davis

She Hate Me (2004) Play: Judge Buchanan	Baadasssss! (2003) Play: Granddad	Deacons for Defense (2003) Play: Reverant Gregory	Dr Dolittle (1998) Play: Archer Dolittle	Miss Evers Boys (1997) Play: Mr. Evers
Get on the Bus (1996) Play: Jeremiah	Gladiator (1992) Play: Noah	Jungle Fever (1991) Play: Doctor Purify	Do the right Thing (1989) Play: Mr Maire	School Daze (1988) Play: Coach Odom
Cool Red (1976) Play: Ernest Motapo	Let’s Do It Again (1975) Play: Elder Johnson	Cotton comes to Harlem (1970) Play: Realisateur / Director	Slaves (1969) Play: Luke	Gone Are the Days! (1963) Play: Purlie Victorious