Actor Ossie Davis dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Ossie Davis, the actor distinguished for roles dealing with racial injustice on stage, screen and in real life, has died, an aide said Friday. He was 87.
http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifhttp://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/02/04/inside1-davis.jpghttp://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifOssie Davis and his wife Ruby Dee were 2004 Kennedy Center honorees.http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifPRNewsFoto

Davis, the husband and partner of actress Ruby Dee, was found dead Friday in his hotel room in Miami, where he was making a film called Retirement, according to Arminda Thomas, who works in his office in suburban New Rochelle. (Related audio: Davis accepts SAG Lifetime Achievement Award (javascript:OpenAudioLife('http://real.usatoday-na-central.speedera.net/ramgen/real.usatoday-na-central/Davis020405.ra')) | Davis' last public appearance (javascript:OpenAudioLife('http://real.usatoday-na-central.speedera.net/ramgen/real.usatoday-na-central/Davis2020405.ra')))

Davis, who wrote, acted, directed and produced for the theater and Hollywood, was a central figure among black performers of the last five decades. He and Dee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1998 with the publication of a dual autobiography, In This Life Together.

Davis had just started his movie on Monday, said Michael Livingston, his Hollywood agent.

"I'm shocked," Livingston said. "I'm absolutely shocked. He was the most wonderful man I've ever known. Such a classy, kindly man." Dee had gone to New Zealand to make a movie there, Livingston said.

In 2004, Davis and Dee were among the artists selected to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.

Their partnership called to mind other performing couples, such as the Lunts, or Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. Davis and Dee first appeared together in the plays Jeb, in 1946, and Anna Lucasta, in 1946-47. Davis' first film, No Way Out in 1950, was Dee's fifth.

Both had key roles in the television series Roots: The Next Generation (1978), Martin Luther King: The Dream and the Drum (1986) and The Stand (1994). Davis appeared in three Spike Lee films, including School Daze,Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever. Dee also appeared in the latter two; among her best-known films was A Raisin in the Sun, in 1961.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

:( He was great in this little made-for called "Chasing Secrets" with Della Reece. Very sad.

OIzzie Davis has died he was 87,he was going to work on 2 movie projects in 2005 and 2006, in 05 he was going to make Retirement and in 06 Life's Back Pocket. Other movies are,She Hates Me in 2003 he played Judge Buchanan,in 2003 Proude he played Lorenzo Dufeu,in 2000 he was the voice of Yar in dinsey's Dinosaur,and he played a Judge in the Tv's The Client in 1995 and in 1994 he also played the movie role as the Judge.In 1994 He played Richard Farris in Steven King mine series The Stand based on Kings best selleing novel of the same name. He also done Tv comedy's and other specials.

Orangehead, thanks for posting this bio on Ossie Davis. He was also in six Spike Lee movies: Jungle Fever, Do The Right Thing, Get On the Bus, School Daze, Malcolm X and Four Little Girls.

He was also had many appearances in television shows Evening Shade to Car 54 Where Are You?

He was also a humanitarian and marched for civil rights, and gave the eulogy at both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's funerals.

He will be missed.

RIP OSSIE! :crying: peacesign:

He was alway an enjoyable actor to watch. R.I.P. Ossie. :(

I always liked him a great deal. He was a very good actor. I'm glad he had a long life, a long marriage, and a successful career. I'm sure his wife is devastated.

RIP OSSIE!!!! :crying: :crying:

Rest in peace, Ossie.

Ossie Davis? I can't believe this. He was a wonderful and talented actor, and I was definately a fan of his. I'd like to second what Janice said in her post. I'm also a fan of Ruby Dee, and I imagine she is devastated.

Rest in peace, Mr. Davis. :(

I'd like to second what Janice said in her post. I'm also a fan of Ruby Dee, and I imagine she is devastated.


Especially if she was in New Zealand at the time. :(

That is very sad. I saw him in an episode of "The Fugitive", the movie "Do the Right Thing", and he did a voiceover for a series on the history of Christianity with his wife Ruby Dee on A & E several years ago. He was an actor and voice you couldn't miss, like James Earl Jones. :(

Especially if she was in New Zealand at the time. :(

Yeah, definately so. :(

A very talented and intelligent man, not to mention a hardworking actor. Even at the age of 87, he was still working.

RIP.

Actor Ossie Davis dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Ossie Davis, the actor distinguished for roles dealing with racial injustice on stage, screen and in real life, has died, an aide said Friday. He was 87.
http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifhttp://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/02/04/inside1-davis.jpghttp://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifOssie Davis and his wife Ruby Dee were 2004 Kennedy Center honorees.http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifPRNewsFoto

Davis, the husband and partner of actress Ruby Dee, was found dead Friday in his hotel room in Miami, where he was making a film called Retirement, according to Arminda Thomas, who works in his office in suburban New Rochelle. (Related audio: Davis accepts SAG Lifetime Achievement Award (javascript:OpenAudioLife('http://real.usatoday-na-central.speedera.net/ramgen/real.usatoday-na-central/Davis020405.ra')) | Davis' last public appearance (javascript:OpenAudioLife('http://real.usatoday-na-central.speedera.net/ramgen/real.usatoday-na-central/Davis2020405.ra')))

Davis, who wrote, acted, directed and produced for the theater and Hollywood, was a central figure among black performers of the last five decades. He and Dee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1998 with the publication of a dual autobiography, In This Life Together.

Davis had just started his movie on Monday, said Michael Livingston, his Hollywood agent.

"I'm shocked," Livingston said. "I'm absolutely shocked. He was the most wonderful man I've ever known. Such a classy, kindly man." Dee had gone to New Zealand to make a movie there, Livingston said.

In 2004, Davis and Dee were among the artists selected to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.

Their partnership called to mind other performing couples, such as the Lunts, or Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. Davis and Dee first appeared together in the plays Jeb, in 1946, and Anna Lucasta, in 1946-47. Davis' first film, No Way Out in 1950, was Dee's fifth.

Both had key roles in the television series Roots: The Next Generation (1978), Martin Luther King: The Dream and the Drum (1986) and The Stand (1994). Davis appeared in three Spike Lee films, including School Daze,Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever. Dee also appeared in the latter two; among her best-known films was A Raisin in the Sun, in 1961.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


RIP Ossie Davis :(

I'm surprised they ignored his role on Evening Shade :eek: