- Davis, Ossie
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▪ 2006Raiford Chatman Davis American actor, writer, director, producer, and social activist (b. Dec. 18, 1917, Cogdell, Ga.—d. Feb. 4, 2005, Miami Beach, Fla.), had a stately presence and a melifluous voice that both enriched his stage, film, and television performances and gave extra power to his work on behalf of civil rights and peace. He delivered the eulogy at Malcolm X's funeral in 1965—and repeated it for the film Malcolm X (1992), one of his seven Spike Lee films—and spoke at the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral in 1968. He was also noted for his partnership with his wife, Ruby Dee, which was considered one of the theatre and film world's most distinguished. Their partnership extended into their activism as well; they acted as master and mistress of ceremonies for the 1963 March on Washington, which they also had helped organize. Davis studied at Howard University, Washington, D.C., but left school to move to New York City, aiming to become a playwright. In 1946 he made his Broadway debut in Jeb, in which Dee was also a cast member. They then performed together in Anna Lucasta (1946–47), and in 1948 they were married. Among Davis and Dee's most notable joint stage appearances that followed were A Raisin in the Sun (1959; filmed 1961) and the satiric Purlie Victorious (1961), which Davis wrote and in whose film version (Gone Are the Days,1963) Davis and Dee also appeared; it later was made into a stage musical (Purlie, 1970). Television productions in which they both performed included Roots: The Next Generation (1978), Martin Luther King: The Dream and the Drum (1986), and The Stand (1994). In addition, Davis wrote and directed such films as Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Countdown to Kusini (1976). Davis and Dee were awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.
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▪ American actor and playwrightbyname of Raiford Chatman Davisborn Dec. 18, 1917, Cogdell, Ga., U.S.died Feb. 4, 2005, Miami Beach, Fla.American writer, actor, director, and social activist who was known for his contributions to African American theatre and film and for his passionate support of civil rights and humanitarian causes. He was also noted for his artistic partnership with his wife, Ruby Dee (Dee, Ruby), which was considered one of the theatre and film world's most distinguished.After attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., Davis moved to New York City to pursue a career as a writer. He served in the army during World War II but returned to New York City after the war with an interest in acting. In 1946 he made his Broadway debut in Jeb, during the run of which he met Dee, whom he married in 1948.Davis and Dee frequently appeared together on stage, screen, and television—most notably in Purlie Victorious (1961), a play written by Davis and later adapted for the screen as Gone Are the Days (1963). Davis directed and wrote the films Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Countdown to Kusini (1976). He continued to work into the 21st century, combining his acting pursuits with writing and civil rights campaigning. Davis made several films with Spike Lee (Lee, Spike), including Do the Right Thing (1989) and Malcolm X (1992), in which he reenacted the real-life eulogy he had given for the fallen civil rights leader. Davis also spoke at the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. (King, Martin Luther, Jr.), in 1968. The recipients of numerous honours, Davis and Dee were jointly awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1995 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
