Ossie Davis
Actor
About This Interview
Ossie Davis (1917-2005) was interviewed for two hours plus in New Rochelle, NY. Mr. Davis spoke of his early years as an actor starting out in the theater. He discussed his early television appearances on Showtime U.S.A.: “Green Pastures” (1951), Kraft Television Theatre: “The Emperor Jones” (1955), and CBS Television Workshop: “Brown Girl, Brownstones” (1960). He spoke of writing and starring in the play “Purlie Victorious” and its feature film adaptation. He spoke of his many acting roles on stage, in the movies, and on television in such series as The Defenders, the Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Evening Shade and the miniseries King and Roots: The Next Generations. He also discussed his work as a film director, beginning with Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970). He spoke of his collaborations with his wife of many years Ruby Dee, including their radio show With Ossie and Ruby (1981-82). The interview was conducted by Harold Dow on October 26, 1999.
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Video clip: From With Ossie & Ruby: Ossie Davis' tribute to Louis Armstrong (1981)
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Highlights
Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had: " Roots helped supply America with a truer definition of who black people were than any other work that had come along" (04m 23s)
Ossie Davis on the effect of the Blacklist on him and fellow performers; on being called to testify at the HUAC
(07m 09s)- Ossie Davis on the creative freedom he and Ruby Dee had on their PBS series Ossie and Ruby! (01m 49s)
Ossie Davis on advice he would give aspiring actors and playwrights
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- On his early years and influences; on the racism he experienced as a youth; on his education
- Chapter 2
- On his early acting career; on his participation in Civil Rights; on his success in New York
- Chapter 3
- On the first time he saw television; on his first appearances on television; on working in live television at NBC; on the Blacklist; on the Civil Rights Movement
- Chapter 4
- On Ossie and Ruby; on Roots and its impact; on the importance and reach of television; on some of his guest appearances on television, on writing a script for East Side/West Side; on co-starring in The Outsiders; on directing Cotton Comes to Harlem; on meeting Ruby Dee
- Chapter 5
- On his advice to aspiring writers; on how he would like to be remembered
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RIP HAROLD DOW, interviewer. Tragic loss of an important talent.
honorable man
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