Ossie Davis

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his over two-hour interview, Ossie Davis (1917-2005) speaks of his early years as an actor starting out in the theater. He discusses his early television appearances on Showtime U.S.A.: "Green Pastures", Kraft Television Theatre: "The Emperor Jones", and CBS Television Workshop: "Brown Girl, Brownstones." He speaks of writing and starring in the play Purlie Victorious and its feature film adaptation. Davis discusses his many acting roles on stage, in the movies, and on television in series including The Defenders, Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Evening Shade, and the miniseries King and Roots: The Next Generations. He also discusses his work as a film director, beginning with Cotton Comes to Harlem. He speaks of his collaborations with his wife, Ruby Dee, including their radio show With Ossie and Ruby. Harold Dow conducted the interview on October 26, 1999 in New Rochelle, NY.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Art has a deep responsibility, social, cultural, and otherwise. And that the basic motivation for the creation of art is, in a sense, to meet those responsibilities. Now, it doesn't mean that you cannot express yourself in any way you want to, but it takes place in a social context, whether you mean it to do so or not."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Ossie Davis on witnessing Marian Anderson sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

04:18

Ossie Davis on working as an extra at NBC's New York studios

02:05

Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley

04:54

Ossie Davis on the then-future of television

04:18

Ossie Davis on how opportunities for African Americans in television have changed since he started his career

01:32

Ossie Davis briefly on appearing on Car 54, Where Are You?

00:44

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on how his family dealt with racism while he was growing up

On observing his parents and learning how to deal with racism; on his hobbies growing up, including reading; on listening to the radio growing up and how it introduced him to Black music and culture

Chapter 2

On moving to Washington, D.C. for his education; on going to New York City to join a theater company in Harlem

On his life in Harlem in the 1930s; on his experience during World War II

On witnessing Marian Anderson sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial; on the importance of taking a stand; on his life being an adventure

Chapter 3

On his earliest impressions of television; on his earliest television appearances, and on the experience of being on television in the early years; on working as an extra at NBC's New York studios

On attempting to be a writer in addition to an actor, and on various early television shows he appeared on; on the effect of the Blacklist on him and fellow performers, and on being called to testify at the HUAC; on joining the Civil Rights Movement along with his wife, Ruby Dee, and on television's role in the movement

Chapter 4

On the creative freedom he and Ruby Dee had on their PBS series With Ossie & Ruby; on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley; on how television aided in the Civil Rights Movement

On his Broadway play "Purlie Victorious"; on appearing on Car 54, Where Are You?, writing an episode of East Side/West Side, and on appearing on The Fugitive, Run for your Life, The Outsider, and Bonanza

On directing the feature film "Cotton Comes to Harlem"; on meeting his wife, Ruby Dee; on the then-future of television

Chapter 5

On his advice to aspiring writers and actors; on how opportunities for African Americans in television have changed since he started his career; on how he would like to be remembered

Shows

Bonanza

Ossie Davis on guest-starring on Bonanza with Michael Landon

01:12

Car 54, Where Are You?

Ossie Davis briefly on appearing on Car 54, Where Are You?

00:44

East Side/West Side

Ossie Davis on writing an episode of East Side/West Side

00:52

Fugitive, The

Ossie Davis on appearing on The Fugitive

00:50

Outsider, The

Ossie Davis on his groundbreaking role in The Outsider

01:21

Roots

Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley

04:54

Run For Your Life

Ossie Davis on appearing in three episodes of Run for your Life

00:42

With Ossie & Ruby

Ossie Davis on the creative freedom he and Ruby Dee had on their series With Ossie & Ruby

01:49

Topics

Advice

Ossie Davis on his advice to aspiring writers and actors

01:43

Civil Rights Movement

Ossie Davis on joining the Civil Rights Movement along with his wife, Ruby Dee, and on television's role in the movement

07:22

Ossie Davis on how television aided in the Civil Rights Movement

03:39

Historic Events and Social Change

Ossie Davis on his experience during World War II

02:08

Ossie Davis on joining the Civil Rights Movement along with his wife Ruby Dee, and on television's role in the movement

07:22

Ossie Davis on joining the Civil Rights Movement along with his wife, Ruby Dee, and on television's role in the movement

07:22

Ossie Davis on how television aided in the Civil Rights Movement

03:39

Ossie Davis on how opportunities for African Americans in television have changed since he started his career

01:32

Hollywood Blacklist

Ossie Davis on the effect of the Blacklist on him and fellow performers, and on being called to testify at the HUAC

06:36

Industry Crossroads

Ossie Davis on the effect of the Blacklist on him and fellow performers, and on being called to testify at the HUAC

06:36

Representation on Television

Ossie Davis on how television aided in the Civil Rights Movement

03:39

Ossie Davis on how opportunities for African Americans in television have changed since he started his career

01:32

Television Industry

Ossie Davis on the effect of the Blacklist on him and fellow performers, and on being called to testify at the HUAC

06:36

Ossie Davis on the then-future of television

04:18

Ossie Davis on his advice to aspiring writers and actors

01:43

Underrepresented Voices

Ossie Davis on how television aided in the Civil Rights Movement

03:39

Ossie Davis on how opportunities for African Americans in television have changed since he started his career

01:32

War

Ossie Davis on his experience during World War II

02:08

World War II

Ossie Davis on his experience during World War II

02:08

Professions

Actor

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Ossie Davis on his advice to aspiring writers and actors

01:43

Performers

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Ossie Davis on his advice to aspiring writers and actors

01:43

Writers

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Ossie Davis on his advice to aspiring writers and actors

01:43

Genres

Comedy Series

Ossie Davis on appearing on Car 54, Where Are You?

00:44

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Ossie Davis on appearing on The Fugitive

00:50

Ossie Davis on appearing in three episodes of Run for your Life

00:42

Drama Series

Ossie Davis on writing an episode of East Side/West Side

00:52

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley

04:54

Ossie Davis on his groundbreaking role in The Outsider

01:21

Talk Shows

Ossie Davis on the creative freedom he and Ruby Dee had on their series With Ossie & Ruby

01:49

Western Series

Ossie Davis on guest-starring on Bonanza with Michael Landon

01:12

People

Alex Haley

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Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley

04:54

Michael Landon

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Ossie Davis on guest-starring on Bonanza with Michael Landon

01:12

Ruby Dee

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Ossie Davis on meeting his wife, Ruby Dee

03:52

Ossie Davis on the creative freedom he and Ruby Dee had on their PBS series With Ossie & Ruby

01:49

Ossie Davis on the impact Roots had on American culture, and on his and Ruby Dee's first meeting with Alex Haley

04:54