The GREAT Ossie Davis found dead.

[undergroundrailroad]

NEW YORK - Ossie Davis, the imposing, unshakable actor who championed racial justice on stage, on screen and in real life, often in tandem with his wife, Ruby Dee, has died. He was 87.

Davis was found dead Friday in his hotel room in Miami Beach, Fla., according to officials there. He was making a film called “Retirement,” said Arminda Thomas, who works in his office in suburban New Rochelle and confirmed the death.

Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said Davis’ grandson called shortly before 7 a.m. when Davis would not open the door to his room at the Shore Club Hotel. Davis was found dead and there does not appear to be any foul play, Hernandez said.

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

[msgadget]

1. I couldn't believe it when I heard it today.

For some reason, I thought Ossie would never die. I know that's foolish but he continued to look strong and work and he and Ruby still have strong opinions.

[kwassa]

2. He died making another movie

Wonderful tribute in the Washington Post today.

He was in the thick of the civil rights movement throughout his life, he delivered the eulogy at the funeral of Malcolm X, and spoke at MLK's funeral.

He was 87 years old, a long and productive life and acting career.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[undergroundrailroad]

4. As odd as this may sound, I saw Ossie Davis as eternal. I too thought he

would never die. How can our world exist without Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee? It's difficult to complete a sentence with out both of their names.

My admiration of Ossie is the role he played in civil rights. He was always at the marches and stood strong for the cause. I loved him.

Msgadget, I agree. Ossie looked great and had projects in production.

Have you ever heard people say that death usually comes in threes? Well, when Johnny Carson died, I thought, oh no, two more. Then the news of Ossie Davis. What angers me is the media coverage of the two men was not fair and balanced. I liked Johnny Carson and he was a gifted comedian. But Ossie Davis is one of the greatest actors/activists of all time. Why wasn't there more about him? Pictures? Bios? Guest commentaries about his death and what it meant?

As a friend told me, rejoice in his accomplishments. I agree. I have great memories (and DVDs) of his roles.

RIP Ossie "The Mayor" Davis.

[msgadget]

5. I was thinking the same today,

Underground. Sure, there were pics in the paper but not the multi-page spread Carson got. Ossie was involved with THE WORLD, while Carson was - as far as I can tell - an entertainer. You know I hate to point and whine about stuff like this but the desparity was obvious. His picture did get a decent amount of applause during the SAG awards but I'll be SO disappointed if he doesn't receive greater tributes in the very near future.

And, no I CANNOT imagine Ruby Dee without him.

[undergroundrailroad]

7. Silly me. I thought there would be a moment of silence at

the SAG Awards. BTW, msgadget, your "applause" meter was accurate and well tuned.
The applause were only "decent". But, again, silly me.

What was I to expect?

Undergroundrailroad

[msgadget]

8. To make it even worse,

I heard an audio clip (on the radio, I think) where Ossie accepted his SAG award with a little speech saying it meant the most to him because SAG was like a union and he and Ruby had always worked for unions. So, when they rolled his pic by with the others, that should've been the clip they played.

I swear, SOMEBODY better do something. BET was sold, right? Who would put something together like this, Essence? Hey, you got P Diddy's numba??

[Swamp Rat]

6. Oh NO!

Bye bye Ossie! :cry:

[FrenchieCat]

9. I shall miss him greatly.

He and Ruby had the kind of marriage that most hollywood actors only dream about!

He had such a gift!

Just heard about this here, since I have been on a media boycott of all corporate news, period....and absolutely no newspapers or television for me on the weekends.

:cry:

[msgadget]

10. Democracy Now transcript of tribute

"I am indeed Ossie Davis. I say that so that those whose duty it is to report my behavior back to the proper authorities. I am not as smart as Miss Condoleezza Rice, though she is yet my sister, nor so faithful unto death as General Colin Powell, though he is yet my brother. They have their sense of duty; I have mine. They are loyal to their commander-in-chief, and I am loyal to mine. My commander-in-chief is Martin Luther King, Jr., and more than 30 years ago, he stood in these sacred halls and gave me my marching orders."

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/07/1528215

[undergroundrailroad]

11. Bravo msgadget for posting his eloquent words. Very well said.

In my lifetime, there will never be another Ossie Davis. I am totally dedicated to his art and activism.

RIP my friend. O8) :cry:

Undergroundrailroad

[undergroundrailroad]

12. Ossie Davis Memorial Held in Harlem

Ossie Davis Memorial Held in Harlem

Celebrities Join Harlem Residents to Remember Actor, Civil Rights Activist Ossie Davis

By DEEPTI HAJELA

The Associated Press

Feb. 12, 2005 - The stars of Hollywood joined the people of Harlem to bid farewell Saturday to actor and activist Ossie Davis, filling a Manhattan church with laughter and tears as a parade of admirers recalled his integrity, courage and devotion to family.

Friends, fans and family members crowded into the Riverside Church for the funeral, gazing at a video screen bearing his picture that was hung above an altar.

His wife of 56 years, actress Ruby Dee, sat in the front row, near where Davis' coffin stood covered in flowers. Former president Bill Clinton led a contingent of well-known mourners, including Spike Lee, Cornel West, Rachel Robinson and outgoing NAACP president Kweisi Mfume.

"He would have been a very good president of the United States," Clinton said. "I have only this to say: Like most of you here, he gave more to me than I gave to him."

Entertainer Harry Belafonte, Davis' friend for six decades, gave the eulogy.

[msgadget]

13. I saw a news clip of Burt Reynolds

saying Ossie took the bad part of being a southern white man out of him. And, did you see that line?

[undergroundrailroad]

14. You know msgadget, you learn something new everyday. I was happy to

see the participation of Burt Reynolds, Alan Alda and many, many more.

Ossie deserved the memorial of a King and will always be one, to me, in my heart.

[msgadget]

15. Yeah,

Alan Alda surprised me big time, more even than Burt Reynolds. I think (hope) we'll be hearing more references to Ossie as time goes on.