RIP Ossie Davis

Actor Ossie Davis found dead in hotel

By HILLEL ITALIE
AP National Writer


NEW YORK (AP) -- Ossie Davis, whose rich baritone and elegant, unshakable bearing made him a giant of the stage, screen and the civil rights movement - 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, "Retirement," said Arminda Thomas, who works in his New Rochelle office 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, apparently of natural causes, Hernandez said.

Davis wrote, acted, directed and produced for the theater and Hollywood. Even light fare such as the comedy "Grumpy Old Men" with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau was somehow enriched by his strong, but gentle presence. Davis and Dee celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1998 with the publication of a dual autobiography, "With Ossie & Ruby: In This Life Together."

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He will be missed.

:cry: I will really miss him...

This actor admires how he lived a long life, dying doing what he loved.

He delivered a powerful eulogy at Malcolm X's funeral too.

power and presence ..he just did everything so well.

hands down. great flick