Davis Roberts

Davis Roberts (born Robert A. Davis, March 7, 1917 – July 18, 1993) was an American character actor whose career spanned five decades, from the late 1940s until just before his death in 1993.^[1][2][3] He started out making films in the 1940s and 1950s and expanded into television work in the following decades. Davis was known for his dignified portrayals which were often in contrast to prevailing stereotypical roles.^[3] He played the role of Dr. Caldwell in three episodes in the second and third seasons of the NBC-TV sitcom series Sanford and Son, and as Dr. Ozaba in the 1968 episode "The Empath" in the original Star Trek series.^[1][2][3]

Davis Roberts
Davis Roberts in Mission Impossible 1967
Born	Robert A. Davis (1917-03-07)March 7, 1917 Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Died	July 18, 1993(1993-07-18) (aged 76) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1946–1989

He was active off-screen as well, serving several terms on the western advisory board of Actors' Equity Association.^[2] As one of the officers of Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch of the NAACP he helped present the first Image Awards in 1967.^[3]

Death

Davis died in the home of his brother Charles on July 18, 1993, of emphysema at the age of 76.^[1][2][3]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1947	The Long Night	Freddie
1949	Knock on Any Door	Jim 'Sunshine' Jackson	Uncredited
1949	The Great Dan Patch	Smiler	Uncredited
1950	In a Lonely Place	Flower Shop Employee	Uncredited
1950	No Way Out	Heckler at Riot Meeting	Uncredited
1951	Tarzan's Peril	Emissary	Uncredited
1951	The Lion Hunters	Lohu
1951	The Harlem Globetrotters	Frank	Uncredited
1952	Phone Call from a Stranger	Henry	Uncredited
1952	Red Ball Express	Pvt. Dave McCord
1953	Jungle Drums of Africa	Native Ambusher	Serial, [Ch.1]
1953	Jamaica Run	Rob	Uncredited
1954	The Glenn Miller Story	Black Man	Uncredited
1956	Female Jungle	George
1958	God's Little Acre	Farm Hand with Hoe
1958	Murder by Contract	Hall of Records Clerk
1960	All the Fine Young Cannibals	Darl	Uncredited
1962	Sweet Bird of Youth	Fly	Uncredited
1964	The Killers	Maître D'
1964	Quick Before It Melts	Military Man
1966	The Chase	Roy	Uncredited
1967	Hotel	Dr. Elmo Adams
1968	Lionheart	Corporal
1969	Hook, Line & Sinker	Member - Board of Inquiry	Jerry Lewis comedy; uncredited
1970	Halls of Anger	Mr. Willis
1970	The Great White Hope	Pastor	Uncredited
1972	Sanford and Son	Dr. Caldwell
1972	Glass Houses
1973	The Trial of the Catonsville Nine	Prosecutor
1973	Westworld	Supervisor
1973	Detroit 9000
1974	Willie Dynamite	Judge #2
1976	From Noon till Three	Sam
1977	Demon Seed	Warner
1977	Billy Jack Goes to Washington	2nd Handwriting Expert
1981	Honky Tonk Freeway	James
1984	Chattanooga Choo Choo	Woodrow
1990	To Sleep with Anger	Okra Tate
1993	The Gifted		(final film role)

References

1. Heise, Kenan (29 Jul 1993). "Actor Davis Roberts, 76: Helped Break Stereotype". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved 4 Jan 2016. Davis Roberts, 76, a Hollywood actor from 1946 to 1989, helped redefine the black character actor, performing with dignity and professionalism in 120 movies and in a wide variety of roles.
2. "Davis Roberts; Actor, 76". New York Times. New York, New York. 5 Aug 1993. Retrieved 4 Jan 2016. Davis Roberts, who played a broad range of characters in dozens of television shows while championing black causes off screen, died on July 18 in Chicago.
3. Folkart, Burt A. (4 Aug 1993). "Obituaries : Davis Roberts; Actor Fought Stereotypical Roles for Blacks". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved 4 Jan 2016. Despite an occasional comic appearance, Roberts' greatest acting strength lay in the distinguished attitude he brought to his characters.

External links

• Davis Roberts at IMDb
• Davis Roberts at the Internet Broadway Database