The True Story of How Ossie Davis Joined The Cast Of Bubba Ho-Tep
Ossie Davis gave a legendary performance in Bubba Ho-tep
Ossie Davis is a legend. This actor, director, writer, and activist is an Emmy Award winner and was even honored by Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
A fan favorite for many is Ossie Davis’s role of “JFK” in Bubba Ho-tep. However, do you know the totally true story of how this icon came to star in a horror film where he teams up with Bruce Campbell to take on a Mummy!?
It was so cool to see Ossie Davis team up with Bruce Campbell! This artwork was used by Cavity Colors on their recent run of merch-ho-tep inspired by the movie.
It was the year 2000 and PHANTASM creator Don Coscarelli had been trying to get a big screen adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale’s short story about Bubba Ho-Tep off the ground for 6 years. It was a unique story with “Elvis” and “JFK” battling an Egyptian mummy in a rest home!
The character of “JFK” was pretty out there and Coscarelli was convinced that they needed an actor that brought a gravitas to the role to “ground” it in some kind of reality. Ossie Davis was the #1 choice from the beginning.
Coscarelli reached out to Mr. Davis’s agent repeatedly but kept getting turned down due to the whacky premise of the film being about a “Mummy In A Rest Home”. Eventually, the PHANTASM creator asked friend and fellow “Master of Horror” director Mick Garris to write a letter on his behalf. Mick had directed Ossie and wife Ruby Dee in “The Stand”.
This film exposed Ossie Davis to a new generation of horror movie fans!
Coscarelli then flew to New York City to meet with Mr. Davis and he soon signed on to co-star! Ossie’s agent is quoted as saying “I don’t like your script but my client does.”
The rest if movie history. Bruce and Ossie became fast friends on the set and it translates into a wonderful on-screen chemistry. You have to read Don Coscarelli’s excellent memoir TRUE INDIE to hear more details on this.
So there you have it Bubba fans! The long saga to get Ossie in Bubba Ho-tep had a very happy ending. All Is Well.
Spoiler alert! Bubba Ho-tep ends with this beautiful message: All Is Well