NEW YORK -- 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."

Their partnership rivaled the achievements of other celebrated performing couples, such as Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. Davis and Dee first appeared together in the plays "Jeb," in 1946, and "Anna Lucasta," in 1946-47.

Both had key roles in the TV series "Roots: The Next Generation" (1978), "Martin Luther King: The Dream and the Drum" (1986) and "The Stand" (1994). Davis appeared in several Spike Lee films, including "Do the Right Thing" and "Jungle Fever," in which Dee also appeared.

Among Davis' more notable Broadway appearances was his portrayal of the title character in "Purlie Victorious" (1961), a comedy he wrote lampooning racial stereotypes. In it, he played a conniving preacher who sets out to buy a church in rural Georgia. In 1970, Davis co-wrote the book for "Purlie," a musical version of the play. A revival of the musical is planned for Broadway next season.

"He's my hero," actor Alan Alda, who appeared in "Purlie Victorious," wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "I am sorry for his family and for all of us who have benefited from ... his art and from his service to his country."

Dee was in New Zealand making a movie at the time of Davis' death, said his agent, Michael Livingston.

When not on stage or on camera, Davis and Dee were deeply involved in civil rights issues and efforts to promote the cause of blacks in the entertainment industry. In 1963, Davis participated in the landmark March on Washington. Two years later, he delivered a memorable eulogy for his slain friend, Malcolm X, whom Davis praised as "our own black shining prince" and "our living, black manhood!"

"In honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves," said Davis, who reprised his eulogy in a voice-over for the 1992 Spike Lee film, "Malcolm X."

Davis directed several films, most notably "Cotton Comes to Harlem" (1970). Other films include "The Cardinal" (1963), "The Client" (1994) and "I'm Not Rappaport" (1996), a reprise of his stage role 10 years earlier.

On TV, he appeared in "The Emperor Jones" (1955), "Miss Evers' Boys" (1997) and "Twelve Angry Men" (1997). He was a cast member on "The Defenders" from 1963 to 1965, and "Evening Shade" from 1990 to 1994, among other shows.

"Since the loss of my father, no man has come close to represent the kind of man I hope to be some day," said Burt Reynolds, Davis' "Evening Shade" co-star. "I know he's sitting next to God now, and I know God envies that voice."

Davis had just started his new movie on Monday, Livingston said. "Retirement," a comedy about an elderly group of friends, also starred Jack Warden, Peter Falk and George Segal.