A quintessential legend of stage and film has passed away.

The American actor and long-time civil rights activist Ossie Davis was found dead in his hotel room in Miami, police said. He was 87.

Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said Davis’s grandson had called emergency services after his grandfather failed to answer his door.

“After gaining entry, they found Mr. Davis had passed away,” Hernadez said. “The cause of death appears to be natural. According to his grandson he was suffering from heart disease.”

Davis’s 65-year career included credits as an actor, producer, director and writer for both stage and screen.

His film debut, in 1950′s “No Way Out,” starred Sydney Poitier and also featured his wife, Ruby Dee.

Some of his best known roles included “The Joe Louis Story” (1953) and “Gone Are the Days” (1963), a film that he adapted from his own play, “Purlie Victorious.”

He also appeared in three Spike Lee movies — “School Daze” (1988), “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991).

In addition to his entertainment career, Davis was an eloquent and prominent figure in the civil rights movement.

He was a featured speaker at the funerals of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Like many, I’ve always had soft spot for Davis’ performances. Of the many stage plays I’ve seen, “Purlie Victorious” remains one of my all-time favorites.

Although Ossie Davis is no longer here, his legacy lives on through the body of work he left behind (including performances with his spouse and longtime stage partner Ruby Dee).

Trivia: Ossie Davis’ birth name was Raiford Chatman Davis. He became known as “Ossie” based on his mother’s dialectal pronunciation of his initials “R.C.” (hat tip: IMDb)