Robert Davi
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Robert John Davi (born June 26, 1951)<ref name="cigar" /> is an American actor, singer, and filmmaker.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Over the course of his acting career, Davi has performed in more than 130 films. Among his most known roles are opera-singing Jake Fratelli in The Goonies (1985), FBI Special Agent Johnson in Die Hard (1988), James Bond villain Franz Sanchez in Licence to Kill (1989), police deputy chief Phil Heinemann in Predator 2 (1990) and strip club manager Al Torres in Showgirls (1995). On television, he portrayed FBI Special Agent Bailey Malone in the NBC television series Profiler (1996–2000).
Classically trained as a singer, Davi launched his professional singing career in 2011.<ref name=cigar>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His first album, Davi Sings Sinatra – On the Road to Romance, hit No. 6 on the Billboard jazz charts. Praised for his strong baritone voice and vocal interpretations, Davi debuted as a headliner at The Venetian Las Vegas, six months after the record was released.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2016, Davi replaced Jerry Doyle as radio host for a nationally syndicated radio program on Talk Radio Network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life
Robert Davi was born on June 26, 1951,<ref name=Paul>Template:Cite book</ref> in Astoria, Queens, New York, the son of Maria (Template:Née) and Sal Davi.<ref name="cigar" /> His mother was an Italian American whose family came from Nusco, Avellino, Campania, and his grandfather and father were from Torretta, Palermo, Sicily.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His grandfather, Franco, enlisted in the US Army after emigrating and served in World War I. He received an Oak Leaf Cluster for his services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Davi spoke Italian during his childhood.<ref name="cigar" /> He attended Seton Hall, a Roman Catholic high school in Patchogue, New York.<ref name="cigar" /> There he studied opera vocals, and became the winner of the New York State School Music Association Solo Competition at the age of fifteen.<ref name=Parade /> He has two sisters, Yvonne Davi (deceased), and Michelle Queal. He graduated from Hofstra University, which he attended because of that university's strong drama department as well as its reproduction of Shakespeare's Globe Theater.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Davi studied with acting coach Stella Adler when he moved to Manhattan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During this time he was also a member of the Actor’s Studio,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where he studied with Lee Strasburg.<ref name=Paul />
Film career
Acting career
Davi made his television film debut in Contract on Cherry Street, in which he shared the screen with Frank Sinatra. Davi later mentioned Sinatra as an early supporter.<ref name=Sun /> He was also the lead in "Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami", a performance that received critical praise. In 1989, he had a recurring role on the television series Wiseguy.<ref name=Paul />
As for major motion pictures, he has appeared in films including The Goonies, where his role of Jake Fratelli was based upon Davi’s own artistic ideas differing from the original script.<ref name=WPT /> He also starred in Predator 2, Illicit Behavior, Night Trap, The Iceman, Mob Town, Buckle Up, Inside Man,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Die Hard, Showgirls, Son of the Pink Panther, and in the Bond film Licence to Kill (1989) as the villain Franz Sanchez, a South American drug lord and murderer.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> During the 1990s, he played the role of FBI detective Bailey Malone on the television series Profiler. He also starred in comedic films, including the 2002 movies The 4th Tenor and The Hot Chick. The year he also produced and was lead actor in the independent film The Hitters.<ref name=Paul /> In 2004, Davi was cast as the antagonist Acastus Kolya in the television series Stargate: Atlantis, a military leader for the enemy group the Genii.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2014, Davi appeared as Goran Vata in The Expendables 3.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, Davi appeared in a music video for Bob Dylan's recording of "The Night They Called It a Day", from Dylan's album Shadows in the Night, a selection of songs which had been recorded by Frank Sinatra. Rolling Stone suggested that Davi's role in the video may be a nod towards Davi's having made his acting debut alongside Sinatra in the crime film Contract on Cherry Street, and Davi's release of his own album of Sinatra covers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Island Film and TV Foundation.<ref name=Speaker>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2015, he interpreted Gabriele Tinti's poetry giving voice to the Boxer at Rest at the Getty Museum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2021, he had acted in more than 160 films and television shows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Directing career
Davi is the owner and founder of Sun Lion Films.<ref name=Paul />In 2007, Davi made his directorial debut with The Dukes, a parable regarding the mid-2000 economic crisis and its impact. The film starred Davi himself, Chazz Palminteri, and Peter Bogdanovich. The Dukes was selected for the premiere section at the Rome Film Festival, along with films by Francis Ford Coppola, Sean Penn, Robert Redford, and Sidney Lumet. Davi was the only first-time director in the premiere section.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film was screened internationally and won awards at Queens International Film Festival, Template:Interlanguage link, Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festiva and the Festival international du film de comédie de l'Alpe d'Huez.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>Template:Better source needed In 2011, David sold an original screenplay entitled The Voice to Atmosphere Entertainment MM. The production company said of Davi’s anticipated role in the film that “The character that he will portray is so impassioned and obsessed with finding the secret to Sinatra’s voice that it brings him to the brink of insanity.” <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, a documentary entitled Davi’s Way, about Davi’s real life performance of Sinatra’s work, was premiered at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Davi directed his third film, My Son Hunter, it was released on September 7, 2022.<ref name=Deadline>Template:Cite web</ref> He was approached in 2021 to direct the film by documentary filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, which focuses on the relationship between Hunter Biden and his father.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recording career
In high school, Davi was praised for his singing, and auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera after being awarded first place at the New York State School Music Association's Solo Competition, where he sang Vincent Youman's "Without A Song". He subsequently received classical training with vocal teachers Samuel Margolis and Danial Ferro of Juilliard and Tito Gobbi. Davi damaged his voice and later explained that he was a baritone with the "heart of a tenor and had pushed too hard, too early".<ref name=Capitol>Template:Cite web</ref>
Davi began to focus again on singing in 2011, and worked with Gary Catona as he prepared to record his first children's album.<ref name="New Frontier">Template:Cite web</ref>
With a thirty-piece orchestra, Davi recorded the album at the Capitol Records Building in Hollywood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was produced by Phil Ramone, engineered by Dan Wallin, and mixed by Al Schmitt. The album, Davi Sings Sinatra -- On The Road To Romance, was released on October 24, 2011, and garnered positive reviews.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jazztimes called Davi Sings Sinatra "uniformly impressive",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and critic Don Heckman wrote in the Orange County Register that "there are, of course, dozens of Sinatra imitators and simulators. But what Davi does is a whole different matter. A tribute? Yes, indeed; all that and more."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> AllMusic noted that "Davi makes no attempt to copy Sinatra's vocal sound ... Rather, he is his own singer."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album reached the Top 10 on the Billboard jazz charts.<ref name=Parade>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2012, Davi appeared along with Roger Cicero in the French/German Arte TV program Durch die Nacht mit … The episode was shot in the Little Italy area of New York City and featured conversation between Cicero and Davi and solos of Sinatra standards by both performers. In December 2013, Davi released a Christmas single, "Mistletoe and Holly", with all proceeds benefiting The Salvation Army.<ref name="New Frontier" />
That year he performed tribute concert series for Frank Sinatra at the Venetian Showroom in Las Vegas.<ref name=Sun>Template:Cite web</ref> During his Sinatra performances, which he has toured with, he has a selection of 300 songs to choose from depending on the audience and mood in the room. <ref name=WPT>Template:Cite web</ref> He has been called one of the premiere Frank Sinatra cover acts in the United States, with the Huffington Post calling him “A legend in the making” in 2013. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Davi has lent his voice to political ads, including Carly Fiorina's "Demon Sheep" attack ad, "Hot Air: The Movie", and others produced by media consultant Fred Davis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Davi was chosen by the United Nations to celebrate the Transformative Power of Music at the General Assembly in New York, in June 2015 – and again for the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the UN in September 2015.<ref name="Artvoice">Template:Cite web</ref>
Davi was chosen to tribute Sinatra's 100th birthday for the July 4 PBS special; it was watched by 500,000 people outside the Capitol Building in DC and 15 million viewers.<ref name="Artvoice" />
Davi was the guest singer on the Italian version of the TV program The Voice.<ref name="Artvoice" />
In 2024, he will be releasing his album I’m Not Anyone.<ref name=WPT />
Personal life
Davi was married to Jan Borenstein from 1970 to 1980. His second marriage was to Jeri McBride from 1980 to 1990; they had one son. His next marriage was to Christine Bolster in 1990, which ended in 2019.<ref name="Hollywood.com">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Express">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Her.ie">Template:Cite news</ref> They have four children together.<ref name="Hollywood.com"/><ref name="Express"/> Davi married Diana Davi in 2019, and they have a daughter.Template:Cn He is a recipient of the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award from the Hofstra University Alumni Association, has served on the Steering Committee for George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute, and is a past recipient of the Man of the Year Award from the Los Angeles FBI.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Politics
Davi is a political conservative, often speaking at Republican Party gatherings.<ref name="Politico">Template:Cite news</ref> He has been invited to comment on numerous political shows and backed John McCain during his presidential campaign. He narrated several film montages that aired during the 2008 Republican National Convention.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:YouTube</ref> Davi has spoken at numerous Conservative Political Action Conferences in Washington, D.C. He was a frequent guest on Fox News's late-night satire program Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Davi endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, again in 2020, and again in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He has issued statements supporting fellow conservative celebrities, including Jon Voight, as well as statements advocating civility between those of different political views. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Philanthropy
Davi has served as the face of the charity Save America PAC and has been active in various children’s non-profits.<ref name=Paul /> He is also a goodwill ambassador for the Saint Pio Foundation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and honors
For his contributions to the Canadian Italian community, Davi was enshrined in Toronto's Italian Walk of Fame in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Al Torres in Showgirls (1995).Template:Cn
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | City Heat | Nino | |
| 1985 | The Goonies | Jake Fratelli | |
| 1986 | Raw Deal | Max Keller | |
| 1987 | Wild Thing | "Chopper" | |
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Tony Moretti | |
| Die Hard | FBI Special Agent Johnson | ||
| Traxx | Aldo Palucci | ||
| 1989 | Licence to Kill | Franz Sanchez | |
| 1990 | Peacemaker | Sergeant Frank Ramos | |
| Deceptions | Jack "Harley" Kessler | ||
| Maniac Cop 2 | Detective Sean McKinney | ||
| Predator 2 | Deputy Chief Phil Heinemann | ||
| Amazon | Dan | ||
| 1991 | White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd | Charlie "Lucky" Luciano | |
| The Taking of Beverly Hills | Robert Masterson | ||
| Legal Tender | Fix Cleary | ||
| Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | "Sully" Sullivan | ||
| 1992 | Christopher Columbus: The Discovery | Martín Alonso Pinzón | |
| Center of the Web | Richard Morgan | ||
| Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence | Detective Sean McKinney | ||
| 1993 | Night Trap | Detective Mike Turner | |
| Son of the Pink Panther | Hans Zarba | ||
| 1994 | No Contest | Sergeant Crane | |
| Cops and Robbersons | Horace Osborn | ||
| 1995 | Delta of Venus | The Collector | |
| Showgirls | Al Torres | ||
| Cyber Vengeance | R.D. Crowley | ||
| 1996 | An Occasional Hell | State Trooper Abbott | |
| 1997 | The Bad Pack | McQue | |
| 2001 | Soulkeeper | Mallion | |
| 2002 | The Sorcerer's Apprentice | Merlin, Milner | |
| The 4th Tenor | Lerra | ||
| The Hot Chick | Stan, April's Dad | ||
| Hitters | Nick | Also producer | |
| 2003 | One Last Ride | Father | |
| 2004 | Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss | Ivan Nagy | |
| 2005 | In the Mix | "Fish" | |
| 2007 | The Dukes | Danny | Also directorial debut, screenwriter and producer |
| 2008 | An American Carol | Aziz | |
| 2009 | American Summer | Himself | |
| The Butcher | Murdoch | ||
| Ballistica | Macarthur | Also executive producer | |
| 2010 | Magic Man | Simpson | |
| Game of Death | Frank Smith | ||
| Magic | David Ortero | Also director and producer | |
| 2011 | Kill the Irishman | Ray Ferritto | |
| Swamp Shark | Sheriff Watson | ||
| 2012 | The Iceman | Leo Merks | Based on Anthony Gaggi |
| 2013 | Doonby | Sheriff Woodley | |
| Blood of Redemption | Hayden | ||
| 2014 | Black Rose | Captain Frank Dalano | |
| A Long Way Off | Frank | ||
| The Expendables 3 | Goran Vata | ||
| Lost Time | Xavier Reed | Also executive producer | |
| 2015 | Sicilian Vampire | Salvatore "Big Sal" | |
| 2016 | Criminal | Admiral Lance | Uncredited |
| 2018 | Bachelor Lions | Maurice | |
| 2019 | Mob Town | Vito Genovese | |
| 2020 | Roe v. Wade | William J. Brennan Jr. | |
| 2022 | The Man Who Drew God | Lawyer | |
| My Son Hunter | Template:N/a | Director | |
| 2023 | Inside Man | Anthony 'Nino' Gaggi | |
| The Engineer | Senator David Adler | ||
| 2024 | Bardejov | Refuel Lowy | |
| Reagan | Leonid Brezhnev | ||
| TBA | Bad News on the Doorstep | Post-production<ref name="baker"> Template:Cite web</ref> |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Contract on Cherry Street | Mickey Sinardos, Greek Hijacker | TV movie |
| 1978 | Charlie's Angels | Ritchie | Episode: "Mother Angel" |
| 1979 | From Here to Eternity | Guard | TV miniseries |
| The Legend of the Golden Gun | William Quantrill | TV movie | |
| Lou Grant | Hector | Episode: "Hector" | |
| The Incredible Hulk | Rader | Episode: "The Slam" | |
| Barnaby Jones | Pete Cerilla | Episode: "False Witness" | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Officer Ed Buxton | Episode: "Licensed to Kill" | |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Hubbard | TV movie |
| 1981 | Dynasty | Amos | Episode: "The Honeymoon" |
| Shannon | Mel | Episode: "Gotham Swansong" | |
| The Gangster Chronicles | Vito Genovese | TV miniseries | |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere | Parick | 2 episodes |
| T. J. Hooker | Joe 'The Barber' Picartus, Tom Warfield | 2 episodes | |
| The Powers of Matthew Star | Zealotta | Episode: "The Italian Caper" | |
| Hill Street Blues | Stan Mizell | Episode: "Stan the Man" | |
| 1983 | The Optimist | The Cabbie | Episode: "Burning Rubber" |
| 1983–1984 | The Fall Guy | Scar De Bond, Dan Kowal | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Hart to Hart | Tony Bairos | Episode: "Always, Elizabeth" |
| The A-Team | Boyle | Episode: "Sheriffs of Rivertown" | |
| 1985 | Hunter | Sonny Dunbar | Episode: "Million Dollar Misunderstanding" |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Michael Riegert | Episode: "Wash Up" |
| 1988 | L.A. Law | Dominic Simonetti | Episode: "Leapin' Lizards" |
| 1989 | Wiseguy | Albert Cerrico | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | FBI: The Untold Stories | Joe Pistone | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Blind Justice | Alacran | TV movie |
| 1995 | VR.5 | Simon Buchanan | Episode: "Simon's Choice" |
| 1996–2000 | Profiler | FBI Agent Bailey Malone | 84 episodes |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Dr. Mike Morgan / Magma | Voice, episode: "Heroes" |
| 1999–2000 | The Pretender | Agent Bailey Malone | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Karen Sisco | Denton | Episode: "No One's Girl" |
| 2004–2008 | Stargate: Atlantis | Acastus Kolya | 6 episodes |
| 2005 | Breaking Vegas | The Narrator | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | Huff | Dickins | Episode: "Which Lip Is the Cervical Lip?" |
| 2010 | Nip/Tuck | Christian's Dad | Episode: "Christian Troy II" |
| Criminal Minds | Detective Kurzbard | 2 episodes | |
| 2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Marvin Braxton | Episode: "Uninvited" |
| Asteroid vs. Earth | General Masterson | TV movie | |
| 2015 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Reality TV series |
| 2021–2022 | Paper Empire | Lawrence Fintch | 11 episodes |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez | <ref name="btva">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Disney's PK: Out of the Shadows | General Zondag | ||
| 2004 | Halo 2 | Rtas 'Vadumee | |
| 2006 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | Alejandro Sosa | |
| 2007 | Halo 3 | Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum | <ref name="btva"/> |
| 2021 | Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Colonel Juan Carcia Cortez | Archival recordings Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Burnin' Up" | Jonas Brothers |
| 2015 | "The Night We Called It a Day" | Bob Dylan |
| "Sopra la media" | J-Ax |
References
External links
- 1951 births
- American people of Italian descent
- American people of Sicilian descent
- People of Campanian descent
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- Hofstra University alumni
- Male actors from Queens, New York
- New York (state) Republicans
- Male actors from Suffolk County, New York
- American jazz singers
- American male singers
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Living people
- Jazz musicians from New York (state)
- American male jazz musicians