View source for Robert Davi

{{short description|American actor, singer, filmmaker (born 1951)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Robert Davi
| image        = Robert Davi at Rose City Comic Con 02 (cropped).jpg
| caption      = Davi in 2025
| birth_name   = Robert John Davi
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1951|6|26}}
| birth_place  = [[Queens]], [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| education    = [[Hofstra University]] (B.A.)
| occupation   = {{hlist|Actor|singer|filmmaker}}
| years_active = 1977–present
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Jan Borenstein|1970|1980|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Jeri McBride|1980|1990|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Christine Bolster|1990|2019|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Diana Davi|2019}}
 }}
| children     = 6
| module       = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = [[Traditional pop]], [[Great American Songbook]]
| instrument = Vocals
| website = {{URL|https://davisingssinatra.com/}}
}}<!-- Infobox musical artist -->
}}<!-- Infobox person -->
'''Robert John Davi''' (born June 26, 1951)<ref name="cigar" /> is an American actor, singer, and filmmaker.<ref>{{cite book |title=Tales from the Cult Film Trenches |last=Paul |first=Louis |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7864-2994-3 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiKfBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA53|access-date=September 3, 2015|archive-date=May 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517051836/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiKfBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA53|url-status=live}}</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), [[Bond villain|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 (TV series)|Profiler]]'' (1996–2000).

Classically trained as a singer, Davi launched his professional singing career in 2011.<ref name=cigar>{{cite web |last=Chutkow |first=Paul |title=Playing the Heavy Actor Robert Davi has made a career of playing tough guys with a signature cigar |url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/Playing-the-Heavy-_6043 |date=1996 |work=Cigar Aficionado|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914210257/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/Playing-the-Heavy-_6043|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Famed Film Villain Robert Davi Sings Sinatra |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/famed-film-villain-robert-davi-sings-sinatra-21101656 |date=December 4, 2013 |work=ABC News|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203004714/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/famed-film-villain-robert-davi-sings-sinatra-21101656|url-status=live}}</ref> His first album, ''Davi Sings Sinatra – On the Road to Romance'', hit No. 6 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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>{{cite web |last=Leach |first=Robin |title=Spirit of Sinatra returns as Robert Davi fulfills a childhood dream |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2012/feb/09/spirit-sinatra-returns-robert-davi-fulfills-childh |date=February 9, 2012 |work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201203948/http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2012/feb/09/spirit-sinatra-returns-robert-davi-fulfills-childh/|archive-date=February 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, Davi replaced [[Jerry Doyle]] as radio host for a nationally syndicated [[radio program]] on [[Talk Radio Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://radioink.com/2016/08/11/actor-robert-davi-replace-jerry-doyle/ |title=Actor Robert Davi to Replace Jerry Doyle |date=August 11, 2016 |website=Radio Ink|access-date=August 13, 2016|archive-date=August 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813132520/http://radioink.com/2016/08/11/actor-robert-davi-replace-jerry-doyle/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Robert Davi was born on June 26, 1951,<ref name=Paul>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiKfBQAAQBAJ&dq=robert+davi&pg=PA53 |page=53 |publisher=McFarland |title=Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema |author=Louis Paul |year=2008|isbn=978-0-7864-2994-3 }}</ref> in [[Astoria, Queens, New York]], the son of Maria ({{née |Rulli}}) 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>{{cite web |url=http://www.thevoiceofitaly.rai.it/video/live-show/clip-special-live-show/robert-davi-sul-palco-di-tvoi |title=Robert Davi sul palco di #TVOI |publisher=thevoiceofitaly.rai.it|access-date=May 17, 2015 |language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721042407/http://www.thevoiceofitaly.rai.it/video/live-show/clip-special-live-show/robert-davi-sul-palco-di-tvoi/|archive-date=July 21, 2015}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/RobertJohnDavi/status/1934059413037539501|title=My Grandfather Franco Davi' a legal immigrant from Torretta , Sicily |publisher=X.com|date=15 June 2025|accessdate=15 June 2025}}</ref>
 
Davi spoke Italian during his childhood.<ref name="cigar" /> He attended [[Seton Hall High School|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>{{cite web |last=Gil de Rubio |first=Dave |title=Doing It His Way |url=http://archive.longislandpress.com/2010/07/16/doing-it-his-way |year=2010 |work=LongIslandPress|access-date=March 24, 2014|archive-date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324141823/http://archive.longislandpress.com/2010/07/16/doing-it-his-way/|url-status=live}}</ref> Davi studied with acting coach [[Stella Adler]] when he moved to Manhattan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Niagara film fest centers on Niagara Falls for a change! |url=http://niagarafallsreporter.com/buffalo-niagara-film-fest-centers-niagara-falls-change/ |website=Niagara Falls Reporter |date=July 27, 2017|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223254/http://niagarafallsreporter.com/buffalo-niagara-film-fest-centers-niagara-falls-change/|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time he was also a member of the Actor’s Studio,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.qchron.com/qboro/stories/recalling-the-romance-of-a-bygone-era/article_ad2215a3-87c1-550c-a705-d33458eba92f.html | title=Recalling the romance of a bygone era | date=December 29, 2011 }}</ref> where he studied with Lee Strasburg.<ref name=Paul />

== Film career ==
=== Acting career ===
[[File:Robert Davi.png|thumb|Davi in a 1983 episode of ''[[The Optimist (TV series)|The Optimist]]'']]
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 (TV 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 (film)|Night Trap]]'', ''[[The Iceman (film)|The Iceman]]'', ''[[Mob Town (2019 film)|Mob Town]]'', ''Buckle Up'', ''[[Inside Man (2023 film)|Inside Man]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-goonies-returns-theaters-cast-then-now | title='The Goonies' returns to theaters: See the cast then and now | website=[[Fox News]] | date=August 31, 2023 }}</ref> ''[[Die Hard]]'', ''[[Showgirls]]'', ''[[Son of the Pink Panther]]'', and in the [[James Bond (film series)|Bond film]] ''[[Licence to Kill]]'' (1989) as the villain Franz Sanchez, a South American drug lord and murderer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=EW Staff |title=21 Most Ruthless TV/Film Drug Lords |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20724440_30002040,00.html |date=August 11, 2013 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122193912/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20724440_30002040,00.html|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.gateworld.net/news/2011/11/unreasonable-force/ | title=Unreasonable Force » GateWorld | date=November 6, 2011 }}</ref>
 
In 2014, Davi appeared as Goran Vata in ''[[The Expendables 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediamikes.com/2013/11/robert-davi-talks-about-the-goonies-and-the-expendables-3 |title='License To Kill' Villain Robert Davi Discusses His Role In 'The Expendables 3' And Reflect On 'The Goonies' |author=Lawton, Adam |publisher=Media Mikes |date=November 5, 2013|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132843/http://www.mediamikes.com/2013/11/robert-davi-talks-about-the-goonies-and-the-expendables-3/|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-bob-dylan-navigate-a-bloody-love-triangle-in-new-video-20150302 |title=Watch Bob Dylan Navigate a Bloody Love Triangle in New Video |author=Kreps, Daniel |date=March 2, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2015 |publisher=Rolling Stone|archive-date=March 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304174511/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-bob-dylan-navigate-a-bloody-love-triangle-in-new-video-20150302|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Island Film and TV Foundation.<ref name=Speaker>{{cite web | url=https://www.politicon.com/speaker/robert-davi/ | title=Robert Davi }}</ref>
 
In 2015, he interpreted [[Gabriele Tinti (poet)|Gabriele Tinti]]'s poetry giving voice to the [[Boxer at Rest]] at the [[Getty Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.letteratura.rai.it/articoli/the-boxer/31025/default.aspx |title=The boxer |website=www.letteratura.rai.it/|access-date=November 16, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122321/http://www.letteratura.rai.it/articoli/the-boxer/31025/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2021, he had acted in more than 160 films and television shows.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yellowhammernews.com/listen-actor-director-robert-davi-talks-upcoming-film-roe-v-wade/ | title=LISTEN: Actor, director Robert Davi talks upcoming film 'Roe v. Wade' | date=March 16, 2021 }}</ref>

=== Directing career ===
[[File:RobertDaviStephenDorffMichaelShannonTIFFSept2012.jpg|thumb|Davi with [[Stephen Dorff]] and [[Michael Shannon]] at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival]]]]
Davi is the owner and founder of Sun Lion Films.<ref name=Paul />In 2007, Davi made his directorial debut with ''[[The Dukes (film)|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>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/commentary-70-films-as-actor-120610 |title=Commentary: After 70 films as actor Robert Davi directs his first |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 7, 2008|access-date=August 13, 2016}}</ref> The film was screened internationally and won awards at [[Queens International Film Festival]], {{Interlanguage link|WorldFest Houston|tr|3=WorldFest-Houston Uluslararası Film Festivali}}, Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festiva and the Festival international du film de comédie de l'Alpe d'Huez.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Dukes (Awards) |date=November 14, 2008 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470737/awards|access-date=August 13, 2016|archive-date=February 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222212020/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470737/awards|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2022|reason=IMDb is *not* a reliable source for this information (see [[WP:IMDB]], [[WP:IMDB/RS]] and [[WP:IMDB-EL]]).}}
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>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/robert-davi-mark-canton-frank-sinatra-254312/ | title=Actor Robert Davi Sells Screenplay to Producer Mark Canton (Exclusive) | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=October 28, 2011 }}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/buffalo-niagara-film-festival-set-to-land-in-falls/article_7c02b0a7-d498-5069-b76c-694df2f89ccb.html | title=Buffalo Niagara Film Festival set to land in Falls | date=September 19, 2017 }}</ref>
Davi directed his third film, ''[[My Son Hunter]]'', it was released on September 7, 2022.<ref name=Deadline>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/gina-carano-hunter-biden-biopic-my-son-hunter-1234877180/ |title=Gina Carano Joins Hunter Biden Biopic 'My Son Hunter' |date=November 18, 2021 |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |access-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-date=January 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104143913/https://deadline.com/2021/11/gina-carano-hunter-biden-biopic-my-son-hunter-1234877180/ |url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/robert-davi-helming-forthcoming-hunter-biden-biopic-felt-peter-finch-mad-hell | title=Robert Davi on helming forthcoming Hunter Biden biopic: 'I felt like Peter Finch — mad as hell' | website=[[Fox News]] | date=August 23, 2022 }}</ref>

== Recording career ==
[[File:RobertDaviLive2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Davi in 2013]]
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>{{cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Zachary |title=License to trill: The reinvention of Robert Davi |url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2010/07/211461/license-trill-reinvention-robert-davi?page=all |date=July 14, 2010 |work=Capitol New York|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202224446/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2010/07/211461/license-trill-reinvention-robert-davi?page=all|url-status=live}}</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">{{cite web |last=Staff |title=Robert Davi's new Christmas single "Mistletoe and Holly" to benefit The Salvation Army |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-davis-new-christmas-single-mistletoe-and-holly-to-benefit-the-salvation-army-134661908.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203052607/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-davis-new-christmas-single-mistletoe-and-holly-to-benefit-the-salvation-army-134661908.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2011 |date=December 2013 |work=Cision|access-date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>

With a thirty-piece orchestra, Davi recorded the album at the [[Capitol Records Building]] in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sterling |first=Ellen |title=No Overstatement: Singer-Actor-Writer-Director Robert Davi Is A Legend in the Making |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-sterling/no-overstatement-singer-a_b_3985284.html |date=September 24, 2013 |work=Huffington Post|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203060405/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-sterling/no-overstatement-singer-a_b_3985284.html|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web |last=Truitt |first=Brian |title=Robert Davi Sings Sinatra, Sincerely |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2011-10-27/robert-davi-frank-sinatra/50955196/1 |date=October 27, 2011 |work=USA Today|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322125846/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2011-10-27/robert-davi-frank-sinatra/50955196/1|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Jazztimes'' called ''Davi Sings Sinatra'' "uniformly impressive",<ref>{{cite web |last=Loudon |first=Christopher |title=A Singer Turned Legend Turns Singer Again |url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/28748-robert-davi-sings-sinatra |date=October 24, 2011 |work=Jazztimes|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=December 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219141014/http://jazztimes.com/articles/28748-robert-davi-sings-sinatra|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web |last=Heckman |first=Don |title=Don Heckman: Robert Davi sings Sinatra |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinatra-500229-davi-says.html |date=October 21, 2013 |work=Orange County Register|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201185919/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinatra-500229-davi-says.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] noted that "Davi makes no attempt to copy Sinatra's vocal sound ... Rather, he is his own singer."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ruhlman |first=William |title=Davi Sings Sinatra |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/davi-sings-sinatra-on-the-road-to-romance-mw0002227167 |year=2011 |work=AllMusic|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=June 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611043609/http://www.allmusic.com/album/davi-sings-sinatra-on-the-road-to-romance-mw0002227167|url-status=live}}</ref> The album reached the Top 10 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' jazz charts.<ref name=Parade>{{cite web |last=Berk |first=Dr. Nancy |title=Showbiz Analysis with Robert Davi |url=http://www.parade.com/238922/nancyberk/showbiz-analysis-with-robert-davi |date=December 5, 2013 |work=Parade|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218041543/http://www.parade.com/238922/nancyberk/showbiz-analysis-with-robert-davi/|url-status=live}}</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, Manhattan|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>{{cite web | url=https://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2012/feb/22/pursuing-tribute-sinatra-robert-davi-no-bad-actor/ | title=In pursuing a tribute to Frank Sinatra, Robert Davi is no bad actor | date=February 22, 2012 }}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.wptv.com/entertainment/goonies-actor-robert-davi-channels-frank-sinatra-in-my-kind-of-town-tribute-show | title='Goonies' actor Robert Davi channels Frank Sinatra in 'My Kind of Town' tribute show | date=December 2023 }}</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>{{cite web | url=https://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/7692-ROBERT-DAVI-A-LEGEND-IN-THE-MAKING.html | title=ROBERT DAVI: "A LEGEND IN THE MAKING" - Cinema Retro }}</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>{{cite web |last1=Gilson |first1=Dave |title=Demon Sheep Ad Man Tells All |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/07/fred-davis-bill-hillsman-political-ads-demon-sheep |website=Mother Jones |access-date=September 20, 2015 |ref=mojodemonsheep|archive-date=August 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826175726/http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/07/fred-davis-bill-hillsman-political-ads-demon-sheep|url-status=live}}</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">{{cite web |last1=Serran |first1=Paul |title=Put-A-Name-To-That-Face-Excellence-And-Swagger-In-The-Work-Of-Movie-Icon-Robert-Davi |url=https://artvoice.com/2020/09/15/robertdavi1 |website=Artvoice |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |ref=Artvoice|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920204420/https://artvoice.com/2020/09/15/robertdavi1/|url-status=live}}</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 [[United States Capitol|Capitol Building]] in DC and 15 million viewers.<ref name="Artvoice" />

Davi was the guest singer on the [[The Voice of Italy|Italian version]] of the TV program ''[[The Voice (franchise)|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">{{cite news |title=Robert Davi's wife files for divorce |url=https://www.hollywood.com/general/robert-davi-s-wife-files-for-divorce-59109608 |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Express">{{cite news |title=Robert Davi's wife files for divorce |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/441634/Robert-Davi-s-wife-files-for-divorce/amp |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Her.ie">{{cite news |title=Actor and Wife To Divorce After 23 Years of Marriage |url=https://www.her.ie/amp/celeb/actor-and-wife-to-divorce-after-23-years-of-marriage-72392 |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref> They have four children together.<ref name="Hollywood.com"/><ref name="Express"/> Davi married Diana Davi in 2019, and they have a daughter.{{cn|date=March 2024}} 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>{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/capital-living/my-5-minutes-with-the-president/129863-robert-davi/ | title=Robert Davi | date=October 12, 2011 }}</ref>
 
=== Politics ===
Davi is a political conservative, often speaking at Republican Party gatherings.<ref name="Politico">{{cite news |title=License to trill: The reinvention of Robert Davi |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2010/07/license-to-trill-the-reinvention-of-robert-davi-000000 |work=Politico |date=July 14, 2010 |access-date=December 17, 2017 |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118072708/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2010/07/license-to-trill-the-reinvention-of-robert-davi-000000 |url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web |title=Where are they now? Bond villains |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/where-are-they-now-bond-villains.php?page=11 |year=2013 |work=Virgin Media |access-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201181820/http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/where-are-they-now-bond-villains.php?page=11 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|-7boz9c5A20|Robert Davi Backstage at the Republican National Convention}}</ref> Davi has spoken at numerous [[Conservative Political Action Conference]]s in Washington, D.C. He was a frequent guest on [[Fox News]]'s late-night satire program ''[[Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Davi on 'Red Eye' |url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/2584428042001/robert-davi-on-red-eye/#sp=show-clips |date=August 4, 2013 |work=Fox News |access-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203055424/http://video.foxnews.com/v/2584428042001/robert-davi-on-red-eye/#sp=show-clips |url-status=live}}</ref> Davi endorsed [[Donald Trump]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]], again in [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]], and again in [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Lee |date=March 23, 2016 |url=https://fortune.com/2016/03/23/donald-trump-actors-endorsement/ |title=Here Are All of the D-List Celebrities Endorsing Donald Trump |newspaper=Fortune |access-date=November 15, 2016 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219170739/https://fortune.com/2016/03/23/donald-trump-actors-endorsement/ |url-status=live}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/robert-davi-jon-voight-albert-brooks-trump | title=Robert Davi defends Jon Voight's Trump support after Albert Brooks compares him to John Wilkes Booth | website=[[Fox News]] | date=May 28, 2019 }}</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>{{cite web | url=https://aleteia.org/2020/09/16/singer-who-was-cured-by-padre-pio-says-saint-guided-him-to-record-this-song/ | title=Singer cured by Padre Pio says saint guided to record song | date=September 16, 2020 }}</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>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Julia |title=Four Inducted Into Little Italy's Italian Walk Of Fame |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/15/four-inducted-into-little-italys-italian-walk-of-fame |date=June 15, 2013 |newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=May 6, 2014|archive-date=May 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506233437/http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/15/four-inducted-into-little-italys-italian-walk-of-fame|url-status=live}}</ref>

He was nominated for a [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor]] for his portrayal of Al Torres in ''[[Showgirls]]'' (1995).{{cn|date=March 2024}}

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1984 || ''[[City Heat]]'' || Nino ||
|-io
| 1985 || ''[[The Goonies]]'' || Jake Fratelli ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Raw Deal (1986 film)|Raw Deal]]'' || Max Keller ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Wild Thing (film)|Wild Thing]]'' || "Chopper" ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1988
| ''[[Action Jackson (1988 film)|Action Jackson]]'' || Tony Moretti ||
|-
| ''[[Die Hard]]'' || FBI Special Agent Johnson ||
|-
| ''[[Traxx (film)|Traxx]]'' || Aldo Palucci ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Licence to Kill]]'' || Franz Sanchez ||
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1990 || ''[[Peacemaker (1990 film)|Peacemaker]]'' || Sergeant Frank Ramos ||
|-
| ''[[Deceptions]]'' || Jack "Harley" Kessler ||
|-
| ''[[Maniac Cop 2]]'' || Detective Sean McKinney ||
|-
| ''[[Predator 2]]'' || Deputy Chief Phil Heinemann ||
|-
| ''[[Amazon (1990 film)|Amazon]]'' || Dan ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1991 || ''[[White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd]]'' || [[Charlie "Lucky" Luciano]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Taking of Beverly Hills]]'' || Robert Masterson ||
|-
| ''[[Legal Tender (film)|Legal Tender]]'' || Fix Cleary ||
|-
| ''[[Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue]]'' || "Sully" Sullivan ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1992 || ''[[Christopher Columbus: The Discovery]]'' || [[Martín Alonso Pinzón]] ||
|-
| ''Center of the Web'' || Richard Morgan ||
|-
| ''[[Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence]]'' || Detective Sean McKinney ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1993 || ''[[Night Trap (film)|Night Trap]]'' || Detective Mike Turner ||
|-
| ''[[Son of the Pink Panther]]'' || Hans Zarba ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1994 || ''[[No Contest (film)|No Contest]]'' || Sergeant Crane ||
|-
| ''[[Cops and Robbersons]]'' || Horace Osborn ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995 || ''[[Delta of Venus (film)|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 ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2002 ||''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2001 film)|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 (film)|One Last Ride]]'' || Father ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss]]'' || Ivan Nagy ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[In the Mix (film)|In the Mix]]'' || "Fish" ||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[The Dukes (film)|The Dukes]]'' || Danny || Also directorial debut, screenwriter and producer
|-
| 2008 || ''[[An American Carol]]'' || Aziz ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2009 || ''[[American Summer]]'' || Himself ||
|-
| ''[[The Butcher (2009 film)|The Butcher]]'' || Murdoch ||
|-
| ''Ballistica'' || Macarthur || Also executive producer
|-
|rowspan=3 | 2010 || ''[[Magic Man (film)|Magic Man]]'' || Simpson ||
|-
| ''[[Game of Death (2010 film)|Game of Death]]'' || Frank Smith ||
|-
| ''Magic'' || David Ortero || Also director and producer
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2011 || ''[[Kill the Irishman]]'' || [[Ray Ferritto]] ||
|-
| ''[[Swamp Shark]]'' || Sheriff Watson ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[The Iceman (film)|The Iceman]]'' || Leo Merks || Based on [[Anthony Gaggi]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2013 || ''[[Doonby]]'' || Sheriff Woodley ||
|-
| ''[[Blood of Redemption]]'' || Hayden ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2014 || ''[[Black Rose (2014 film)|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 (2016 film)|Criminal]]'' || Admiral Lance || Uncredited
|-
|  2018 || ''Bachelor Lions''   ||  Maurice ||
|-

| 2019 || ''[[Mob Town (2019 film)|Mob Town]]'' || [[Vito Genovese]] ||
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Roe v. Wade (film)|Roe v. Wade]]'' || [[William J. Brennan Jr.]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022 || ''[[The Man Who Drew God]]'' || Lawyer ||
|-
|  ''[[My Son Hunter]]'' || {{n/a}} || Director
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023 || ''[[Inside Man (2023 film)|Inside Man]]'' || Anthony 'Nino' Gaggi ||
|-
| ''The Engineer'' || Senator David Adler ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2024 || ''Bardejov''  || Refuel Lowy ||
|-
| ''[[Reagan (2024 film)|Reagan]]'' || [[Leonid Brezhnev]] ||
|-
| TBA || ''[[Bad News on the Doorstep]]'' || || Post-production<ref name="baker"> {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/bad-news-on-the-doorstep-casts-rob-gronkowski-mischa-barton-more-1236414395/| website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=30 May 2025|title= Rob Gronkowski, Sistine Stallone, Mischa Barton & More Join Crime Thriller ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Contract on Cherry Street]]'' || Mickey Sinardos, Greek Hijacker || TV movie
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' || Ritchie || Episode: "Mother Angel"
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1979 || ''[[From Here to Eternity (TV series)|From Here to Eternity]]'' || Guard || TV miniseries
|-
| ''[[The Legend of the Golden Gun]]'' || William Quantrill || TV movie
|-
| ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]'' || Hector || Episode: "Hector"
|-
| ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series)|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
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1981 || ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' || Amos || Episode: "The Honeymoon"
|-
| ''[[Shannon (1981 TV series)|Shannon]]'' || Mel || Episode: "Gotham Swansong"
|-
| ''[[The Gangster Chronicles]]'' || [[Vito Genovese]] || TV miniseries
|-
| rowspan="4" | 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: "[[List of Hill Street Blues episodes|Stan the Man]]"
|-
|1983
|[[The Optimist (TV series)|''The Optimist'']]
|The Cabbie
|Episode: "Burning Rubber"
|-
| 1983–1984 || ''[[The Fall Guy]]'' || Scar De Bond, Dan Kowal || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1984 || ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' || Tony Bairos || Episode: "Always, Elizabeth"
|-
| ''[[The A-Team]]'' || Boyle || Episode: "Sheriffs of Rivertown"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]'' || Sonny Dunbar || Episode: "Million Dollar Misunderstanding"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'' || Michael Riegert || Episode: "[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series) season 1#ep16|Wash Up]]"
|-
| 1988 || ''[[L.A. Law]]'' || Dominic Simonetti || Episode: "[[List of L.A. Law episodes|Leapin' Lizards]]"
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Wiseguy (TV series)|Wiseguy]]'' || Albert Cerrico || 5 episodes
|-
| 1993 || ''[[FBI: The Untold Stories]]'' || [[Joseph D. Pistone|Joe Pistone]]|| 2 episodes
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Blind Justice (1994 film)|Blind Justice]]'' || Alacran || TV movie
|-
| 1995 || ''[[VR.5]]'' || Simon Buchanan || Episode: "Simon's Choice"
|-
| 1996–2000 || ''[[Profiler (TV series)|Profiler]]'' || FBI Agent Bailey Malone || 84 episodes
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Batman Beyond]]'' || Dr. Mike Morgan / Magma || Voice, episode: "Heroes"
|-
| 1999–2000 || ''[[The Pretender (TV series)|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 (TV series)|Huff]]'' || Dickins || Episode: "Which Lip Is the Cervical Lip?"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2010 || ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'' || Christian's Dad || Episode: "Christian Troy II"
|-
| ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' || Detective Kurzbard || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2014 || ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' || Marvin Braxton || Episode: "[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season 14#ep313|Uninvited]]"
|-
| ''Asteroid vs. Earth'' || General Masterson || TV movie
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' || Himself || Reality TV series
|-
| 2021–2022 || ''Paper Empire'' || Lawrence Fintch || 11 episodes
|}

=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002 || ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' || Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez ||<ref name="btva">{{Cite web |title=Robert Davi (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Robert-Davi/ |access-date=5 November 2022 |website=BTVA |type= A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information}}</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<br />Remaster of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'' only
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
| 2008 || "[[Burnin' Up (Jonas Brothers song)|Burnin' Up]]" || [[Jonas Brothers]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2015 || "[[The Night We Called It a Day (song)|The Night We Called It a Day]]" || [[Bob Dylan]]
|-
| "Sopra la media" || [[J-Ax]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://davisingssinatra.com/ Davi Sings Sinatra]
* {{IMDb name|0001108|Robert Davi}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davi, Robert}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Sicilian descent]]
[[Category:People of Campanian descent]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Hofstra University alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:New York (state) Republicans]]
[[Category:Male actors from Suffolk County, New York]]
[[Category:American jazz singers]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]