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| Brad Davis | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brad Davis |
| Birth name | Robert Creel Davis |
| Birth date | 1949-11-06 |
| Birth place | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Death date | 1991-09-08 |
| Death place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–1991 |
| Spouse | Susan Hudson (m. 1976) |
Brad Davis was an American actor known for his portrayals of troubled, intense characters in film, television, and theater. He gained international recognition for a breakout role that showcased his capacity for vulnerability and menace, and he maintained a prolific career in supporting and leading roles across Hollywood and stage productions. Davis's life and work intersected with notable figures, institutions, and cultural moments of the 1970s and 1980s.
Born Robert Creel Davis in Denver, Colorado, Davis moved frequently during childhood, living in cities such as New Orleans, Miami, and Los Angeles. He was raised by his mother after his parents' separation and attended local schools before pursuing acting studies. In his late teens he joined regional theater programs and trained with companies associated with the Actors Studio and workshops influenced by practitioners from the Method acting tradition, seeking coaching from teachers who had worked with alumni of Juilliard School and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Davis began his screen career in the late 1960s and early 1970s with guest appearances on series produced by studios like Universal Pictures and networks such as NBC and CBS. He transitioned from television episodics to feature films, earning attention in projects connected to filmmakers from the New Hollywood era and producers affiliated with companies including Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. His breakthrough came with a performance in a 1978 film directed by a notable European-born filmmaker and released by an American distributor, which brought him accolades from critics at outlets like Variety and The New York Times and led to nominations from organizations including the BAFTA and regional critics' circles.
Following that success, Davis worked with directors associated with projects produced by Columbia Pictures and collaborated with actors who had appeared in films by Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman. He oscillated between supporting roles in studio dramas and leads in independent productions financed by companies such as MGM/United Artists and smaller boutique producers. On television, he appeared in telefilms and miniseries distributed by networks including ABC and HBO, and he guest-starred on anthology programs produced by NBCUniversal Television Studio.
On stage, Davis performed in productions mounted at venues and companies like the Mark Taper Forum, the Manhattan Theatre Club, and regional theaters in Chicago and San Francisco. He appeared in classic and contemporary plays by playwrights such as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and William Shakespeare, as well as new works produced at festivals associated with the New York Theatre Workshop and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Selected filmography includes features released by studios and distributors: a 1978 drama that established his reputation; genre films produced by outfits with ties to Orion Pictures and Caravan Pictures; and character-driven projects screened at festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. His television credits encompass guest roles on series produced by companies linked to MTV Networks and appearances in made-for-TV dramas aired by PBS and cable channels.
Davis married actress Susan Hudson in 1976; Hudson had performed on stage and in television productions associated with companies like CBS and regional theater circuits. The couple had a daughter who pursued a career in creative fields and enrolled in programs at institutions similar to the California Institute of the Arts and conservatories in New York City. Davis maintained friendships with fellow actors and directors from ensembles connected to the Actors Studio, and he occasionally contributed to charitable events hosted by organizations such as AmFAR and arts fundraisers tied to theaters in Los Angeles and New York.
In the mid-1980s Davis was diagnosed with an illness that became a focus of public attention during the late 1980s and early 1990s, at a time when the entertainment industry and advocacy groups including GLAAD and ACT UP were increasing visibility for related health crises. He continued to work while undergoing treatment and spoke privately with colleagues associated with unions like the Screen Actors Guild and advocacy groups operating in California. Davis died in Los Angeles in 1991; his death prompted memorials and discussions in publications such as People (magazine), The Los Angeles Times, and industry periodicals, and it spurred benefit events and tributes organized by artists who had collaborated with him on stage and screen.
Category:American male film actors Category:American male stage actors Category:1949 births Category:1991 deaths