Robert Davi

Robert John Davi (born June 26, 1951) is an American actor, singer, writer, and director.[1] Over the course of his acting career, Davi has performed in more than 130 films. Among his most known roles are opera-singing heavy Jake Fratelli in The Goonies (1985), Vietnam veteran and 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).

Robert Davi
Davi in February 2016
Born
Robert John Davi

(1951-06-26) June 26, 1951
Astoria, Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • writer
  • director
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)
    Jeri McBride
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1980; div. 1990)​
      Christine Bolster
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1990; div. 2019)​
        Diana Davi
        ​
        (m. 2019)​
        Children6
        Musical career
        GenresTraditional Pop, Great American Songbook
        InstrumentsVocals
        WebsiteDavi Sings Sinatra

        Classically trained as a singer, Davi launched his professional singing career in 2011.[2][3] His first album, Davi Sings Sinatra - On The Road To Romance, hit No. 6 on the Billboard jazz charts. Praised for his voice and vocal interpretations, Davi debuted as a headliner at The Venetian Las Vegas, six months after the record was released.[4]

        In 2016, Davi replaced the late Jerry Doyle as radio host for a nationally syndicated radio program on Talk Radio Network.[5]

        Early life

        Davi was born in Astoria, Queens, New York, the son of Maria (née Rulli) and Sal Davi.[2] His mother was an Italian American whose family came from Nusco, Avellino, Campania and his father was from Torretta, Palermo, Sicily.[6]

        Davi spoke Italian during his childhood.[2] He attended Seton Hall, a Roman Catholic high school in Patchogue, New York.[2] He has two sisters, Yvonne Davi (deceased), and Mrs. Michelle Queal. He graduated from Hofstra University, which he attended due to that university's strong drama department as well as its unique reproduction of Shakespeare's Globe Theater.[7] Davi also studied with legendary acting coach Stella Adler when he moved to Manhattan.[8]

        Film career

        Acting career

        Davi made his motion picture debut in Contract On Cherry Street, in which he shared the screen with Frank Sinatra. He subsequently worked with Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Benicio del Toro, Bruce Willis, and Roberto Benigni, among others. He has appeared in movies including The Goonies, 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.[9]

        In 2014, Davi appeared as Goran Vata in The Expendables 3.[10]

        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.[11]

        In 2015, he interpreted Gabriele Tinti's poetry giving voice to the Boxer at Rest at the Getty Museum.[12]

        Directing career
        Davi with Stephen Dorff and Michael Shannon at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival

        In 2007, Davi made his directorial debut with The Dukes, a parable regarding the mid-2000 economic crisis and its impact. The film starred 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.[13] The film was screened internationally and won awards at Queens International Film Festival, WorldFest Houston, Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival, and International Festival of comedy film of Alpe d'Huez.[14]

        Recording career

        In high school, Davi was praised for his singing, and auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera after being awarded first place at the prestigious New York State School Music Association's Solo Competition, where he sang Vincent Youman's "Without A Song". He subsequently received classical training with top 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."[15]

        Davi began to focus again on singing in 2011, and worked with "Voice Builder" Gary Catona as he prepared to record his first album.[16]

        With a thirty-piece orchestra, he recorded the album at the legendary Capitol Records Building in Hollywood, where Frank Sinatra recorded on many occasions.[17]

        The album, which featured new arrangements by composer Nic. tenBroek, was produced by Phil Ramone, engineered by Dan Wallin, and mixed by the legendary Al Schmitt. The album, Davi Sings Sinatra -- On The Road To Romance, was released October 24, 2011, and received significant attention from the media, garnering positive reviews.[18] Jazztimes called Davi Sings Sinatra "uniformly impressive",[19] 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."[20] AllMusic noted that "Davi makes no attempt to copy Sinatra's vocal sound ... Rather, he is his own singer."[21] The album reached the Top 10 on the Billboard jazz charts.[22]

        Quincy Jones said: "I have never heard anyone come this close to Sinatra's sound – and still be himself. Many try, but Robert Davi has the voice, tone, the flavor and the swagger."[23]

        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.[16]

        Davi has lent his voice to political ads, including Carly Fiorina's "Demon Sheep" attack ad, "Hot Air: The Movie", and others produced by Republican media consultant Fred Davis.[24]

        Robert 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 70 Anniversary Celebration of the UN in September, 2015.[25]

        Davi was chosen to tribute SINATRA's 100th birthday for the July 4th PBS SPECIAL; it was watched by 500,000 people outside the Capitol Building in DC and 15 million viewers.[25]

        Davi was also the guest singer on the Italian version of TV program "The Voice".[25]

        Personal life

        Davi is a devout Roman Catholic.

        He is an outspoken political conservative, often speaking at Republican Party gatherings.[26] 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.[27][28] 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.[29] Davi endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and again in 2020.[30]

        Awards and honors

        For his notable contributions to the Italian community, Davi was enshrined in Toronto's Italian Walk of Fame in 2013.[31]

        Selected filmography
        YearTitleRole Notes
        1977Contract on Cherry StreetMickey Sinardos, Greek HijackerTV Film
        1978Charlie's AngelsRitchieTV Series
        1979 From Here to EternityGuardTV Miniseries
        The Legend of the Golden GunWilliam QuantrillTV Film
        1982St. ElsewhereMan In restaurantTV Series
        T. J. HookerJoe 'The Barber' Picartus / Tom WarfieldTV Series
        1983-1984The Fall GuyTV Series
        1984City HeatNino
        The A-TeamBoyle (episode "Sheriffs of Rivertown")TV Series
        1985The GooniesJake Fratelli
        Hunter'Sonny' DunbarTV Series
        1986The EqualizerMichael RiegertTV series
        Raw DealMax Keller
        1987Wild Thing'Chopper'
        1988 Action JacksonTony Moretti
        L.A. LawDominic SimonettiTV Series
        Die HardFBI Special Agent Johnson
        TraxxAldo Palucci
        1989Licence to KillFranz Sanchez
        WiseguyAlbert CerricoTV Series
        1990PeacemakerSergeant Frank Ramos
        DeceptionsJack 'Harley' Kessler
        Maniac Cop 2Detective Sean McKinney
        Predator 2Deputy Chief Phil Heinemann
        AmazonDan
        1991White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma ToddCharlie 'Lucky' Luciano
        The Taking of Beverly HillsRobert Masterson
        1992Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue'Sully' Sullivan
        Christopher Columbus: The DiscoveryMartin Pinzon
        1993Maniac Cop III: Badge of SilenceDetective Sean McKinney
        Night TrapMike Turner
        Son of the Pink PantherHans Zarba
        FBI: The Untold StoriesDonnie BrascoTV Series
        1994No ContestSergeant Crane
        Blind JusticeAlacran
        Cops and RobbersonsHorace Osborn
        1995 VR.5Simon BuchananTV Series
        Delta of VenusThe Collector
        ShowgirlsAl Torres
        1996 An Occasional HellState Trooper Abbott
        ProfilerAgent MaloneTV Series
        1998The Bad PackMcQue
        1999Batman BeyondDr. Mike MorganTV Series
        The PretenderAgent Bailey MaloneTV Series
        2001SoulkeeperMallion
        2002The Sorcerer's ApprenticeMerlin / Milner
        Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityColonel Juan Garcia CortezVideo Game
        The 4th TenorLerra
        The Hot ChickStan, April's Dad
        Disney's PK: Out of the ShadowsZondagVideo Game
        2003One Last RideFather
        2004Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi FleissIvan Nagy
        Karen SiscoDentonTV Series
        Halo 2Rtas 'Vadumee (SpecOps Leader)Video Game
        Stargate: AtlantisCommander Acastus KolyaTV Series
        2005Breaking VegasNarratorTV Series
        In the MixFish
        2006HuffDickinsTV Series
        Scarface: The World Is YoursAlejandro 'Alex' SosaVideo Game
        2007The DukesDanny (also: Directorial Debut)
        Halo 3Shipmaster Rtas 'VadumeeVideo Game
        2008An American CarolAziz
        Burnin' UpJonas BrothersMusic Video
        2009American SummerHimself
        The ButcherMurdoch
        2010Magic ManSimpson
        Spring Break '83Dean Whitter
        Apocalypse IslandNarrator
        Game of DeathFrank Smith
        Criminal MindsDetective KurzbardTV series
        2011Kill the IrishmanRay Ferritto
        Swamp SharkSheriff Watson
        2012The IcemanLeo Merks
        2013DoonbySheriff Woodley
        Blood of RedemptionHayden
        2014Black RoseCaptain Frank Dalano
        A Long Way OffFrank
        CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMarvin Braxton
        The Expendables 3Goran Vata
        2015Sicilian VampireSalvatore 'Big Sal'
        Hell's KitchenHimselfReality TV Series
        2016CriminalAdmiral LanceUncredited
        2018Fishing for GiantsNarratorTV Series
        2019Mob TownVito Genovese
        2019-2020Paper EmpireLawrence FintchTV Series
        2022ReaganLeonid BrezhnevPost-production
        TBARoe v. WadeWilliam J. Brennan Jr.

        References
        1. Paul, Louis (2007). Tales from the Cult Film Trenches. McFarland & Company. p. 53. ISBN 9780786429943.
        2. Chutkow, Paul (1996). "Playing the Heavy Actor Robert Davi has made a career of playing tough guys with a signature cigar". Cigar Aficionado.
        3. "Famed Film Villain Robert Davi Sings Sinatra". ABC News. December 4, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        4. Leach, Robin (February 9, 2012). "Spirit of Sinatra returns as Robert Davi fulfills a childhood dream". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        5. "Actor Robert Davi to Replace Jerry Doyle". Radio Ink. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-08-13.
        6. "Robert Davi sul palco di #TVOI" (in Italian). thevoiceofitaly.rai.it. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
        7. Gil de Rubio, Dave (2010). "Doing It His Way". LongIslandPress. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
        8. "Buffalo Niagara film fest centers on Niagara Falls for a change!". Niagara Falls Reporter.
        9. EW Staff (August 11, 2013). "21 Most Ruthless TV/Film Drug Lords". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        10. Lawton, Adam (November 5, 2013). "'License To Kill' Villain Robert Davi Discusses His Role In 'The Expendables 3' And Reflect On 'The Goonies'". Media Mikes. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
        11. Kreps, Daniel (March 2, 2015). "Watch Bob Dylan Navigate a Bloody Love Triangle in New Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
        12. "The boxer". www.letteratura.rai.it/.
        13. "Commentary: After 70 films as actor Robert Davi directs his first". Retrieved 2016-08-13.
        14. The Dukes (Awards), 2008-11-14, retrieved 2016-08-13
        15. Wolfe, Zachary (July 14, 2010). "License to trill: The reinvention of Robert Davi". Capitol New York. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        16. Staff (December 2013). "Robert Davi's new Christmas single "Mistletoe and Holly" to benefit The Salvation Army". Cision. Archived from the original on 2011-12-03. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        17. Sterling, Ellen (September 24, 2013). "No Overstatement: Singer-Actor-Writer-Director Robert Davi Is A Legend in the Making". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        18. Truitt, Brian (October 27, 2011). "Robert Davi Sings Sinatra, Sincerely". USA Today. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
        19. Loudon, Christopher (October 24, 2011). "A Singer Turned Legend Turns Singer Again". Jazztimes. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        20. Heckman, Don (October 21, 2013). "Don Heckman: Robert Davi sings Sinatra". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        21. Ruhlman, William (2011). "Davi Sings Sinatra". AllMusic.
        22. Berk, Dr. Nancy (December 5, 2013). "Showbiz Analysis with Robert Davi". Parade. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        23. Vallelonga, Nick (July 2, 2013). "His Way; Robert Davi Hits a High Note with Sinatra Tribute". Newsmax. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        24. Gilson, Dave. "Demon Sheep Ad Man Tells All". Mother Jones. Mother Jones. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
        25. Serran, Paul. "Put-A-Name-To-That-Face-Excellence-And-Swagger-In-The-Work-Of-Movie-Icon-Robert-Davi". Artvoice. Artvoice. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
        26. "License to trill: The reinvention of Robert Davi". Politico. 14 July 2010.
        27. "Where are they now? Bond villains". Virgin Media. 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        28. Robert Davi Backstage at the Republican National Convention on YouTube
        29. "Robert Davi on 'Red Eye'". Fox News. August 4, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
        30. Lee, Chris (March 23, 2016). "Here Are All of the D-List Celebrities Endorsing Donald Trump". Fortune. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
        31. Alexander, Julia (June 15, 2013). "Four Inducted Into Little Italy's Italian Walk Of Fame". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
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