Robert Creel Davis (November 6, 1949 – September 8, 1991), known professionally as Brad Davis, was an American actor. For his debut film role as Billy Hayes in the 1978 film Midnight Express, he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor and was nominated for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, along with BAFTA Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.
Davis subsequently played the title role in the Rainer Werner Fassbinder film Querelle (1982), and appeared in such films as A Small Circle of Friends (1980), Chariots of Fire (1981), and Cold Steel (1987). He also starred in television films and miniseries.
Davis, who struggled with substance abuse issues throughout his adult life, was diagnosed with HIV in 1985, and died by assisted suicide from a drug overdose in 1991.
Biography Early life He was born in Tallahassee, Florida, to Eugene Davis, a dentist whose career declined due to alcoholism, and his wife, Anne (née Creel) Davis. His brother Gene is also an actor. Davis was known as Bobby during his youth, but took Brad as his stage name in 1973.Witchel, Alex. (April 16, 1997) "For the Widow of Brad Davis, Time Cannot Heal All the Wounds", The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2007. He attended and graduated from Titusville High School.
According to a 1997 New York Times interview with his widow Susan Bluestein, Davis suffered physical abuse from his father and sexual abuse from his mother. As an adult, Davis was an alcoholic and an intravenous drug user, then became sober in 1981. Davis was bisexual.
Early acting roles At 16, after winning a music-talent contest, Davis worked at Theater Atlanta. He later moved to New York City and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the American Place Theater where he studied acting. After a role on the soap opera How to Survive a Marriage in 1974, he performed in Off-Broadway plays.
In 1976, he was cast in the television mini-series Roots, then as Sally Field's love interest in the television film Sybil. The same year, he married casting director Susan Bluestein. They would have one child together, Alex Blue Davis (b. 1983), a musician and actor.The Sheila Variations: Feb. 19/20 at The Knitting Factory: Alex Davis: Man of the Year
In 1977, he was cast as John Rambo in First Blood when John Frankenheimer was scheduled to direct the film before it was cancelled due to Orion Pictures' acquisition of Filmways.
Midnight Express and stardom His most successful film role was as the main character Billy Hayes in Midnight Express (1978), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor. He was nominated for a similar award at that year's BAFTA Awards, in addition to receiving Best Actor nominations at both ceremonies (Richard Dreyfuss won for The Goodbye Girl).BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role#1970s
In 1980, Davis would play US Marine Officer Phil Caputo in the biographical made-for-television film A Rumor of War. The same year, he would be top-billed for his role in the film A Small Circle of Friends.
In 1981, he played American track star Jackson Scholz in the Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire.
In 1982, Davis played the title role of Georges Querelle in the film Querelle, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's final film before his death by a drug overdose. That same year, he starred in Steven Berkoff's stage adaptation of The Metamorphosis at the Mark Taper Forum.
Supporting roles and television films Davis played the lead role of Ned Weeks in The Normal Heart (1985), Larry Kramer's play about AIDS.
While continuing to play supporting roles in theatrical films, Davis appeared regularly in made-for-television films, including Chiefs, Robert Kennedy & His Times, The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy, and The Plot to Kill Hitler. He played Queeg in a 1988 television adaptation of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, directed by Robert Altman, opposite Eric Bogosian and Jeff Daniels.
Illness and death Diagnosed with HIV in 1985, Davis kept his condition private until shortly before his death at age 41 on September 8, 1991, in Los Angeles. In 1997, his wife Susan claimed that he probably contracted HIV through intravenous drug use, and that he died by assisted suicide from a drug overdose.Suffering a secret: Brad Davis and AIDSFor the Widow of Brad Davis, Time Cannot Heal All the Wounds It was revealed in a book proposal that Davis had written before his death that he had to keep his HIV-positive status a secret to be able to continue to work and support his family.
He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 11241). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition
Filmography Film Year Title RoleDirector Notes 1976 Eat My Dust! Bit roleCharles B. Griffith Uncredited 1978 Midnight Express Billy HayesAlan Parker 1980 A Small Circle of Friends Leonardo da Vinci RizzoRob Cohen 1981 Chariots of Fire Jackson ScholzHugh Hudson 1982 Querelle QuerelleRainer Werner Fassbinder 1987 Heart EddieJames Lemmo Cold Steel Johnny ModineDorothy Ann Puzo 1989 Rosalie Goes Shopping Ray "Liebling" GreenspacePercy Adlon 1991 Hangfire Sheriff Ike SlaytonPeter Maris 1992 The Player HimselfRobert Altman Posthumous releaseCameo appearance
Television Year Title Role Notes 1974 How to Survive a Marriage Alexander Kronos Unknown episodes 1976 The American Parade Streetcar Conductor / Thomas Nast Episodes: "Song of Myself", "Stop Thief"SybilRichard J. LoomisMiniseriesThe Secret Life of Ol' John ChapmanAndyTV movie 1977 Roots George "Ol' George" Johnson Miniseries Baretta Ray Episode: "Guns and Brothers"1980The Greatest Man in the WorldJimmy SchmurchTV movie1980A Rumor of WarLieutenant Phil Caputo 1981 BBC2 Playhouse Young American Episode: "Mrs. Reinhardt" 1983 Chiefs Sonny Butts Miniseries 1985 Robert Kennedy & His Times Robert F. Kennedy Miniseries The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents Arthur Episode: "Arthur, or the Gigolo" 1986 The Twilight Zone Arthur Lewis Episode: "Button, Button"Blood TiesJulian SalinaTV movieVengeance: The Story of Tony CimoTony Cimo 1987 The Hitchhiker Jerry Rulac Episode: "Why Are You Here?"When the Time ComesDeanTV movie1988The Caine Mutiny Court-MartialLieutenant Commander Phillip Francis Queeg1989The Rainbow Warrior ConspiracyNeil TraversThe EdgeKenny1990Unspeakable ActsJoseph BragaThe Plot to Kill HitlerColonel Claus von Stauffenberg1991Child of Darkness, Child of LightDr. Phinney1992The Habitation of DragonsGeorge TolliverPosthumous releaseTV movie
Partial stage credits +YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotes1975Four FriendsMikeAlfred GingoldTheatre de Lys, New York City1981-82Entertaining Mr SloaneMr. SloaneJohn TillingerCherry Lane Theatre, New York CityReplacement1982MetamorphosisGregor SamsaSteven BerkoffMark Taper Forum, Los Angeles1983ToyerPeterTony RichardsonKennedy Center, Washington, D.C.1985-86The Normal HeartNed WeeksMichael Lindsay-HoggPublic Theatre, New York City
Awards and nominations Institution Year Category Nominated work Result British Academy Film Awards 1979 Best Actor in a Leading Role Midnight Express Best Newcomer Golden Globe Awards 1979 Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama New Star of the Year – Actor Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards 1978 Best Actor
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