Bruce Davison
Bruce Davison | |
---|---|
Born | Bruce Allen Davison[1] June 28, 1946 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Alma mater | Pennsylvania State University, University Park(BA) New York University(MFA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1968–present |
Spouses | |
Children | 2 |
Bruce Allen Davison(born June 28, 1946) is an American actor, who has appeared in over 270 film, television and stage productions since his debut in 1968.[2]His breakthrough role was as Willard Stiles in the 1971 cult horror filmWillard.He was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor,and won aGolden Globe Awardand anIndependent Spirit Award,for his performance inLongtime Companion(1989).
Davison is also known for his roles George Henderson on the television sitcomHarry and the Hendersons(1991-93), Captain Wyler on the crime drama seriesHunter(1985-89), Howard Finnegan inRobert Altman’sShort Cuts,Reverend Samuel Parrisin the1996 film adaptationofThe Crucible,and asSenator Robert Kellyin thesuperherofilmsX-Men(2000) andX2(2003). He is both anDaytime Emmyand aPrimetime Emmy Awardnominee.
Early life
[edit]Davison was born in 1946 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.His parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by his mother and spent weekends with his father.[3]
He graduated in 1964 fromMarple Newtown Senior High School,enteredPenn Stateas an art major, and then stumbled into acting when he accompanied a friend to an audition. He attendedNew York University's acting program, graduating in 1969.[4][5]
Career
[edit]Davison made his Broadway debut inTiger at the Gatesin 1968. He also appeared asJohn MerrickinThe Elephant Man,and starred inThe Glass MenageriewithJessica Tandy.[4]Davison was one of a quartet of newcomers, includingBarbara Hershey,Richard Thomas,andCatherine Burnswhen he made his film debut inLast Summerin 1969. In 1970, he played oppositeKim DarbyinThe Strawberry Statement,a film about peaceful student protest and its violent outcome.[6]A year later he portrayed the title role in the 1971 version ofWillard,based on the novelRatman's Notebooks.He also appeared inUlzana's Raid;Peege;Mame;Mother, Jugs & Speed;Short Eyes;The Lathe of HeavenandSix Degrees of Separation.
Davison was an uncredited extra inSteven Spielberg'sClose Encounters of the Third Kind(1977). He recalled, "Steven Spielberg was a great friend, although I never got to work with him, except for playing an extra inClose Encounters of the Third Kindbecause we were friends. I got off the mothership as one of the pilots. "[7]
Davison has worked extensively in television. In 1973, he played the brother of a crippledNatalie Woodin the made-for-TV movieThe AffaironABC.In 1978, Davison appeared asDean TorrencewithRichard Hatchin the biopicDeadman's Curve(the story of 1960s pop duoJan & Dean). The same year, he played the title role in the television film adaptationSummer of My German Soldier.
In 1981, he had the lead role inThe Wavebased onreal events,starring as a history teacher who had conducted an experiment in Nazi philosophy on his own students.
Davison also starred inTales from the Darkside(Season 1, Episode 8) and played the role of the father in the short-livedHarry and the HendersonsTV series.
In 1983, Davison was cast byJoseph Pappin thePublic Theater/New York Shakespeare Festivalproduction ofKing Richard III.AdditionalOff-Broadwaycredits includeLove Letters,The Cocktail HourandPaula Vogel'sPulitzer Prize-winning playHow I Learned to Drive.He also played the role of Ruby in the 1985 comedySpies Like Us,starringDan AykroydandChevy Chase.
In 1990, he portrayed a homosexual man whose lover is dying of AIDS inLongtime Companion.The role earned Davison a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actorand aGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture.He concluded his Golden Globe acceptance speech[8]with the hope that humankind would devote as much effort to the war on AIDS as its wars against each other. Davison appeared in other films addressing AIDS: In 1995'sThe Cure,he portrayed a physician sought by a young boy with AIDS in search of medical help. In 1996, Davison appeared in the filmIt's My Party,which chronicled the true events of a man dying with AIDS who decides to hold a farewell party for family and friends before taking his own life. Davison is a spokesperson for many AIDS-related groups and is a board member of the industry AIDS organization Hollywood Supports.[4]
In Los Angeles, Davison has appeared on stage inStreamersandThe Normal Heart,winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award andDrama-Logue Awardfor his performances. Other theatre credits includeThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial(directed byHenry Fonda) and a stage adaptation ofTo Kill a Mockingbird.[4]
Davison had roles inRunaway JuryandApt Pupil,as well as theX-Menfilm franchise asRobert Kellyin thefirst filmand ashapeshifting imposterinX2.He was the fanatical ReverendSamuel ParrisinArthur Miller's screen adaptation of his playThe Crucible.Davison also portrayed a rich philanthropist in the filmChristmas Angel.Davison's many television credits includeHunter(in which he was a semi-regular for at least one season);Marcus Welby, M.D.;Love, American Style;The Waltons;Lou Grant;Murder, She Wrote;Designing Women;Seinfeld;Chicago Hope;Law & Order: Special Victims Unit;V: The Series;Star Trek: Voyager;Star Trek: Enterprise;Battlestar Galactica;Lost;CSI: Miami;Supernatural;Ghost Whisperer;Castle;Hawaii Five-0;theStephen Kingmini-seriesKingdom Hospital;and a recurring role onThe Practice.He played Mark Davis, a therapist who was a love interest forCybill Shepherd's character in a Season 1 episode ( "Look Who's Stalking" ) of her sitcomCybill.Davison also had the recurring role of defense attorney Doug Hellman inClose to Home.
In 2001, Davison directed the TV filmOff Season,which starredSherilyn Fenn,Rory Culkin,Hume CronynandAdam Arkin.In 2007, Davison returned to the big screen as the father of Eric O'Neill inBreach.Also in that year, Davison was cast in the role of Charles Graiman, a protege of Wilton Knight who was the creator of the Knight Industries Three Thousand, inNBC's revival of the television seriesKnight Rider.
Davison also played the role of Dr. Silberman, the psychiatrist who once tormentedSarah Connor,in the seventh episode ofTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.He portrayed Nick Anderson (a secret Santa Claus) in the television filmChristmas Angelin 2009. In May 2010, Davison was cast to portray art dealer Wilhelm Van Schlagel for several episodes onGeneral Hospitalto begin airing in July 2010.
In 2010, he starred in the television filmTitanic II.In 2011, he starred as Police Chief Kirkhoven in the filmMunger Road,and appeared in the Christmas film3 Holiday Tails.In 2012, he appeared inRob Zombie'sThe Lords of Salem.In addition, he played Secretary of StateWilliam H. Sewardin the filmSaving Lincoln.
He played the role ofRear AdmiralArthur Shepard,LieutenantGrace Shepard's father, in the short-stint TV seriesLast Resort.
In 2016, Davison starred as Dr. Stanley Cole in the comedy/fantasyAbnormal Attraction.[9]
Personal life
[edit]From 1969 to 1971, Davison had an unpublicized affair with married actressSondra Locke.In 2017, one year before Locke's death, Davison acknowledged their affair on the DVD commentary forWillard.[10]
Davison has been married three times and has two children. He married actressJess Waltonon May 20, 1972, but the marriage was annulled in March 1973. He was engaged to actressKaren Austin.[11]He has a son, Ethan, born April 5, 1996, from his marriage to actressLisa Pelikan.They were married from July 4, 1986 until their divorce in April 2006.[12]Davison and Michele Correy married on April 30, 2006. They have a daughter, Sophia, born May 29, 2006. They reside inWoodland Hills, California.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | Last Summer | Dan | |
1970 | The Strawberry Statement | Simon | |
1971 | Willard | Willard Stiles | |
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me | Fitzgore | ||
1972 | Ben | Willard Stiles | Archival Footage |
The Jerusalem File | David | ||
Ulzana's Raid | Lt. Garnett DeBuin | ||
1973 | Peege | Greg | Short film |
1974 | Mame | Patrick Dennis | |
1976 | Grand Jury | Bobby Allen | |
Mother, Jugs & Speed | Leroy | ||
1977 | Short Eyes | Clark Davis | |
The Gathering | George | ||
1978 | Brass Target | Col. Robert Dawson | |
French Quarter | Kid Ross / Inspector Sordik | ||
1978 | Summer of My German Soldier | Anton Friedrich Reiker | |
1980 | The Lathe of Heaven | George Orr | |
1981 | High Risk | Dan | |
1983 | Lies | Stuart Russell | |
1984 | Crimes of Passion | Donny Hopper | |
1985 | Spies Like Us | Ruby | |
1986 | The Ladies Club | Richard Harrison | |
1987 | The Misfit Brigade | Corporal Joseph Porta | |
1989 | Longtime Companion | David | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—LA Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1991 | Steel and Lace | Albert Morton | |
1993 | Short Cuts | Howard Finnigan | Golden Globe Special Ensemble Cast Award(non-competitive) Volpi Cup for Best Ensemble Cast |
Six Degrees of Separation | Larkin | ||
1995 | Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog | John McCormick | |
Widow's Kiss | Justin | ||
The Cure | Dr. Jensen | ||
The Baby-Sitters Club | Watson Brewer | ||
1996 | It's My Party | Rodney Bingham | |
Grace of My Heart | John Murray | ||
The Crucible | Reverend Samuel Parris | ||
1997 | Lovelife | Bruce | |
1998 | Paulie | Dr. Reingold | |
Apt Pupil | Richard Bowden | ||
1999 | At First Sight | Dr. Charles Aaron | |
2000 | The King Is Alive | Ray | |
X-Men | Senator Robert Kelly | ||
2001 | Crazy/Beautiful | Tom Oakley | |
Summer Catch | Rand Parrish | ||
2002 | High Crimes | Brigadier General Bill Marks | |
Dahmer | Lionel Dahmer | ||
2003 | X2 | Senator Robert Kelly | |
Willard | Willard Stiles I | ||
Runaway Jury | Durwood Cable | ||
2005 | Hate Crime | Pastor Boyd | |
Going Shopping | Adam | ||
8mm 2 | Ambassador Harrington | ||
2006 | The Dead Girl | Leah's father | |
2007 | Breach | John O'Neill | |
2008 | The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice | Professor Lazlo / Vlad | |
2009 | La linea | Anthony | |
MegaFault | Dr. Mark Rhodes | ||
Christmas Angel | Nick Anderson | ||
A Golden Christmas | Rod | ||
2010 | Arctic Blast | Winslaw | |
Titanic II | James Maine | ||
Camp Hell | Fr. Phineas McAllister | ||
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths | PresidentSlade Wilson | Voice | |
2011 | Munger Road | Chief Kirkhoven | |
3 Holiday Tails | Rod Wright | ||
Earth's Final Hours | Rothman | ||
Coffin | Garrison | ||
Elwood | Congressman Barber | Short film | |
2012 | Return of the Killer Shrews | Jerry Farrell | |
The Lords of Salem | Francis Matthias | ||
2013 | Saving Lincoln | William H. Seward | |
Words and Pictures | Walt | ||
2014 | Persecuted | Senator Donald Harrison | |
37 | Psychic | ||
2015 | Black Beauty | Grandpa | |
The Leisure Class | Edward | HBO'sProject Greenlightseason 4 film | |
Oceanus: Act One | Commander Mitch Conrad | Short film | |
2016 | The Curse of Sleeping Beauty | Richard Meyers | |
Get A Job | Lawrence Wilheimer | ||
The Bronx Bull | D.A. Bonomi | ||
2017 | 9/11 | Monohan | |
Love Locks | Hugo Blanchet | Television film (Hallmark) | |
Yamasong: March of the Hollows | P'Torr The Exile | ||
2018 | Insidious: The Last Key | Christian Rainer | |
Along Came the Devil | Reverend Michael | ||
Abnormal Attraction | Dr. Cole | In post-production | |
2019 | Itsy Bitsy | Walter | |
Wish Man | Frank Shankwitz Sr. | ||
The Great Alaskan Race | Governor Bone | ||
More Beautiful for Having Been Broken | Colin | ||
Christmas at the Plaza | Reginald Brookwater | Television film (Hallmark) | |
2020 | We Still Say Grace | Harold | |
Influence | Walter Klein | ||
2021 | The Manor | Roland | |
2023 | Condor's Nest | Gerhardt Schrude | |
Suitable Flesh | Ephraim | [13] |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | Medical Center | Mickey Peters | Episode: "A Duel with Doom" |
NBC Experiment in Television | Episode: "Moby Tick" | ||
1970–1979 | Insight | William/Greg/Randy King/Andy Fry | 4 episodes |
1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Raymond 'Cowboy' Leatherberry | Episode: "A Pattern of Morality" |
1972 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Donald Lorimer | Episode: "Love Is When They Say They Need You" |
1973 | Hec Ramsey | Josh Hollister | Episode: "The Mystery of Chalk Hill" |
Cops | Detective Dennis Till | Television film | |
Love, American Style | Episode: "Love and the Secret Spouse" | ||
Break Up | Himself | Music comedy special for ABC | |
The Affair | Jamie Patterson | Television film | |
1974 | Love Story | Jeffrey | Episode: "Time for Love" |
Ma and Pa | Television film | ||
The Lives of Benjamin Franklin | William Franklin - Son | Miniseries | |
1974–1978 | Police Story | Clyde Griffiths/Victor Joe Vero | Episodes: "Requiem for C.Z. Smith" and "Day of Terror... Night of Fear" |
1975 | The Waltons | Bob Hill | Episode: "The Shivaree" |
The Last Survivors | Michael Larsen | Television film | |
1976 | Police Woman | Binns | Episode: "Bait" |
1977 | ABC Weekend Specials | Bruce - as a Young Man | Episode: "Portrait of Grandpa Doc" |
The Gathering | George | Television film | |
1978 | Deadman's Curve | Dean Torrence | |
Summer of My German Soldier | Anton Reiker | ||
Mourning Becomes Electra | Orin Mannon | Miniseries | |
1979 | Mind Over Murder | Jason | Television film |
The Gathering, Part II | George | ||
Lou Grant | Andrew Raines | Episodes: "Andrew: Part 1" and "Andrew: Part 2" | |
1980 | The Lathe of Heaven | George Orr | Television film |
1981 | The Wave | Ben Ross | |
Incident at Crestridge | Clint Larsen | ||
1982 | The Astronauts | Technical Officer David Ackroyd | |
1983 | Ghost Dancing | Calvin Oberst | |
1984 | Tales from the Darkside | Richard Hagstrom | Episode: "The Word Processor of the Gods" |
1985 | V | John Langley | 3 episodes |
1985–1989 | Hunter | Capt. Wyler/Dep. Chief Wyler | 16 episodes |
1987 | Murder, She Wrote | David Carroll | Episode: "The Cemetery Vote" |
1990 | Designing Women | Reverend Eugene 'Gene' Chapman | Episode: "Have Faith" |
1991–1993 | Harry and the Hendersons | George Henderson | 72 episodes |
1992 | Desperate Choices: To Save My Child | Richard Robbins | Television film |
Live! From Death Row | Laurence Dvorak | ||
1993 | A Mother's Revenge | Bill Sanders | |
1995 | Down, Out & Dangerous | Brad Harrington | |
The Outer Limits | Dr. McEnerney | Episode: "White Light Fever" | |
Cybill | Mark Davis | Episode: "Look Who's Stalking" | |
1996 | Star Trek: Voyager | Jareth | Episode: "Remember" |
After Jimmy | Ward "Sam" Stapp | Television film | |
Hidden in America | Dr. Michael Millerton | ||
1996–1997 | Seinfeld | Wyck | 3 episodes |
1998 | Touched by an Angel | Jacob 'Jake' Weiss | Episode: "Elijah" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
1999 | Vendetta | Thomas Semmes | Television film |
1999–2000 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Burt Peters | 2 episodes |
2000–2001 | The Practice | Scott Wallace | 9 episodes |
2001 | Off Season | Dr. Zimmer | Television film (also director) Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special |
2002 | Without a Trace | Paul Cartwright | Pilot episode |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Graham Mandell | Episode: "Waste" | |
Star Trek: Enterprise | Menos | Episode: "The Seventh" | |
L.A. Law: The Movie | Lawrence Diebenkorn | Television film | |
2003 | Out of the Ashes | Peter Schuman | |
2004 | Kingdom Hospital | Dr. Stegman | 13 episodes |
JAG | Dr. Morris Sperling | Episode: "The Man on the Bridge" | |
2005 | Numb3rs | Robert Oliver | Episode: "Sacrifice" |
The Triangle | Stan Lathem | 3 episodes | |
Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Peter Betts | Episode: "Baby Boom" | |
2005–2007 | Close to Home | Attorney Doug Hellman | 13 episodes |
2006 | CSI: Miami | Dane Daniels | Episode: "Dead Air" |
2006–2010 | Lost | Dr. Douglas Brooks | 2 episodes |
2007 | The L Word | Leonard Kroll | 3 episodes |
Battlestar Galactica | Dr. Michael Robert | Episode: "The Woman King" | |
2008 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Dr. Peter Silberman | Episode: "The Demon Hand" |
2008–2009 | Knight Rider | Dr. Charles Graiman | 11 episodes |
2009 | Criminal Minds | Father Davison | Episode: "Demonology" |
2009–2010 | Ghost Whisperer | Josh Bedford | 5 episodes |
2010 | Psych | Walter Snowden | Episode: "Think Tank" |
General Hospital | Wilhelm von Schlagel | 5 episodes | |
2011 | Castle | Lou Karnacki | Episode: "Law & Murder" |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Avery Tinsdale | Episode: "Father of the Bride" | |
Hawaii Five-0 | Steven Carver | Episode: "Ua Lawe Wale (Taken)" | |
Childrens Hospital | Narrator | Episode: "Childrens Hospital: A Play in Three Acts" | |
Covert Affairs | Max Langford | Episode: "Horse to Water" | |
2011–2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Judge Cyrus Maxwell | 3 episodes |
2012 | Bigfoot | Sheriff Walt Gunderson | Television film |
Luck | Hartstone | 2 episodes | |
Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Gabe Sharpe | Episode: "Whatever It Takes..." | |
2012–2013 | Last Resort | Admiral Arthur Shepard | 6 episodes |
2014 | Those Who Kill | Howard Burgess | 10 episodes |
The Legend of Korra | Zuko | Voice, 6 episodes | |
Sequestered | Danny Firmin's father | 12 episodes | |
2014–2016 | Kingdom | Ron Prince | 4 episodes |
2015–2018 | The Fosters | Stuart Adams | 5 episodes |
2016 | The Exorcist | Pope Sebastian | Episode: "Chapter Ten: Three Rooms" |
2018 | Mozart in the Jungle | Hesby | 3 episodes |
2018 | Forgive Me | Archbishop | Episode: "With the Help of Your Grace To Sin No More" |
2019 | The Gift of Christmas | Bob Rodgers | Television film |
Creepshow | Avery "Whitey" Whitlock | 2 episodes | |
The Son | Mr. Roy Endicott | [citation needed] | |
Defrost: The Virtual Series | Michael Garrison | Television film | |
2022 | Ozark | Sen. Randall Schafer | 6 episodes |
The Lincoln Lawyer | Judge at hearing | Episode: "The Brass Verdict" | |
2022–2023 | 1923 | Arthur | 2 episodes |
2023 | Bosch: Legacy | James Rafferty | [14] |
References
[edit]- ^"Genealogy - Geni - private profile - Genealogy".Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2023.RetrievedApril 5,2021.
- ^"Bruce Davison | Rotten Tomatoes".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^P, Ken (May 20, 2012)."An Interview with Bruce Davison".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on August 7, 2016.RetrievedDecember 6,2016.
- ^abcdAmes, Denise (June 22, 2015)."One-on-One with Oscar-Nominated Actor Bruce Davison".The Tolucan Times.Archived fromthe originalon September 5, 2015.RetrievedMay 4,2016.
- ^"NYU Graduate Acting Alumni".2011. Archived fromthe originalon July 5, 2012.RetrievedDecember 1,2011.
- ^Sterritt, David."The Strawberry Statement (1970)".Turner Classic Movies.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2018.RetrievedDecember 8,2018.
- ^"Bruce Davison:" Tell a story as cleanly and as purely as you possibly can. Everything else is lettuce on your sandwich "".FilmTalk.August 15, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on February 25, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 25,2022.
- ^"Bruce Davison Wins Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture – Golden Globes 1991".AwardsShowNetwork. January 26, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 7,2016– via YouTube.
- ^Mollabeciri, Donik (January 30, 2019)."Fuzz on the Lens flick features host of 'Abnormal' cult movie icons".Staten Island Advance.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2020.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
- ^Bruce Davison, DVDaudio commentary,2017,Shout! Factory
- ^Thompson, Ruth (February 4, 1984)."Karen Austin Tries Comedy Role in 'Night Court'".Ocala Star-Banner.Newspaper Enterprise Association.p. 15;TV Week.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 1,2021.
- ^Rosen, Marjorie (July 23, 1990)."A Role as a Gay Companion Brings Bruce Davison An Oscar Buzz".People.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2016.RetrievedMarch 22,2020.
- ^Navarro, Meagan (June 13, 2023)."'Suitable Flesh' Teaser Offers a Taste of Joe Lynch's Lovecraftian Horror ".Bloody Disgusting.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2023.RetrievedJune 13,2023.
- ^Petski, Denise (May 1, 2023)."'Bosch: Legacy' Renewed For Season 3 By Amazon Freevee; Six Join Season 2 Cast ".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on May 1, 2023.RetrievedMay 1,2023.
External links
[edit]- 1946 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners
- Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male winners
- Living people
- Male actors from Philadelphia
- Penn State College of Arts and Architecture alumni
- Tisch School of the Arts alumni
- Volpi Cup winners