Robert Creel Davis (November 6, 1949 â€" September 8, 1991), known
professionally as Brad Davis, was an American actor, known for
starring in the 1978 film Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire and the
1982 film Querelle.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.
According to an article in The New York Times published in 1987, Davis
suffered physical abuse and sexual abuse at the hands of both parents.
As an adult, he was an alcoholic and an intravenous drug user, then
became sober in 1981. Davis was known as Bobby during his youth, but
took Brad as his stage name in 1973. Davis attended and graduated from
Titusville High School.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, 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. In 1981, he played American
track star Jackson Scholz in the Academy Award-winning film Chariots
of Fire. He played the lead role in The Normal Heart (1985), Larry
Kramer's play about AIDS. 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 â€" Actor and the
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut â€" 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).
professionally as Brad Davis, was an American actor, known for
starring in the 1978 film Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire and the
1982 film Querelle.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.
According to an article in The New York Times published in 1987, Davis
suffered physical abuse and sexual abuse at the hands of both parents.
As an adult, he was an alcoholic and an intravenous drug user, then
became sober in 1981. Davis was known as Bobby during his youth, but
took Brad as his stage name in 1973. Davis attended and graduated from
Titusville High School.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, 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. In 1981, he played American
track star Jackson Scholz in the Academy Award-winning film Chariots
of Fire. He played the lead role in The Normal Heart (1985), Larry
Kramer's play about AIDS. 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 â€" Actor and the
Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut â€" 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).
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.