Daniel Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis in 2016 | |
| Born | (1945-11-26)November 26, 1945 (age 80) Gurdon, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Other names | Danny Davis |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–present |
Daniel Davis (born November 26, 1945) is an American film, stage and television actor. He portrayedNiles the butler on the sitcomThe Nanny (1993 to 1999) and had two guest appearances asProfessor Moriarty onStar Trek: The Next Generation (a role he reprised onStar Trek: Picard), affecting areceived pronunciationEnglish dialect for both roles.
Davis was born on November 26, 1945, inGurdon, Arkansas,[1] and grew up inLittle Rock. His parents operated a cinema.[2] His first acting job was at the age of 11, when he was cast in a local broadcast program,Betty's Little Rascals.[3]
Davis graduated fromHall High School in Little Rock in 1964. He graduated from theArkansas Arts Center with aBachelor of Fine Arts,[4] followed by work with theOregon Shakespeare Festival,[5] theStratford Shakespeare Festival, and six years with theAmerican Conservatory Theater (ACT).[2] During his time at ACT, he taught acting classes.
Davis first became popular in daytime television playing oppositeBeverlee McKinsey as her character Iris Cory's former (and presumed dead) husband, Elliot Carrington, on thesoap operaTexas, a spin-off ofAnother World, from October 1980 to December 1981. In 1985, he played a renegade soldier in the Season 4 episode, "The Doctor is Out", of the television seriesThe A-Team.
Davis played his most famous character, Niles the Butler, on the television seriesThe Nanny throughout its run from 1993 to 1999 and in itsreunion special in 2004 (in cameo flashbacks only). Niles was known for his frequent use ofdeadpanone-liners, usually insulting characterC. C. Babcock, with whom Niles eventually fell in love and married in the series' last season.
His naturalaccent isSouthern American;[6] however, hisEnglish dialect as Niles was so accurate that many viewers thought he was actually English. He also used an English received pronounced dialect asProfessor Moriarty in theStar Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Elementary, Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle". However, as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrierUSSEnterprise in the 1990 filmThe Hunt for Red October, Davis spoke with his ownAmerican dialect.
In 2002, Davis guest-starred on the television seriesFrasier, playing Dr. Shafer in Season 10, Episode 8, "Rooms with a View".
Davis was among the group of celebritieslip-synching to theBee Gees'Stayin' Alive on the "Idol Gives Back" episode ofAmerican Idol on April 25, 2007.
He appeared briefly in the 2006 filmThe Prestige, directed byChristopher Nolan.
In 2008 he guest-starred on the television seriesUgly Betty.
In December 2010, he appeared onThe Fran Drescher Show throughSkype.
In 2012, he recorded theaudiobook of theStar Wars novelStar Wars: Darth Plagueis, byJames Luceno.
Davis reprised the role of Professor Moriarty in thethird and final season ofStar Trek: Picard.[7]
Davis is an established theatre actor. He has appeared in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions in New York,[8] and has appeared at theGuthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[8]
His first Broadway role was asAntonio Salieri inAmadeus in 1980.
Off-Broadway, he played Rubin inLake No Bottom in 1990, the Duke of Buckingham inThe Tragedy of Richard III, and he starred as Gaev inThe Cherry Orchard in 2011.[8]
In 2000, Davis was nominated for a Best Featured ActorTony Award for his role inDavid Hirson'sBroadway playWrong Mountain.[9] He playedOscar Wilde inThe Invention of Love in 2001.[8] In 2003, he appeared in theAlan Bennett playTalking Heads. In 2004, he portrayedGeorge Bernard Shaw in theStephen SondheimmusicalThe Frogs. He co-starred inLa Cage Aux Folles withGary Beach from November 2004 to March 2005. (Reportedly, he clashed frequently with Beach and others. He was eventually replaced byRobert Goulet.[10])
In 2007, Davis was a member of the cast of an audio production of the playBlue/Orange, in which he took the part of Dr. Robert Smith.
In July 2008, he portrayedKing Lear at theShakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, under the direction of Bonnie J. Monte.
In November 2010, Davis was part of theCelebrity Autobiography series at theLong Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. He performed along with fellowNanny alumLauren Lane andUgly Betty alumMichael Urie.[11]
In 2012, he playedProspero inThe Tempest at Hartford Stage.[12]
In 2015, Davis starred in a one-off performance of A. R. Gurney'sLove Letters co-starring with Lane. Proceeds were donated to the Texas State BFA Acting Program.
In 2016, he appeared on Broadway as Selsdon Mowbray in theRoundabout Theatre revival ofNoises Off at the American Airlines Theatre.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker | Skinny | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Chain Letters | Steve | |
| 1989 | K-9 | Halstead | |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Captain Davenport | |
| 1990 | Havana | Marion Chigwell | |
| 2005 | Thru the Moebius Strip | Arthur (voice) | [13] |
| 2006 | The Prestige | Judge | |
| 2018 | Roses are Blind | Addison Spelling |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Great Performances | Moulineaux | Episode: "In Fashion" |
| 1980–81 | Texas | Eliot Carrington | 71 episodes |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Joe Kello | Episode: "The Day the Music Died" |
| 1984 | Cagney & Lacey | Arthur Cole | Episode: "Lady Luck" |
| 1984 | Highway to Heaven | Lance Gaylord | Episode: "Catch a Falling Star" |
| 1985 | Remington Steele | Pierre Fumar | Episode: "Gourmet Steele" |
| 1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Robert Castille, Tony Martinet | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Phillips | Episode: "The Doctor Is Out" |
| 1985 | The Eagle and the Bear | Underhill | Television film |
| 1986 | Blind Justice | Attorney Seth Thompson | Television film |
| 1986 | George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation | Patrick Henry | Television film |
| 1986 | Matlock | James Billings | Episode: "The Professor" |
| 1986 | Cheers | Mr. Reinhardt | Episode: "The Peterson Principle" |
| 1986 | Tall Tales & Legends | Congressman | Episode: "Davy Crockett" |
| 1987 | Dynasty | Harry Thresher | 5 episodes |
| 1987 | The Spirit | Simon Teasdale | Television film |
| 1988 | Frank's Place | Arnold Tuney | Episode: "Frank's Place - The Movie" |
| 1988 | The Equalizer | Eddie Mason | Episode: "Video Games" |
| 1988 | What Price Victory | Trainer | Television film |
| 1988, 1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Professor James Moriarty | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | MacGyver | Nicholas Helman | Episode: "Halloween Knights" |
| 1991 | Palomino | Doctor | Television film |
| 1991 | She Stood Alone | Parker Elsworth | Television film |
| 1991 | The Perfect Tribute | Gov. Curtin | Television film |
| 1992 | Columbo | Alex Varrick, Wedding Photographer | Episode: "No Time to Die" |
| 1992 | Civil Wars | Harvey Gutfruend | Episode: "Tape Fear" |
| 1992 | L.A. Law | C. Howard Grady | Episode: "Love in Bloom" |
| 1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Neal Dishman | Episode: "Badge of Honor" |
| 1993–99 | The Nanny | Niles | 145 episodes |
| 1996 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Lugo (voice) | Episode: "Lifestyles of the Rich and Scary"[13] |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Horse, Schoolmaster Dobbins (voice) | Episode: "Work" |
| 1997 | Duckman | Rodney (voice) | Episode: "Duckman and Cornfed in 'Haunted Society Plumbers'" |
| 1997 | Remember WENN | Desmond Quist | Episode: "Eugenia Bremer, Master Spy" |
| 1999 | Rugrats | Conan McNulty, Wrestler (voice) | Episode: "Wrestling Grandpa"[13] |
| 2000 | The Practice | Judge Barton Wolfe | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | What a Cartoon! | Longhair (voice) | Episode: "Longhair and Doubledome: Good Wheel Hunting"[13] |
| 2002 | Frasier | Dr Shafer | Episode: "Rooms With A View" |
| 2008 | Ugly Betty | Dr. Morgan Remus | Episode: "Burning Questions" |
| 2010 | The Fran Drescher Show | Himself | Guest |
| 2015 | Gotham | Jacob Skolimski | Episode: "Under the Knife" |
| 2017 | The Blacklist | Baldur Magnusson | Episode: "Natalie Luca" |
| 2019 | Elementary | Antoine LaGrange | Episode: "The Price of Admission" |
| 2019 | The Good Fight | Professor Harrison | Episode: "The One About the End of the World" |
| 2022 | New Amsterdam | Vic Wallace | Episode: "Castles Made of Sand" |
| 2023 | Star Trek: Picard | Professor James Moriarty | Episode: "The Bounty" |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Dr. Yablonsky | 2 episodes (S1, Ep 6, S2, Ep 1) |
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