Underappreciated Actors: Robert Davi
Filed Under (Movies) by admin on 21-04-2009
Tagged Under : Licence to Kill, Robert Davi, Underappreciated Actors
Robert Davi has a look that kind of says “born to play a villain” – or at the very least an unfriendly authority figure, and for the early part of his career, that is precisely the sort of role that he secured and mastered.
Perhaps his most memorable turn was as the villain opposite Timothy Dalton in the 1989 James Bond film License to Kill. Davi turned in an excellent performance as Franz Sanchez, a Central American drug kingpin who oversaw the likes of henchman Benicio Del Toro. To this, he added villainous roles across from Arnold Schwarzenegger in Raw Deal, a Vietnam veteran and FBI Agent creating problems for Bruce Willis in Die Hard, and a sleazy nightclub owner in Showgirls, providing one of the more authentic acting performances in the much-maligned film.
His performances as cops, agents and criminals in notable action films also include Predator 2, The Goonies and Action Jackson.
Davi made a notable turn away from the villainous side, however, with his starring role as in the 1990s drama series Profiler. Also starring Ally Walker, it came out around the same time as (and competed with) Millennium, a similar series starring another underappreciated actor, Lance Henriksen. Both series only lasted a few years but did help lay the foundation for the onslaught of crime profiling series that would flood the airwaves less than a decade later.
BACK TO: The Wall of Underappreciated Actors
Robert Davi was born in Queens, New York, and I think he needs to go back into his roots and find that character within himself. Hollywood Sucks! It makes great actors like Davi, Pacino, and James Woods lose their edge. These actors have something that many actors wished they had “The Power Of Greatness.”
Agreed. Look at how Stallone reauthenticated himself the last couple years by going back to where he began. These New York tough guys gotta hang onto their edge.
I think Davi still has some good ones left in him, though.
You got it! They need to get back to basics, get back to the beginning and start all over again. That’s when they searched to find the character within them, that’s when they found the greatness of being an actor. Robert Davi has gotten to comfortable, and Hollywood does that to great actors. They become too foo foo and plastic, they lose their edge. Robert Davi is a well trained actor, and he has an Oscar in his hand, he just needs a great script and good direction to pull it out of him.
when we people realize there is honor in being in this business so many years, playing so many roles and obviously loving his craft (and his country by the way) It is sad that those who have paid their dues and continued to do what they love for themselves AND for us. I have great respect for him, he is part of the old hollywood where you worked hard to be appreciated. He deserves the respect!