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Bruce Davison

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Bruce Davison
Davison at the 52nd Annual Publicists Awards in February 2015
Born (1946-06-28) June 28, 1946 (age 78)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationActor/Director
Years active1969–present
Spouse(s)Jess Walton (1973, annulled)[1]
Lisa Pelikan (1986–2006) (1 child)
Michele Correy (2006–present) (1 child)
ChildrenEthan Davison (b. 1996)
Sophia Lucinda Davison (b. 2006)
Websitewww.brucedavison.com/welcome.htm

Bruce Davison (born June 28, 1946) is an American actor and director. Davison is well known for his starring role in the cult horror film Willard (1971), as well as his Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance in Longtime Companion (1989). He featured prominently in the X-Men film franchise – through X-Men (2000) and X2 (2003) – as antagonist Senator Robert Kelly.

More recently, Davison appeared in Fred Schepisi's Words and Pictures (2013), had a recurring role on ABC's The Fosters (2015–2016) and shares the screen with Miles Teller and Anna Kendrick in Get a Job (2016).[2]

Early life

Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Marian E. (née Holmes), a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers.[3] His parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by his mother, and also spent weekends with his father.[4] He graduated in 1964 at Marple Newtown Senior High School, and entered Penn State as an art major but stumbled into acting when he accompanied a friend to an audition. He attended NYU's Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1969.[2][5]

Career

Davison made his Broadway debut in Tiger at the Gates in 1968. He also appeared as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, and starred in The Glass Menagerie opposite Jessica Tandy.[2] Davison was one of a quartet of newcomers including Barbara Hershey, Richard Thomas, and Catherine Burns when he made his film debut in Last Summer in 1969. In 1970, he played opposite Kim Darby in the film about peaceful student protest and its violent outcome The Strawberry Statement. A year later he portrayed the title role in the 1971 version of Willard, the first of two, as of the year 2015, to have been based on the novel Ratman's Notebooks. He also appeared in Ulzana's Raid, Peege, Mame, Mother, Jugs & Speed, Short Eyes,The Lathe of Heaven, and Six Degrees of Separation. In 1978, he appeared as Dean Torrence opposite Richard Hatch in the made-for-TV biopic Deadman's Curve (the story of 1960s pop duo Jan & Dean). The same year, he played the title role in the TV movie adaptation Summer Of My German Soldier.

In 1981 he had the lead role in The Wave, based on real events, starring as a history teacher who had conducted an experiment in Nazi philosophy on his own students.

Davison also starred in Tales from the Darkside, Season 1, Episode 8 and played the role of the father in the short-lived Harry and the Hendersons TV series.

In 1983, Davison was cast by Joseph Papp in the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival production of King Richard III. Additional Off-Broadway credits include Love Letters, The Cocktail Hour, and Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play How I Learned To Drive. He also played the role of Ruby in the 1985 comedy Spies Like Us, starring Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase.

In 1990, he portrayed a gay man whose lover is dying of AIDS, in Longtime Companion. The role earned Davison a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture. He concluded his Golden Globe acceptance speech[6] with the hope that humankind would ultimately devote as much effort to the war on AIDS as its wars against each other. Davison went on to appear in other movies addressing AIDS: in 1995's The Cure, he portrayed a physician sought by a young boy with AIDS in search of medical help. In 1996, Davison appeared in the film It'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's website states he is a spokesperson for many AIDS-related groups and is a board member of the industry AIDS organization Hollywood Supports.[2]

In Los Angeles, Davison has appeared on stage in Streamers and The Normal Heart, winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and Drama-Logue Award for his performances. Other LA theatre credits include The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (directed by Henry Fonda) and a stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird.[2]

He is familiar to movie audiences from his roles in Runaway Jury, Apt Pupil, and his role as Senator Robert Kelly in the X-Men movie franchise. Though his character died in the first film, Davison appeared in X2 as a shapeshifting impostor of Kelly. He was the fanatical Reverened Samuel Parris in Arthur Miller's screen adaptation of his play The Crucible. Davison also portrayed a rich philanthropist in the movie Christmas Angel. Davison's many television credits include Hunter, 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, Ghost Whisperer, Castle, Hawaii Five-0, the Stephen King mini-series Kingdom Hospital, and a recurring role on The Practice. Davison also had the recurring role of defense attorney Doug Hellman in the CBS drama Close to Home.

Davison at the 79th Annual Academy Awards Children Uniting Nations/Billboard after party, February 25, 2007

In 2001, Davison directed the TV film Off Season, which starred his Lovelife co-star Sherilyn Fenn, Rory Culkin, Hume Cronyn, and Adam Arkin. In 2007, Davison returned to the big screen, playing Eric O'Neill's father in Breach. 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 in NBC's revival of the television series Knight Rider.

Davison also played the role of Dr. Silberman, the psychiatrist who once tormented Sarah Connor, in the seventh episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In May 2010, Davison was cast to portray art dealer Wilhelm Van Schlagel for several episodes on ABC's General Hospital to begin airing in July, 2010.

In 2010 he starred in the TV movie Titanic II. In 2011 he starred as Police Chief Kirkhoven in the movie "Munger Road". The next year, he appeared in Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem (2012). In addition, he played Secretary of State William H. Seward in the movie Saving Lincoln.

He played the role of Rear Admiral Arthur Shepard, Lieutenant Grace Shepard's father, in the short-stint TV series Last Resort.

In 2016, Davison will star as Dr. Stanley Cole in the comedy/fantasy "Abnormal Attraction". [7]

Personal life

Davison married Michele Correy on April 30, 2006, and they have a daughter, Sophia Lucinda Davison, born on May 29, 2006. They reside in Los Angeles, California. Davison also has a son, Ethan, born on April 5, 1996, from a previous marriage to fellow actor Lisa Pelikan. He was once engaged to actress Karen Austin.[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Last Summer Dan
1970 The Strawberry Statement Simon
1971 Willard Willard Stiles
1971 Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me Fitzgore
1972 The Jerusalem File David
1972 Ulzana's Raid Lt. Garnett DeBuin
1973 Peege Greg Short film
1974 Mame Patrick Dennis
1976 Grand Jury Bobby Allen
1976 Mother, Jugs & Speed Leroy
1977 Short Eyes Clark Davis
1978 Brass Target Col. Robert Dawson
1978 Deadman's Curve Dean Torrence Television film
1978 Summer of My German Soldier Anton Reiker Television film
1978 Mourning Becomes Electra Orin Mannon Television film
1979 The Lathe of Heaven George Orr Television film
1979 The Gathering George Television film
1981 The Wave Ben Ross Television film
1981 High Risk Dan
1984 Crimes of Passion Donny Hopper
1985 Spies Like Us Ruby
1986 The Ladies Club Richard Harrison
1987 Wheels of Terror Corporal Joseph Porta aka The Misfit Brigade
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—Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place)
1991 Steel and Lace Albert Morton
1992 Desperate Choices: To Save My Child Richard Robbins Television film
1992 Live! From Death Row Laurence Dvorak Television film
1993 A Mother's Revenge Bill Sanders Television film
1993 Short Cuts Howard Finnigan Golden Globe Award for Best Ensemble Cast
1993 Six Degrees of Separation Larkin
1995 Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog John McCormick
1995 The Cure Dr. Jensen
1995 The Baby-Sitters Club Watson Brewer
1996 It's My Party Rodney Bingham
1996 Grace of My Heart John Murray
1996 After Jimmy Ward "Sam" Stapp Television film
1996 The Crucible Reverend Samuel Parris
1996 Hidden in America Dr. Michael Millerton Television film
1997 Lovelife Bruce
1998 Paulie Dr. Reingold
1998 Apt Pupil Richard Bowden
1999 At First Sight Dr. Charles Aaron
1999 Vendetta Thomas Semmes Television film
2000 The King Is Alive Ray
2000 X-Men Senator Robert Kelly
2001 Crazy/Beautiful Tom Oakley
2001 Summer Catch Rand Parrish
2001 Off Season Dr. Zimmer Television film (also director)
Nominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special
2002 L.A. Law: The Movie Lawrence Diebenkorn Television film
2002 High Crimes Brigadier General Bill Marks
2002 Dahmer Lionel Dahmer
2003 X2 Senator Robert Kelly
2003 Runaway Jury Durwood Cable
2003 Out of the Ashes Peter Schuman Television film
2005 Hate Crime Pastor Boyd
2005 Going Shopping Adam
2005 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
2009 MegaFault Dr. Mark Rhodes
2009 Christmas Angel Nick Anderson
2009 A Golden Christmas Rod
2010 Arctic Blast Winslaw
2010 Titanic II James Maine
2010 Camp Hell Fr. Phineas McAllister
2011 Munger Road Chief Kirkhoven
2011 Earth's Final Hours Rothman
2011 Coffin
2011 Elwood Congressman Barber Short film
2012 Return of the Killer Shrews Jerry Farrell
2012 Bigfoot Sheriff Walt Henderson Television film
2012 The Lords of Salem Francis Matthias
2013 Saving Lincoln William H. Seward
2013 Words and Pictures Walt
2014 Persecuted Senator Donald Harrison
2015 The Leisure Class HBO's Project Greenlight season 4 film
2016 The Curse of Sleeping Beauty Richard
2016 Get A Job Lawrence Wilheimer
2016 The Bronx Bull D. A. Bonomi
2016 Abnormal Attraction Dr. Cole Fuzz on the Lens Productions
Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970–1979 Insight 4 episodes
1973 Love Story Jeffrey Episode "Time For Love"
1974–1978 Police Story 2 episodes
1979 Lou Grant Andrew Raines 2 episodes
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
1990 Designing Women Reverend Eugene 'Gene' Chapman Episode: "Have Faith"
1991–1993 Harry and the Hendersons George Henderson 72 episodes
1995 The Outer Limits Dr. McEnerney Episode: "White Light Fever"
1996 Star Trek: Voyager Jareth Episode: "Remember"
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
1999–2000 Chicago Hope Dr. Burt Peters 2 episodes
2000–2001 The Practice Scott Wallace 9 episodes
2002 Without a Trace Paul Cartwright Episode: "Pilot"
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Graham Mandell Episode: "Waste"
2002 Star Trek: Enterprise Menos Episode: "The Seventh"
2004 Kingdom Hospital Dr. Stegman 13 episodes
2004 JAG Dr. Morris Sperling Episode: "The Man on the Bridge"
2005 Numb3rs Robert Oliver Episode: "Sacrifice"
2005 The Triangle Stan Lathem 3 episodes
2005 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
2007 Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series) 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"
2010 General Hospital Wilhelm von Schlagel 5 episodes
2011 Castle Lou Karnacki Episode: "Law & Murder"
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Avery Tinsdale Episode: "Father of the Bride"
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Steven Carver Episode: "Ua Lawe Wale"
2011 Childrens Hospital Narrator Episode: "Children's Hospital: A Play in Three Acts"
2011 Covert Affairs Max Langford Episode: "Horse to Water"
2011–2012 Drop Dead Diva Judge Cyrus Maxwell 3 episodes
2012 Luck Hartstone 2 episodes
2012 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
2014 The Legend of Korra Lord Zuko 6 episodes
2014 Sequestered Danny Firmin's father 12 episodes
2014 Kingdom Lisa's father Episode: "Eat Your Own Cooking"
2015 The Fosters Stuart Adams Recurring Role

References

  1. ^ "A Role as a Gay Companion Brings Bruce Davison An Oscar Buzz". Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Denise Ames (June 22, 2015). "One-on-One with Oscar-Nominated Actor Bruce Davison". The Tolucan Times.
  3. ^ Bruce Davison Biography (1946–)
  4. ^ IGN: An Interview with Bruce Davison
  5. ^ "NYU Graduate Acting Alumni". 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  6. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG1seREFLnM
  7. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4470288/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
  8. ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19840204&id=iGhRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FwYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2257,2091885&hl=en
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