- Brad Davis (actor)
Infobox actor
name = Brad Davis
birthname = Robert Creel Davis
birthdate = birth date|1949|11|6|mf=y
birthplace =Tallahassee, Florida ,U.S.
deathdate = death date and age|1991|9|8|1949|11|6|mf=y
deathplace =Los Angeles ,California ,U.S.
yearsactive = 1974-1991
spouse =Susan Bluestein
(1976-1991)
goldenglobeawards = Best Motion Picture Acting Debut - Malefor: Midnight Express (1978)Brad Davis (
November 6 ,1949 -September 8 ,1991 ) was an American actor, best known for his role in the 1978 film "Midnight Express".Biography
Davis was born Robert Creel Davis in
Tallahassee, Florida to Eugene Davis, a dentist whose career declined due toalcoholism , and his wife, the former Anne Creel. His brother Gene is also an actor. According to an article in "The New York Times " published in 1987, Davis' mother sexually abused him as a child. As an adult, he was an alcoholic and an intravenous drug user before becoming sober in 1981.Witchel, Alex. (16 April 1997) [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=950CE2DF143FF935A25757C0A961958260 For the Widow Of Brad Davis, Time Cannot Heal All the Wounds] "New York Times ". Accessed 31 July 2007.] Davis was known as "Bobby" during his youth, but took Brad as his stage name in 1973.At 17, after winning a music talent contest, Davis worked at Theatre Atlanta. He later moved to
New York City and attended theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts , as well as studied acting at the American Place Theater. After a role on thesoap opera "How to Survive a Marriage ", he performed inoff-Broadway plays. In 1976 he was cast asSally Field 's love interest in the television film "Sybil". He played the lead role inLarry Kramer 's play aboutAIDS , "The Normal Heart" (1985). His most successful film role was as the main character in "Midnight Express" (1978), for which he won theGolden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor . He also had a small role in "Roots".Personal life
Davis was married to
Susan Bluestein , who later became anEmmy Award -winning casting director. They had one child, Alexandra.Diagnosed with AIDS in 1985, Davis kept his condition secret until shortly before his death. Although it was announced he died of AIDS in 1991 in Los Angeles, he actually died of an intentional
drug overdose . Near death and in severe pain in a hospital, he opted to return home and end his life on his own terms. With his wife and a family friend present, he committed assisted suicide ["After Midnight: The Life and Death of Brad Davis" by Susan Bluestein Davis with Hilary De Vries, Pocket Books, 1997, pp. 283-299, ISBN 0-671-79672-0] .Davis was referred to as "the first
heterosexual actor to die of AIDS," although he reportedly wasbisexual , a claim disputed by his wife in her book. cite web | title=Brad Davis at GLBTQ Encyclopedia | work=Brad Davis | url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/davis_b.html | accessmonthday=March 12 | accessyear=2006]Susan Bluestein Davis continues to campaign to combat AIDS.
Filmography
* "
The Player " (1992)
* "The Habitation of Dragons " (1992)
* "Hangfire" (1991)
* "Child of Darkness Child of Light " (1991)
* "Rosalie Goes Shopping " (1990)
* "The Plot to Kill Hitler " (1990)
* "Unspeakable Acts " (1990)
* "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial " (1988)
* "Cold Steel" (1987)
* "Heart" (1987)
* "When the Time Comes " (1987)
* "Blood Ties" (1986)
* "Vengeance" (1986)
* "Robert Kennedy and His Times " (1984)
* "Chiefs" (1983)
* "Querelle " (1983)
* "Chariots of Fire " (1981)
* "The Greatest Man in the World " (1980)
* "A Rumor of War" (1980)
* "A Small Circle of Friends " (1980)
* "Midnight Express" (1978)
* "What Really Happened to the Class of '65 " (1978)
* "Roots" (1977)
* "Sybil" (1976)References
External links
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