Robert Davi is an international star: An award-winning prolific actor, with well over a 130 films as an actor . He is a screenwriter, director, producer, and what many are not aware of, a jazz vocalist. He currently returned from a sold out tour of Europe . Robert has several films being released in 2018 one being "Your Move " directed by Luke Goss and , a new documentary on his musical journey, "Davi’s Way ".
The project was produced by Danny Abeckaser , the award-winning Creative Chaos team and Leo DiCaprio's, Appian Way .
Davi completed his first album in October of 2010, “Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance,” which he recorded at the famous Capitol Records in Hollywood. Phil Ramone, one of the industry’s most accomplished and respected music producers having achieved 33 Grammy nominations and 14 Grammy Awards, produced the album. Within weeks of its highly anticipated release, the album soared onto Billboard Magazine's Top 10 Jazz Chart taking the Number 6 spot for several weeks. He is currently working on a new album for release 2018. Quincy Jones has said this after seeing Davi perform .
“I have never heard anyone come this close to Sinatra’s sound and still be himself. Many try, but Robert Davi has the voice, the tone, the flavor and the swagger. He absolutely touched me down to my soul and brought back the essence and soul of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.” –Quincy Jones
Davi was born in Astoria, New York. In high school, he received acclaim for his singing, being awarded First Place in the prestigious New York State School Music Association’s Solo Competition for singing Vincent Youmans’ “Without a Song.” As a young man, Davi studied under several of the top vocal teachers: Samuel Margolis of The Metropolitan Opera, Danial Ferro of Juilliard, opera great Tito Gobbi, and more recently, renowned voice-builder Gary Catona.
“Unlike other singers who are doing the American songbook, Robert truly has ‘the voice,’ a rich, masculine tone and beauty, with a sensitive, artistic heart to match. In this sense, he resembles Sinatra, but does not sound like him. His uniquely colorful baritone voice has a flair for the dramatic that he expresses thoughtfully in his interpretation. All in all, Robert Davi could easily wrestle the Sinatra mantle away from all would-be contenders.” –Gary Catona
In his early acting years, Davi attended Hofstra University on a drama scholarship. He then moved to Manhattan, New York where he studied with the legendary acting coach Stella Adler, who became his mentor. Davi became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio, where he studied with acting teacher Lee Strasberg. Always perfecting his craft, Davi has also studied under Sandra Seacat, Larry Moss, Milton Katselas, Martin Landau, Mala Powers and George Shdanoff, the creative partner and collaborator with Michael Chekhov.
Davi was introduced to film when he was cast opposite Frank Sinatra in the telefilm, "Contract on Cherry Street." Later, his work as a Palestinian terrorist in the award-winning television movie, "Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami," brought him critical acclaim and caught the eye of legendary James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli and writer Richard Maibaum who cast Davi as Colombian drug lord and lead villain Franz Sanchez in the Bond film "License to Kill." Today, Davi is frequently listed as one of the top Bond villains of all time. He also received rave reviews within the industry for his provocative portrayal of Bailey Malone in "Profiler." The television show struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for such shows as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Without a Trace," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Criminal Minds" and many others. In 2004, Davi joined the cast of television's "Stargate: Atlantis," which earned him many science fiction fans. He has shown his comedic strength in films such as "The 4th Tenor" with Rodney Dangerfield and "The Hot Chick," produced by Rob Schneider and Adam Sandler.
Having appeared in more than 140 motion pictures, some of Davi's most notable film credits span 30 years and include cult-classics and blockbuster hits with roles as Jake Fratelli in "The Goonies," Max Keller in "Raw Deal," Special Agent Big Johnson in "Die Hard," Al Torres in "Showgirls," Leo Marks in "The Iceman" with Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans and James Franco, and most recently, with Sylvester Stallone and a large A-list cast in "Expendables 3." He has worked with such directors as Steven Spielberg, Richard Donner, Blake Edwards, John McTiernan, Paul Verhoeven and Patrick Hughes. In addition, he has worked on film projects with acting talent such as Marlon Brando, Roberto Benigni, Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood, Christopher Walken, Benicio Del Toro, Danny Glover, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Catherine Zeta Jones, to name a few.
In 2008, Davi produced, directed, co-wrote and starred in "The Dukes," which tells the story of a once-successful Doo Wop group who fall on hard times. The film won nine awards including the coveted Coup de Coeur award. Davi was also awarded Best First-time Director and Best Screenplay in the Monte Carlo Festival of Comedy by the legendary director Ettore Scola. The film was selected for the premiere section at the Rome Film Festival, along with other filmmakers such as Francis Ford Coppola, Sean Penn, Redford, Sidney Lumet and Gavin Hood. Following that, the film was invited to the Alpe d'Huez International Comedy Film Festival in France and received the special jury prize, The Coup de Coeur: “The Prize of the Heart.” Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the film “a gem – irresistible.”
In support of his 2011 album release, Davi has been touring the world with his live stage show, receiving rave reviews and standing ovations. He has performed in New York, Las Vegas, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Budapest, Cologne, Italy, Australia and New York, among many others. He performed at the National Italian-American Foundation's (NIAF) special tribute to the 25th anniversary of its Lifetime Achievement Award to Frank Sinatra at the Washington Hilton in D.C., with David Foster at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, and at Long Island's Eisenhower Park with more than 10,000 people in attendance. In November of 2012, Davi released a Christmas single with all proceeds benefiting the Salvation Army.
In June of 2015, Davi was chosen by the United Nations to celebrate the “Transformative Power of Music” at the General Assembly in New York and in September of 2015, performed for the U.N.’s 70th Anniversary Celebration. He performed a tribute for Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday for the July 4th PBS special for more than 500,000 attendees outside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. with approximately 15,000,000 television viewers.
In January 2016, Davi performed for the Friars Club alongside Dionne Warwick and Wayne Newton for their special celebration to Sinatra. In July 2016, he received a World Artist award at the Ischia Film and Music Festival alongside Andrea Bocelli, Helen Mirren, Antonio Banderas and Jimmy Kimmel. In August 2016, along with Friars Club, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga, Davi honored and performed for Tony Bennett at his 90th birthday bash. Davi also performed as Guest Singer on the Italian version of “The Voice.”
Broadway luminary Chazz Palminteri recently remarked after catching a performance: “Once there was Sinatra an now there is Davi. Robert Davi sang and left the audience breathless.”
Besides working in film, television, and music and raising his five children, four dogs and two cats, Davi keeps busy volunteering his time with such charities as The Dream Foundation, Exceptional Children's Foundation, Heart of a Child Foundation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Youth Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States, Heart of a Horse, NIAF, The Order 'Sons of Italy' in America (OSIA), and UNICO. Since its inception in 1998, Davi has been the National Spokesperson for i-Safe America, which is regarded by many internet experts as the most complete internet safety program in the country and is available in grades K-12 in all 50 U.S. states.
Among his numerous awards for career achievement and community involvement, Davi has received The George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award from the Hofstra University Alumni Association (past recipients include Francis Ford Coppola and William Safire). In 2000, he was awarded the FBI's Man of the Year Award in Los Angeles. In 2004, Davi was named KNX radios' "Citizen of the Week" for saving a young girl from a fire in her home. The same year, he also received the Sons of Italy's Royal Court of the Golden Lion Award, including a $20,000 donation to a foundation in which he is involved.
In addition, Davi received the 2004 STEP Award (Science, Technology and Education Partnership). In 2007, Davi was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian Board of Governors in New York. In 2008, he received the Italio-Americano Award from the Capri-Hollywood Festival. In 2008, he was Grand Marshall of the San Gennaro Festival in New York's Little Italy. In September of 2010, he was recognized for his charitable work, especially his work with the United States military, with the San Gennaro Foundation Award. The award was presented to him by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla during the Feast of San Gennaro Prima Notte Opening Gala in Hollywood. In 2011, Davi was awarded the "Military Order of the Purple Heart" (MOPH) Special Recognition Award for dedication and service honoring America's service members, veterans and their families. In June of 2013, Davi was honored with a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Canada. In July of 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Island Film and TV Foundation, and in August of 2014, he was honored by the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America for his contribution to the arts.
Davi is on The Steering Committee for George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and is the only entertainer among 28 members, which consists of mainly senators and former heads of the FBI and CIA. Davi has developed Civilian Patrol 93, which is currently at Homeland Security, where a lesson plan is being written. He is a frequent contributor for Fox News ,Fox Business, and Msnbc .
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