Robert Davi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Davi
Davi in 2016
Born	Robert John Davi (1951-06-26) June 26, 1951 (age 73) Queens, New York City, U.S.
Education	Hofstra University (B.A.)
Occupation	Actor singer filmmaker
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Jan Borenstein ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1980)​ Jeri McBride ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1990)​ Christine Bolster ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2019)​ Diana Davi ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	6
Musical career
Genres	Traditional pop, Great American Songbook
Instruments	Vocals

Robert John Davi (born June 26, 1951) is an American actor, singer, and filmmaker. He has acted in over 130 films. Some of his most famous roles include Jake Fratelli in The Goonies (1985) and Franz Sanchez, a villain in the James Bond movie Licence to Kill (1989). He also played FBI Special Agent Johnson in Die Hard (1988). On TV, he was known as FBI Special Agent Bailey Malone in the series Profiler (1996–2000).

Robert Davi is also a trained singer. He started his singing career in 2011. His first album, Davi Sings Sinatra – On The Road To Romance, was very popular. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard jazz music charts.

Early Life and Education

Robert Davi was born in 1951 in Astoria, Queens, New York. His mother was Italian American, and her family came from Nusco, Italy. His father was from Torretta, Sicily. Robert spoke Italian when he was a child.

He went to Seton Hall High School, a Catholic school. He later studied at Hofstra University. He chose Hofstra because it had a strong drama program. He also studied acting with a famous coach named Stella Adler in New York City.

Acting Career Highlights

Davi in a 1983 episode of The Optimist

Robert Davi started his acting career in a TV film called Contract On Cherry Street. In this film, he acted alongside the famous singer and actor Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was one of Davi's early supporters.

Davi has been in many well-known movies. He played Jake Fratelli in The Goonies, a role he helped shape with his own ideas. He was also in Die Hard and Predator 2. In the James Bond film Licence to Kill, he played the main villain, Franz Sanchez.

From 1996 to 2000, Davi starred as FBI detective Bailey Malone in the TV series Profiler. He has also appeared in comedies and independent films. In 2014, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Island Film and TV Foundation. By 2021, he had acted in over 160 films and TV shows.

Directing Films

Davi with Stephen Dorff and Michael Shannon at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival

Robert Davi also directs movies. He owns a film company called Sun Lion Films. In 2007, he directed his first movie, The Dukes. This film was about the economic crisis in the mid-2000s. It starred Davi himself, Chazz Palminteri, and Peter Bogdanovich.

The Dukes was shown at the Rome Film Festival. Davi was the only first-time director in the main section. The film won awards at several film festivals around the world. In 2022, Davi directed his third film, My Son Hunter.

Singing Career

Davi in 2013

When Robert Davi was in high school, he was praised for his singing. He even auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. He received classical training from famous vocal teachers.

In 2011, Davi decided to focus on singing again. He recorded his first album, Davi Sings Sinatra -- On The Road To Romance. He recorded it with a thirty-piece orchestra at the famous Capitol Records Building in Hollywood. The album received many positive reviews. Critics said Davi had his own unique singing style, not just copying Sinatra. The album reached the Top 10 on the Billboard jazz charts.

Davi has performed many tribute concerts for Frank Sinatra. He has a selection of 300 songs to choose from for his shows. He is considered one of the best Frank Sinatra tribute performers in the United States. In 2015, the United Nations chose Davi to celebrate the power of music at their General Assembly. He also performed for a PBS special celebrating Sinatra's 100th birthday.

Personal Life and Interests

Robert Davi has been married four times and has six children. He is involved in many community activities. He received an award from Hofstra University. He has also served on a committee for homeland security policy. The Los Angeles FBI gave him a "Man of the Year Award."

Political Views

Davi is a political conservative. He often speaks at events for the Republican Party. He has appeared on political TV shows. He supported Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 U.S. presidential elections. He believes in respectful discussions between people with different political views.

Helping Others

Robert Davi supports several charities. He has been the face of the charity "I Save America." He is also active in various non-profit organizations that help children. He is a goodwill ambassador for the Saint Pio Foundation.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2013, Robert Davi was honored in Toronto's Italian Walk of Fame. This was for his contributions to the Canadian Italian community.

He was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for his role in the film Showgirls (1995).

Filmography (Selected)

Film

Television

Video games

Music videos

See also

In Spanish: Robert Davi para niños