Bruce Davison Biography

BRUCE DAVISON

Date of Birth: June 28, 1946

Native to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Davison was an art major at Penn State University before turning his attention to theatre. He received his training at NYU's School of the Arts, and at the age of 21, he launched a successful Broadway career in a production of Tiger at the Gate. A versatile stage actor, Davison went on to perform in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary dramas.

Having established his career on the New York stage, Davison went on to win the LA Drama Critics Award and the Drama-Logue Award for Streamers and The Normal Heart. He also landed roles in the Broadway productions of The Elephant Man, King Lear and The Glass Menagerie, as well as many parts in New York and Los Angeles stage productions.

Beginning his film career in the early '70s, Davison weaved in and out of television appearances, series and feature film roles. In 1972, Davison gained national recognition for playing the title role of a nebbish, rat-loving mama's boy in the creepy horror film Willard. Other notable films from the '70s include the chilling, realistic Short Eyes (1977) in which the actor played a convicted child molester struggling to survive in prison, Last Summer (1969) and Ulzana's Raid (1972). Davison became a solid character actor, and like most good character actors, his active film work since the early '70s has gone for the most part unnoticed by the majority of viewers. Almost 20 years later though, he received critical recognition with an Oscar nomination for his sensitive portrayal of a man caring for his dying, AIDS-infected lover in Longtime Companion.

The '70s also started Davison's successful career in television. Among his many television credits are miniseries and television films such as Lost and Found, Little Girl Fly Away, Color of Justice, Poor Little Rich Girl, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He appeared on the series Seinfeld, Touched By An Angel (for which he received an Emmy nomination), and landed a regular gig in Harry and the Hendersons, directing several episodes. He also found regular work in the series like Tales From the Crypt, Outer Limits, thirtysomething and Hunter.

In the '90s, he made strong showings in Ghost Eyes (1983), Someone Else's Child (1994), The Crucible (1996), in which he played a brimstone-breathing Reverend; Grace of My Heart (1996), which featured him as a married journalist who has an affair with the film's protagonist, and Apt Pupil (1998). In 2000, he landed a co-starring role in the sci-fi summer hit, X-Men, playing senator Kelly. Since then, he's had roles in films such as Crazy/Beautiful (2001), Runaway Jury (2003) and most recently, Insidious: The Last Key (2017).

Married twice, Davison is currently married to actress Lisa Pelikan with whom he shares a son. When not on set, Davison works actively as a spokesperson for a myriad of AIDS-related groups and is involved with organizations working to help at-risk children.

Filmography:

Runaway Jury (2003)
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Summer Catch (2001)
Crazy/Beautiful (2001)
X-Men (2000)
The King Is Alive (2000)
Vendetta (1999)
At First Sight (1999)
Apt Pupil (1998)
Paulie (1998)
Lovelife (1997)
The Crucible (1996)
Grace of My Heart (1996)
Homage (1996)
It's My Party (1996)
The Skateboard Kid 2 (1995)
The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
The Cure (1995)
Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995)
An Ambush of Ghosts (1993)
Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman In Carver Country (1993)
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
Short Cuts (1993)
Longtime Companion (1990)
Steel and Lace (1990)
The Misfit Brigade (1987)
The Ladies Club (1986)
Spies Like Us (1985)
Crimes of Passion (1984)
Lies (1983)
The Taming of the Shrew (1983) (V)
Kiss My Grits (1982)
High Risk (1981)
Brass Target (1978)
French Quarter (1977)
Portrait of Grandpa Doc (1977)
Short Eyes (1977)
Grand Jury (1976)
Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)
Mame (1974)
The Jerusalem File (1972)
Ulzana's Raid (1972)
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me (1971)
Willard (1971)
The Strawberry Statement (1970)
Last Summer (1969)