Daniel Davis

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:22pm

As ironic as it sounds, Playbill reports that today is both Robert Goulet's (1933) and Daniel Davis' (1945) birthdays. I really miss seeing DD on stage. Has anybody heard anything at all as to whether he's doing anything at all in the theatre? The last I heard he was doing vocals on a cartoon. So sad.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:24pm

he was magnificent in la cage i thought. i would've liked him to replace lithgow instead of pryce, but alas, that man might never work in new york again...

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:38pm

I think the cartoon was done before La Cage.

If he never works again in New York, I'd think that would be his choice and the loss of those of us who live here not to get to see him live without paying airfare.

He was magnificent in that show - you're right.

[Corine2]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:40pm

I met Goulet at the Nominations at the Friars Club.
What a charming man. Hope he has a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Redgrave was the best though. She kept cracking him up at the Nominations.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:42pm

Nothing sad about work in animation. It's easy, fun, quick ridiculous money.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:46pm

It may pay his rent, but it doesn't let me see him work on the stage. (And his work in Talking Heads was my personal favorite. I saw it 3 times and he broke my heart every time.)

[grizzabella]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 7:52pm

I also think the man's brilliant. "Talking Heads" was my favorite, too. Whatever he's doing: Happy Birthday, Mr. Davis, and all the best to you.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 8:17pm

"Thru The Moebius Strip" was definitely pre-La Cage - and probably pre-Frogs. Nothing to do with Harvey & crew, just a working actor making money, as Rath says. With that voice - why not? There are probably any number of projects he's contemplating right now.

Also, if he had been under contract to La Cage until 11/05 - which I'd read he was - then he wouldn't have signed onto any other major projects that would have been released or produced by now.

I'm going to bet he does come back to New York.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 8:22pm

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you win that bet!

[grizzabella]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 8:30pm

That's a good point, justhefacts2. There was no reason to believe, when he signed on to La Cage, that he would be available for anything else for at least a year. As I recall, he was also paid through his contract, so he may have the option to be selective about his next projects.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 10:31pm

Well, Daniel Davis is the only one I felt ever brought any life to the role of "Gorges" and he was just excellent! I'm still a bit bewildered on what exactly happened, All I know is that he allegedly wasn't speaking to GB, and that seemed if true, to have come on fast, They were out doing all kinds of publicity for the show and they were so good onstage together - It was a shame to see him go and Robert Goulet, Very nice, But he was no Daniel Davis replacement, Not even close. Many Happy Returns Daniel Davis!!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 11:41pm

We did indeed enjoy him in La Cage. Never knew he had such a great voice

Hopefully all this will blow over & he will be on the Broadway stage again

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:14am

"Has anybody heard anything at all as to whether he's doing anything at all in the theatre?"

Probably wishing he were a nicer person.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:33am

All the best people make that wish for themselves on their birthdays.

So I accept your compliment on behalf of Mr. Davis.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:41am

It's NO compliment.

Everyone who works with him wishes he were nicer.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:23pm

Do you remember the original Star Trek episode with Frank Gorshin playing a man locked in eternal struggle with his anti-matter self? Sometime I feel that's you and I, DIva, in some alternate Daniel Davis debate dimension.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 11:41pm

bonna,

Instead of blindly saying things you know nothing about, go back and see what YOU posted about him.

"Was Davis difficult? Yes, he definitely played a role in his downfall."

Anyway, I'm not here to fight.

[bonna]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 9:23am

Boy, I must have really hit a nerve for you to bother to go look up my previous posts.

"Anyway, I'm not here to fight."

Look at some of your own previous posts -- including many where you've attacked other members of this board -- and say that with a straight face.

That you can dish it out but can't take it only proves what a coward you are.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 8:16pm

When he comes back to Broadway, Diva, I will personally buy you a ticket.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 12:22am

I've NEVER said that Mr. Davis wasn't an accomplished actor.

But, bonna, you've shown who is the true coward, by posting my name and false allegations about me, and not returning my PM. I've never hidden who I am, but you seem to do a great job of throwing stones while hiding behind a screen name.

Good luck with your life.

I wish you, and Mr. Davis all the best.

And, thanks justthefacts2. That's a very nice offer. But I myself have just stated the facts. I have no interest in watching him.

Do you see what a message board is all about? Just people's opinions. My opinion is from working with him in the past and seeing how he treats people. I had hoped that he had become a nicer, and more mellow person. But, the fact is that he was fired for.... well, what he was fired for.

I've never wished him harm, or anything evil. I've just stated some facts, and, now, seem to be the target for his fans.

Mr. Davis will always have work. He will be back again in something. I'm glad you enjoy his work.

I was just saying what I saw with my own two eyes.

[bonna]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 12:55am

Didn't see your PM before. I did now, and responded.

And I didn't post false allegations about you, just things I've observed in the process of using this board (i.e., that you're a mean-spirited bully), which, as you say, is all you're doing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 12:59am

I've been told my humor doesn't come across online.

I don't think I've bullied anyone though. If I have, then I do apologize.

But then, this thread isn't about everyone... Just Mr. Davis.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:30am

TheaterDiva: You seem to know exactly what happened backstage at LaCage in spite of very public and strong protestations from Gary Beach and the fact that the production team did not verify the firing for this reason. AND, there are many other stories about why this happened, including one that says that Davis was fired for having ideas about the character and portrayal that were not in line with someone else who had more power backstage (to remain nameless) so I'm not sure why we have to take your word as gospel.

Davis worked in the Frogs with Nathan Lane and Roger Bart, and Stroman and company had NOTHING but good things to say about him. To be a strong personality, with an ego...to have an opinion as an artist is nothing unusual in the entertainment business. Beyond that, if you are saying that he is impossible to work with, I find it interesting that he worked for HOW MANY years on the Nanny, and managed to get along just fine there, earning nothing but accolades from his fellow actors and the crew.

I have no quarrel with someone having an opinion but I detest character assassination, most especially when someone is not standing in front of you to defend themselves.

The original thread posted here was to ask what he is doing, if anything, right now...professionally. How on earth did we get back to the back biting..." he was fired because he's a real SOB " mantra?

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 10:52pm

Thank you, Sam. Thank you so much. The character assassination that happened to him is exactly what I and others have been protesting.

Diva, I don't know you and I don't know your story. There's one thing I do know about you, though...fireflies. I still remember your firefly post last summer. That's the kind of stuff that stays with me about people. I have to be fair. Love the fireflies - hate what you say about Davis.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 11:06pm

Yeah, the fireflies were wonderful. I recall that, too. As for the other, I'd be interested to know what Mr. Davis is doing professionally now. Beyond that, I heard pretty much the same story as SamIAm, and this is one dead horse I'd like to stop beating.