Anecdotes

Bisexual in real life, he was deemed a gay film icon for the number of gay-themed plays and films he appeared in despite the warnings that it could damage his career.

Married casting director Susan Bluestein in 1979 and had one child, Alex Blue Davis. In 1979, Davis, a former intravenous drug user, contracted HIV, by 1985 it had developed into AIDS, a condition the couple kept secret until just prior to his death by assisted suicide. Shortly after his passing she wrote the memoir "After Midnight: The Life and Death of Brad Davis" with Hilary De Vries. His widow continues to be an AIDS activist.

According to an article in The New York Times published in 1987, the actor's mother sexually abused him. His father was an alcoholic whose dental practice declined as a result. As an adult, Brad was both an alcohol and drug user before becoming sober in 1981.

In 1985 Davis won critical acclaim for his portrayal of the lover of a man dying of AIDS in Larry Kramer's play "The Normal Heart". Still, his film career foundered...the only film in which he starred after this was Percy Adlon's comedy Rosalie fait ses courses (1989).

Born into a southern aristocratic family, he was reportedly a direct descendant of Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

Davis took a professional risk by accepting the title role as a gay sailor in Querelle (1982), Rainer Werner Fassbinder's screen adaptation of a novel by Jean Genet. Associates in the entertainment industry warned Davis that taking this part, especially after performances in other gay-themed theatrical works such as Larry Kramer's "Sissies' Scrapbook" (1973) and Joe Orton's "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" (1981), would be detrimental to his career. Nevertheless, Davis chose to work with Fassbinder on what would turn out to be the director's last film. Unfortunately, Querelle (1982) was a commercial failure and generally not well-received by critics.

He was considered for the role of Kane in Alien, le 8ème passager (1979). Ironically, the role went to his Midnight Express (1978) co-star John Hurt.

Growing up, he was known as Bobby Davis (his first name was actually Robert). However, once he arrived in New York, there was already another actor named Bobby Davis, so Davis went by the name Brad Davis.

Born in Tallahassee, Florida to Eugene Davis, a dentist, and his wife, the former Anne Creel. Brother of actor Gene Davis.

An alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1970, Davis, along with Pat McNamara, Annabella Price, Ebbe Roe Smith, and Priscilla Smith, was awarded the 1982 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Ensemble for "Metamorphosis" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Four years earlier, he was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1978" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 30.

At seventeen, after winning a music talent contest, Davis worked at Theatre Atlanta before moving to New York City.

Interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County, California. Plot Cts of Remembrance sec, Columbarium of Valor, Map #ELA0 (near wall, R side), Outdoor Gdn Niche 64054.