Dave Davis (born June 7, 1989)[citation needed] is an American actor, musician and producer based in New Orleans. He is best known for his lead roles in the 2017 film Bomb City and the 2019 horror film The Vigil.

Early life and education

Davis was born on June 7, 1989[citation needed] in Princeton, New Jersey, into a Jewish family. He grew up in New Orleans and had his Bar Mitzvah at Touro Synagogue. He appeared in various productions as a child and attended summer courses in theatre. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 2007 following Hurricane Katrina, then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from Tulane University in 2011. In fulfillment of his thesis, he starred in Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth.

Career

Davis spent five years[citation needed] with the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival, culminating with the role of Hamlet in 2012. After graduation, he worked out of New Orleans, appearing in films including Ghost Shark, Red Clover, Ozark Sharks, and several others. He also guest starred in True Detective and The Walking Dead, and acted in The Big Short and Logan. For several years, Davis was a member of the comedy group Bare Handed Bear Handlers, releasing a web miniseries, short films, and a number of music videos. In 2015, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to work with the comedy group from afar.

In 2017, Davis played the lead role in Bomb City, a film about the life and murder of Brian Deneke. This earned him a Best Actor award and the Special Jury Prize for Performance at the 2017 Nashville Film Festival, followed by a second Best Actor award at the Louisville International Festival of Film. Director Keith Thomas chose him to play the lead in his 2019 horror film The Vigil after seeing him in Bomb City. He played a man tasked with watching over a deceased member of an Orthodox Jewish community. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Horror Movie at the 2nd Critics' Choice Super Awards. Davis returned to New Orleans permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2025, he appeared in and was executive producer of the film Hazard.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2007FlakesStoner #1Uncredited
2012StolenTaylor
2014Elsa & FredPhotographer
StarveJiminey
2015The Final Girls50's Counselor
DemonicTech 1
Get HardCross Dresser
N.O.L.A CircusVinny
NocturnaBobby
The Big ShortBurry's Assistant
Daddy's HomePanda Singer #1
2016The Backup DancerRudyUncredited
2017LoganConvenience Store Clerk
Bomb CityBrian DenekeWon two Best Actor awards and one Special Jury Prize for Performance
Dark MeridianTevi Marek
Jeepers Creepers 3SWAT Team One
2018Laundry DayEthan
The DomesticsFlame Gambler
2019The VigilYakov RonenNominated for Best Actor in a Horror Movie at the 2nd Critics' Choice Super Awards
The True Don QuixoteTrout
Sunday GirlJack
2020GreyhoundBoatswain's Mate #1
2022EmancipationOliver
PresenceDavidCo-producer
2023ResurrectedFather Stanley MartinAssociate producer
RenfieldMitch
2025HazardJohn LangPost-production; Executive Producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2011Memphis BeatBryanEpisode: "The Things We Carry"
HideYoung Charlie MarvinTV movie
2012Red CloverDax Spence
American Horror HouseLloyd
The Walking DeadGargulioEpisode: "Hounded"
2013Heebie JeebiesMaceTV movie
Ladies' Man: A Made MovieToby Miller
Ghost SharkBlaise
2014True DetectiveTobyEpisode: "After You've Gone"
SnakeHead SwampChrisTV movie
2016NCIS: New OrleansJJ TaylorEpisode: "Help Wanted"
Ozark SharksHarrisonTV movie
2018Bad StepmotherJonathan Hawking
2019LuciferMaury NovakEpisode: "Somebody's Been Reading Dante's Inferno"
2021The RookieMarvin ReynoldsEpisode: "Hit and Run"
2023Tiny Beautiful ThingsPabloEpisode: "The Ghost Ship"
2024S.W.A.T.Jeremiah JacobsEpisode: "Left of Boom"
2025The GreatestMarvin Geller5 episodes

External links

  • at IMDb
  • SoundCloud (2016 archive)