John Davey (actor)

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John Davey
Born (1939-06-25) June 25, 1939 (age 82)
United States
OccupationActor
Years active1965–1987
ChildrenThomas Davey

John Davey (born June 25, 1939) is a retired[1] American actor. He is best known for portraying Captain Marvel on the Shazam! television series in the mid-1970s after Jackson Bostwick was dismissed in the early part of the second season.[2]

Early life, family and education[]

Davey was raised in Winnemucca, Nevada,[3] the only city in Humboldt County, Nevada. He graduated from Humboldt County High School in 1957.[3]

Career[]

Davey was in the US Marine Corps from September 3, 1957 to October 1961.[3] He was also a heavyweight boxer, including work as a sparring partner for Joe Frazier.[1]

Davey performed in numerous television series, including Perry Mason, The Rockford Files, and Max Headroom. Like many Hollywood actors, he would appear in minor roles as different characters in specific episodes of the same series; he appeared in The Rockford Files in six episodes over three years this way, and in four episodes of Barnaby Jones this way.[4] He acted in many TV movies.

Davey's most prominent performances were in his leading role as the superhero character Captain Marvel on the television series Shazam!.[2] The show was created and broadcast during the Saturday morning timeslot, which was typically for children's programming. Davey was the second actor to play the role on the series.[5] (The original actor for the role, Jackson Bostwick, was fired by the show's producers who believed Bostwick did not appear for filming as an attempt to increase his salary,[2] although Bostwick explained he was receiving medical treatment for injuries which occurred while performing stunts during filming of Shazam.[6] Bostwick successfully litigated against Filmation Associates, which was forced to pay him for the remainder of his contract, plus residuals, including the entire second season.) Davey has recalled that the producers were hastily seeking to replace Bostwick.[1] As Captain Marvel, Davey appeared in three episodes of Isis, a companion TV series.[4]

Personal life[]

Davey has a son, Tomasso Gambino (born on May 23, 1967), a grandson Kian Seiter and granddaughter Kylee Rice.[3]

Screen roles[]

John Davey filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1965 Perry Mason Football Player Episode: "The Case of the 12th Wildcat" (uncredited)
1970 There Was a Crooked Man... Riot Guard Uncredited
1971 Night Gallery McWhirter Episode: "Death in the Family/The Merciful/Class of '99/Witches' Feast" (segment "Class of '99")
1971–1972 Ironside Second Trainer / MP Episodes: "The Savage Sentry", "Good Samaritan"
1971–1972 The F.B.I. Truck Driver Episode: "The Outcast", "Bitter Harbor"
1972 Mod Squad Matty Ryun Episode: "Sanctuary"
1972 Room 222 Tom Halstead Episode: "Mr. Wrong"
1972 They Only Kill Their Masters Head Removalist Uncredited
1973 Guard TV movie
1973 The Odd Couple Andreas Episode: "The Odyssey Couple"
1973–1974 The Rookies Roy / Jenks Episodes: "The Old Neighborhood", "Life Robbery"
1975 Cannon Danny Fairchild / Lieutenant Waley Episodes: "The Iceman", "Perfect Fit for a Frame"
1975 S.W.A.T. Novak Episode: "Omega One (1975)
1975 Sky Heist Deputy Freedman TV movie
1975–1976 Isis Captain Marvel Episodes: "Now You See It...", "...And Now You Don't", "Funny Gal"
1975–1976 Shazam! Captain Marvel 11 episodes
1976 Black Sheep Squadron Third Marine Episode: "New Georgia on My Mind (1976)
1977 3 Women Dr. Norton
1977 The Late Show Sergeant Dayton
1977–1980 Barnaby Jones Officer Portland / Harry Towler / Tank Bronson / etc. 5 episodes
1977–1980 The Rockford Files Mechanic / Rudy / Cowboy / etc. 6 episodes
1978 Cop TV movie
1979 Goldie and the Boxer Murphy TV movie
1979 Institute for Revenge I.F.R. Member TV movie
1981 CHiPs Communications Sergeant Episode: "11–99: Officer Needs Help" (1981)
1982 Marian Rose White Maxie TV movie
1983 Deal of the Century Pilot on Screen
1983 Remington Steele 'Blazin' Billy Flynn Episode: "Steele Knuckles and Glass Jaws" (1983)
1984 Whiz Kids Driver Episode: "Father's Day" (1984)
1985 Wilson TV movie
1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Episode: "Vigilante Mothers" (1985)
1985 The Boys Next Door Watkins
1985 The Twilight Zone Officer Episode: "Healer/Children's Zoo/Kentucky Rye" (segment "Kentucky Rye")
1986 A Fine Mess Detective Horn
1987 MacGyver State Trooper Episode: "Phoenix Under Siege" (1987)
1987 Max Headroom Episode: "Blipverts" (1987)

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ a b c Gray, Michael; Davey, John (May 20, 2016). Episode 126: Shazam Commentary with Michael Gray and John Davey (Audio podcast). Interviewed by Joe Stuber – via Acast.com.
  2. ^ a b c Murray, Noel (April 9, 2013). "'Shazam!' Remembering when superheroes weren't quite so cool". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2017. (Jackson Bostwick played Captain Marvel in the original incarnation of the 'Shazam!' television series, appearing as Billy Batson’s superhero alter ego for the first 17 episodes of the series; the role was then taken over by John Davey.)
  3. ^ a b c d John Davey on Facebook
  4. ^ a b John Davey at IMDb
  5. ^ Greenberger, Robert (February 25, 2014). "REVIEW: Shazam! The Complete Series". ComicMix.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Bostwick, Jackson (August 2003). "Exclusive Interview: Jackson Bostwick". angelfire.com. The Unofficial Shazam! Appreciation Page. Retrieved May 23, 2017.

External links[]

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