Carlos Davis (screenwriter)
Carlos Davis (born James Carlos Davis; October 11, 1948 – September 24, 2020[1]) was an American screenwriter, film producer, playwright, and best selling novelist.[2] He was best known for writing the 1991 cult comedy Drop Dead Fred, starring Rik Mayall and Phoebe Cates,[3] and writing the national best selling novel, No Dawn For Men.
Davis was living in Manhattan when he died.
Early years[edit]
Davis was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Aida Ester Minamora (November 20, 1912 – September 23, 1993), an art collector and world traveler from Santa Ana, El Salvador who never became an American citizen, and James (June 22, 1911 – January 24, 1956), a San Francisco native who co-managed the Davis Hardwood Company—the first American company to import Philippine hardwood.[4] He had a sister, Louisa Aida Davis (February 8, 1950 – March 21, 2020[5]), who was also born in San Francisco. The Davis children were raised in San Francisco, New York City, and Europe. He is a descendant of Jacob Davis, the man who created denim jeans and sold the patent to Levi Strauss
Davis attended Town School for Boys, The Allen-Stevenson School (New York City), Riverdale Country School (New York City), New York University's undergraduate program in Spain, London University, and Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.),
Career[edit]
Preppies went on for 85 performances on Broadway. Preppies is the only American musical ever to have a future American President for an investor -- George W. Bush
He and the novelist James LePore, co-authored three successful novels. The first, No Dawn For Men which was published in December, 2013 and God's Formula, published in 2014. The first was a national best seller and a finalist of the International Thriller Writers Award. The third novel in the series, The Bone Keepers published in April, 2016. In 2018, he and Anthony Fingleton co-wrote and executive produced the heist thriller The Hurricane Heist (formerly Category 5). It was directed by Rob Cohen.
In late 2016, he and Kevin Armento wrote a screenplay for thriller titled Driven, about an Uber driver and is set in San Francisco. He was also working on a film, Betsy & Napoleon, a screenplay he wrote about Napoleon's time on St. Helena. It stars Daniel Auteuil and Sophie Lelisse. He was producing it with Fred Roos and Marcia Nasatir. He wrote a surfing comedy with his son, James, for a major studio release.
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Hurricane Heist | Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
| 1991 | Drop Dead Fred | Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
| 1983 | Preppies | Playwright, Producer |
| 1982 | Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn | Screenwriter, Executive Producer |
Awards, nominations, and distinctions[edit]
Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn was nominated for 3 Emmys, and it was the first major role for Anthony Michael Hall, Cynthia Nixon, and future filmmaker Patrick Creadon.
No Dawn For Men was a finalist for The International Thrillers Writers award.
Director Gregory Nava named a villainous character in his film El Norte Carlos, after Davis.
References[edit]
- ^ James Carlos Davis obituary
- ^ Carlos Davis at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "Drop Dead Fred". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-04-30.[title missing]
- ^ Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood
- ^ "LOUISA DAVIS Obituary - San Francisco, CA". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
