Daniel Davis

Daniel Davis (born November 26, 1945) is an American film, stage and television actor. He portrayed Niles the butler on the sitcom The Nanny (1993 to 1999) and had two guest appearances as Professor Moriarty on Star Trek: The Next Generation (a role he reprised on Star Trek: Picard), affecting a received pronunciation English accent for both roles.

Early life and education Davis was born on November 26, 1945, in Gurdon, Arkansas, and grew up in Little Rock. His parents operated a cinema. His first acting job was at the age of 11, when he was cast in a local broadcast program, Betty's Little Rascals.

Davis graduated from Hall High School in Little Rock in 1964. He graduated from the Arkansas Arts Center with a Bachelor of Fine Arts , followed by work with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and six years with the American Conservatory Theater (ACT). however, his English dialect as Niles was so accurate that many viewers thought he was actually English. He also used an English received pronounced dialect as Professor Moriarty in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Elementary, Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle". However, as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October, Davis spoke with his own American dialect.

In 2002, Davis guest-starred on the television series Frasier, playing Dr. Shafer in Season 10, Episode 8, "Rooms with a View".

Davis was among the group of celebrities lip-synching to the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive on the "Idol Gives Back" episode of American Idol on April 25, 2007.

He appeared briefly in the 2006 film The Prestige, directed by Christopher Nolan.

In 2008 he guest-starred on the television series Ugly Betty.

In December 2010, he appeared on The Fran Drescher Show through Skype.

In 2012, he recorded the audiobook of the Star Wars novel Star Wars: Darth Plagueis, by James Luceno.

Davis reprised the role of Professor Moriarty in the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard.

Theatre Davis is an established theatre actor. He has appeared in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions in New York, and has appeared at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He played Oscar Wilde in The Invention of Love in 2001. )

In 2007, Davis was a member of the cast of an audio production of the play Blue/Orange, in which he took the part of Dr. Robert Smith.

In July 2008, he portrayed King Lear at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, under the direction of Bonnie J. Monte.

In November 2010, Davis was part of the Celebrity Autobiography series at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. He performed along with fellow Nanny alum Lauren Lane and Ugly Betty alum Michael Urie.

In 2012, he played Prospero in The Tempest at Hartford Stage.

In 2015, Davis starred in a one-off performance of A. R. Gurney's Love Letters co-starring with Lane. Proceeds were donated to the Texas State BFA Acting Program.

In 2016, he appeared on Broadway as Selsdon Mowbray in the Roundabout Theatre revival of Noises Off at the American Airlines Theatre.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker Skinny Uncredited 1985 Chain Letters Steve 1989 K-9 Halstead 1990 The Hunt for Red October Captain Charlie Davenport Havana Marion Chigwell 2005 Thru the Moebius Strip Arthur (voice) 2006 The Prestige Judge 2018 Roses are Blind Addison Spelling

Television Year Title Role Notes 1974 Great Performances Moulineaux Episode: "In Fashion" 1980–1981Texas Eliot Carrington 71 episodes 1983 Hardcastle and McCormick Joe Kello Episode: "The Day the Music Died" 1984 Cagney & Lacey Arthur Cole Episode: "Lady Luck" Highway to Heaven Lance Gaylord Episode: "Catch a Falling Star" 1985 Remington Steele Pierre Fumar Episode: "Gourmet Steele" Scarecrow and Mrs. King Robert Castille, Tony Martinet 2 episodes The A-Team Phillips Episode: "The Doctor Is Out" The Eagle and the Bear Underhill Television film1986Blind JusticeSeth ThompsonTelevision film George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation Patrick Henry Television film Matlock James Billings Episode: "The Professor" Cheers Mr. Reinhardt Episode: "The Peterson Principle" Tall Tales & Legends Congressman Episode: "Davy Crockett" 1987 Dynasty Harry Thresher 5 episodes The Spirit Simon Teasdale Television film 1988 Frank's Place Arnold Tuney Episode: "Frank's Place - The Movie" The Equalizer Eddie Mason Episode: "Video Games" What Price Victory Trainer Television film 1988–1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation Professor James Moriarty 2 episodes 1989MacGyver Nicholas Helman Episode: "Halloween Knights" 1991 Palomino Doctor Television film She Stood Alone Parker Elsworth Television film The Perfect Tribute Gov. Curtin Television film 1992Columbo Alex Varrick Episode: "No Time to Die"Civil Wars Harvey Gutfruend Episode: "Tape Fear"L.A. Law C. Howard Grady Episode: "Love in Bloom"Murder, She Wrote Neal Dishman Episode: "Badge of Honor"1993–1999The Nanny Niles 145 episodes 1996 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Lugo (voice) Episode: "Lifestyles of the Rich and Scary" Adventures from the Book of Virtues Horse, Schoolmaster Dobbins (voice) Episode: "Work" 1997 Duckman Rodney (voice) Episode: "Duckman and Cornfed in 'Haunted Society Plumbers'" Remember WENN Desmond Quist Episode: "Eugenia Bremer, Master Spy" 1999 Rugrats Conan McNulty (voice) Episode: "Wrestling Grandpa" 2000 The Practice Judge Barton Wolfe 3 episodes What a Cartoon! Longhair (voice) Episode: "Longhair and Doubledome: Good Wheel Hunting" 2002 Frasier Dr Shafer Episode: "Rooms With A View" 2008 Ugly Betty Dr. Morgan Remus Episode: "Burning Questions" 2015 Gotham Jacob Skolimski Episode: "Under the Knife" 2017 The Blacklist Baldur Magnusson Episode: "Natalie Luca" 2019 Elementary Antoine LaGrange Episode: "The Price of Admission" The Good Fight Professor Harrison Episode: "The One About the End of the World" 2022 New Amsterdam Vic Wallace Episode: "Castles Made of Sand" 2023 Star Trek: Picard Professor James Moriarty Episode: "The Bounty" 2024 Elsbeth Dr. Yablonsky 2 episodes