John Rhys-Davies Biography (1944-)

Born May 5, 1944, in Salisbury (some sources cite Salford), Wilts, England; raised in Wales and Africa; son of Rhys Davies (a mechanical engineer) and Mary Margaretta Phyllis Jones (a nurse); married Suzanne A. D. Wilkinson (a translator), 1966; children: Ben, Tom. Addresses: Agent: Barry McPherson,Agency for the Performing Arts, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA90069.

Nationality: British
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, voice artist
Birth Details: May 5, 1944; Wilts, United Kingdom

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
(Uncredited) Blown-up man, The Black Windmill, Universal, 1974
Solicitor, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (also known as The Biggest Bank Robbery, The Big Scam, and The Mayfair Bank Caper), 1979
Sallah, Raiders of the Lost Ark (also known as Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark), Paramount, 1981
Stephanos Markoulis, Sphinx, Warner Bros., 1981
Andre Cassell, Victor/Victoria, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1982
Smith, The Island of Adventure (also known as Enid Blyton's "The Island of Adventure"), 1982
Baron Fortinbras, Sword of the Valiant (also known as Sword ofthe Valiant: The Legend of Gawain and the Green Knight), Cannon, 1984
Mustapha, Best Revenge (also known as Misdeal), Black Cat/RKR Releasing, 1984
Rasoul, Sahara, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1984
Dogati, King Solomon's Mines, Cannon, 1985
Chris Tucker, In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro, Scotti Brothers, 1986
Corky Taylor, Firewalker, Cannon, 1986
General Leonid Pushkin, The Living Daylights (also known as IanFleming's "The Living Daylights"), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1987
Anton Weber (Werewolf), Waxwork (also known as Reise zurueck inder Zeit), Vestron, 1988
Claudio Rossi, Il Giovane Toscanini (also known as Toscanini and The Young Toscanini), Carthogo/Canal Plus, 1988
Donwaldo, Rising Storm (also known as Rebel Storm and Rebel Waves), 1989
Sallah, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Paramount, 1989
Roger Singh, Tusks (also known as Fire in Eden), Magnum/Marquis Releasing, 1990
Challenger, The Lost World, 1992
El Zaidan, Journey of Honor (also known as Kabuto, Shogun Mayeda, and Shogun Warrior), MCA/Universal Home Video, 1992
Nick, Canvas (also known as Canvas: The Fine Art of Crime),LIVE Home Video, 1992
South Beach (also known as Night Caller), 1992
Captain Galil, The Seventh Coin (also known as Worlds Apart), Hemdale Releasing, 1993
Professor Harley Warren, The Unnamable II (also known as H. P.Lovecraft's "The Unnameable Returns," H. P. Lovecraft's "The UnnamableII," The Statement of Randolph Carter, and The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter), Prism Entertainment, 1993
Rudi Von Kseenbaum, The Double O Kid, Prism Entertainment, 1993
Stockton, Sunset Grill, Famed Entertainment/New Line Cinema, 1993
Frame By Frame, 1993
Brother Parvus, The High Crusade (also known as High Crusade--Frikassee im Weltraum), 1994
Challenger, The Return to the Lost World, Worldvision Home Video,1994
Eli Taki, Robot in the Family, 1994
Joachim Kessel, Cyborg Cop, Trimark Pictures, 1994
Maurice Treville, Ring of the Musketeers (also known as Der Ring der Musketiere), Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1994
(Uncredited) Shouting Arab digger, Stargate (also known as Stargate, la porte des etoiles), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1994
Johnny Windsor, The Great White Hype, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1996
Luther, Glory Daze, Seventh Art Releasing, 1996
Voice of Woolie Mammoth, Cats Don't Dance (animated), Warner Bros., 1996
Voices of Cassim and king of thieves, Aladdin and the King of Thieves (animated), Walt Disney Home Video, 1996
Echo of Blue, 1996
Rasheed, The Protector (also known as Body Armor and Conway), A-pix Entertainment, 1997
Father Claver, Secret of the Andes (also known as El secreto delos Andes), 1999
Ivan, Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol (also known as D.F.1: The Lost Patrol), 1999
Rodrigues, The Gold Cross (short film), 1999
Voices of King Akron and Baraka, Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists(animated), Trimark Pictures, 1999
Gimli, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (also known as The Fellowship of the Ring and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Motion Picture), New Line Cinema, 2001
Hakim, Never Say Never Mind: The Swedish Bikini Team, 2001
Dr. Matthew Sallin, Scorcher, Cinetel Films, 2002
Gimli and voice of Treebeard, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (also known as The Two Towers), New Line Cinema, 2002
Police lieutenant Wyznowski, Endangered Species, ThinkFilm, 2002
Commander Hammerstock-Smythe, The Medallion (also known as Highbinders), Screen Gems, 2003
Gimli, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (also known as The Return of the King and Der Herr der Ringe: Die Rueckkehr desKoenigs), New Line Cinema, 2003
President Hugo Luis Ramos, Coronado, Uncharted Territory, 2003
Voice of Ranjan's father, The Jungle Book 2 (animated), Buena Vista, 2003
The Lost Angel, Franchise Pictures, 2003
Narrator, Vlad, Terra Entertainment, 2004
Viscount Mabrey, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Buena Vista, 2004
Voice of Santa, Catching Kringle (animated short film), Animax Entertainment/Jellyman Productions, 2004
Himself, Ringers: Lord of the Fans (documentary), Planet BB Entertainment, 2005
Mr. Benton, The Shadow Dancer, Peace Arch Films, 2005
Mordecai, One Night with the King, 8X Entertainment, 2005
Phillippe, The King Maker, Alpha Beta Films International, 2005
The Game of Their Lives, IFC Films, 2005
Television Appearances
Series
Laughing Spam Fritter, Budgie, London Weekend Television, 1971-72
Zinoviev, Fall of Eagles, BBC, 1974
Macro, I, Claudius, BBC-2, 1976, later broadcast on MasterpieceTheatre, PBS, 1977
Sir Edward Vallier, The Quest, ABC, 1982
Tanyatos, Reilly, Ace of Spies, Thames Television, 1983, also broadcast on Mystery, PBS, 1983
Host and narrator, Archaeology, The Learning Channel, 1992-96
Agent Michael "Mike" Malone, The Untouchables, syndicated, 1993-94
Voice of MacBeth, Gargoyles (animated), syndicated, 1994-96
Professor Maximilian P. Arturo, Sliders, Fox, 1995-97
Voice of MacBeth, Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles (animated), ABC, 1996-97
Appeared as Gareth in the British series Crossroads (also known asThe Midland Road), Associated Television.
Miniseries
Vasco Rodriguez, Shogun (also known as James Clavell's "Shogun"), NBC, 1980
Silas, Peter and Paul, CBS, 1981
Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sadat, syndicated, 1983
Quillant Gornt, Noble House (also known as James Clavell's "Noble House"), NBC, 1988
Sammy Mutterperl, War and Remembrance, ABC, 1988
Joe Gargery, Great Expectations, The Disney Channel, 1989
I misteri della giungla nera (also known as The Mysteries of the Dark Jungle), 1990
Gribov, The Strauss Dynasty, [Austria], 1991
King Priam of Troy, Helen of Troy, USA Network, 2003
Porthos, La Femme Musketeer, Hallmark Channel, 2004
Movies
Barndoor, The Naked Civil Servant: The Autobiography of Quentin Crisp (also known as The Naked Civil Servant), Thames Television and PBS, 1975
Nestor, The Nativity, ABC, 1978
Reginald Front de Boeuf, Ivanhoe, CBS, 1982
Babu, Kim, CBS, 1984

Simon, Nairobi Affair, CBS, 1984
Edward Tremayne, Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam, NBC,1987
Police chief Murphy, The Little Match Girl, NBC, 1987
Lieutenant Smight, Higher Ground, CBS, 1988
Zeus, The Goddess of Love, NBC, 1988
Richard Marriott, Desperado: Badlands Justice, NBC, 1989
Wilson Fisk (the Kingpin), The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, NBC,1989
Mossad chief, Secret Weapon, TNT, 1990
Phillip Graff, Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (also known as Perry Mason: The Case of the Pernicious Painter and Perry Mason: The Case of the Posthumous Painter), NBC, 1992
Voice of Charles Brickens, A Flintstones Christmas Carol (animated), 1994
Zmuda, Angel of Death (also known as AK-47: The Death Machine, Beyond Forgiveness, and Blood of the Innocent), Showtime, 1994
Pugachev, Catherine the Great (also known as Katharina die Grosse), Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen and Arts and Entertainment, 1995
Duvalier, Bloodsport 3, 1996
Inspector Marais, Marquis de Sade (also known as Dark Prince), Showtime, 1996
Captain Barrett, Britannic, Fox Family Channel, 1999
Nigel Kent, Au Pair, Fox Family Channel, 1999
Anthony Bricklin, Sabretooth, Sci-Fi Channel, 2002
Cap, 12 Days of Terror, Animal Planet, 2004
King Fastrod, Dragon Storm, Sci-Fi Channel, 2004
Captain Randolpp, Chupacabra: Dark Seas, Sci-Fi Channel, 2005
Specials
Caleb Selling, The Incredible Robert Baldick: Never Come Night, BBC, 1972
Salerio, The Merchant of Venice (also known as BBC Television Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice and The Complete Dramatic Works ofWilliam Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice), BBC-2, 1980
Host, The Making of "Aladdin" (also known as The Magic of "Aladdin" and The Making of "Aladdin": A Whole New World), The Disney Channel, 1992
Narrator, "Powers of the Russian Psychics," ABC's World of Discovery, ABC, 1993
Voice of Zagal, "The Magic Paintbrush" (animated), McDonald's Family Theatre, CBS, 1993
Host, Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, CBS, 1995
Host, The Making of the Indiana Jones Adventure (also known as The Making of Disneyland's "Indiana Jones Adventure"), The Disney Channel, 1995
Narrator, Boo to You Too! Winnie-the-Pooh, CBS, 1996
Himself, Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of "The Lord of the Rings," Sci-Fi Channel, 2001
Himself and Gimli, Quest for the Ring, Fox, 2001
(In archive footage) Gimli, Lord of the Piercing, MTV, 2002
Narrator, National Geographic: Beyond the Movie--The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, 2003
Himself and (in archive footage) Gimli, DNZ: The Real Middle Earth, TV New Zealand, 2004
The 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2004
Appeared in "School for Scandal," Play of the Week, BBC; and Henry VII.
Episodic
First guardian, "This is Quarmby," The Guardians, Independent Television, 1971
Dunlop, "Trial and Error," Dixon of Dock Green, BBC, 1972
Aikman, "Death of a Crab," Zodiak, Thames Television, 1974
Brett, "Poppy," The Sweeney, Independent Television, 1975
Inspector Jay, "Getting Out," Within These Walls, Independent Television, 1975
"Thundersky," Quiller, BBC, 1975
Peter Newell, "During Barty's Party," Beasts, Associated Television, 1976
Roger Jenkins, "Intent," Hunter's Walk, Associated Television, 1976
Authority, "William and the Wonderful Present," Just William, Independent Television, 1977
Ivor Griffith, "Health Farm," 1990, BBC, 1977
Graves, "Hazell Settles the Accounts," Hazell, Independent Television, 1978
Hecht, "Fringe Banking," Target, BBC, 1978
Terry Larkin, "Fat Freddie B.A.," Z Cars, BBC, 1978
George Trenett, "Committee Man," Enemy at the Door, London WeekendTelevision, 1980
Nakura, "Force Seven," CHiPs, NBC, 1982
King Richard, "The King's Fool," Robin of Sherwood, PBS and Showtime, 1984
Lord Ralph Bromfield, "Affair at Bromfield Hall," Scarecrow and Mrs. King, CBS, 1984
Lancaster, "J.B. as in Jailbird," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1988
Harry Waverly, "Night of the Tarantula," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1989
Emil Duval, "Dead Wait," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's "Tales from the Crypt"), HBO, 1991
Voice of King Donovan, "The Flute," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1991
Voice of King Hugo, "Mordred's Return," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1991
Voice of King Hugo, "The Princess Aleta," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1991
Voice of King Hugo, "The Rescue," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1991
Voice of King Hugo, "The Voyage," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1991
Voice of Baron Waclaw Jozek, "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy," Batman: The Animated Series (animated; also known as Batman), Fox, 1992
Voice of Tympannini, "Piano Rag," Animaniacs (animated; also knownas Steven Spielberg Presents "Animaniacs"), Fox, 1993
Harry Mordecai, "Dear Deadly," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1994
Roderick Tate, "Black Silence," A Mind to Kill, Channel 3 and Channel 5 (England), 1994
Voice of King Hugo, "A New Dawn," The Legend of Prince Valiant (animated; also known as Prince Valiant), syndicated, 1994
Voice of Dr. Morwood-Smyth, "A Lighthouse in the Sea of Time," Gargoyles (animated), syndicated, 1995
Voice of Findlaech, "City of Stone: Parts 1 & 2," Gargoyles (animated), syndicated, 1995
Voice of Thor, "To Battle the Living Planet," The Fantastic Four (animated; also known as The Marvel Action Hour: The Fantastic Four), syndicated, 1995
(As John Rhys-Davis) Voice of Thor, "When Calls Galactus," The Fantastic Four (animated; also known as The Marvel Action Hour: The FantasticFour), syndicated, 1995
Voice of Asgarth, "Overthrown," Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series(animated; also known as Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm), USANetwork, 1996
Voice of Dr. Morwood-Smyth, "Sentinel," Gargoyles (animated), syndicated, 1996
Voice of Thor, "Mortal Bounds," The Incredible Hulk (animated; also known as The Incredible Hulk & Friends), UPN, 1996
Voice, "The Road to Dendron," Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1996
Leonardo Da Vinci, "Concerning Flight," Star Trek: Voyager (also known as Voyager), UPN and syndicated, 1997
Leonardo Da Vinci, "Scorpion: Parts 1 & 2," Star Trek: Voyager(also known as Voyager), UPN and syndicated, 1997
Madman Mustapha, "The Big Ride," You Wish, ABC, 1997
Madman Mustapha, "Jillions of Gillians," You Wish, ABC, 1997
Voice of Professor Beasthead, "Tomb of Invisibo," Freakazoid! (animated), The WB, 1997
Narrator, "Brainie the Poo/Melancholy Brain," Pinky and the Brain(animated), The WB, 1998
Voice of Oberon, Mickey Mouse Works (animated), ABC, 1999
Alexandre Dumas/Porthos, "The Cardinal's Design," The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, CBC, Sci-Fi Channel, and syndicated, 2000
Alexandre Dumas/Porthos, "The Cardinal's Revenge," The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, CBC, Sci-Fi Channel, and syndicated, 2000
Voice of ManRay, "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III," SpongeBob SquarePants (animated), Nickelodeon, 2000
Guest, The Big Breakfast, Channel 4 (England), 2001
Mike King, Peak Practice, Independent Television, 2002
Voice of Lenny, "Ingrid Third, Public Enemy #1," Fillmore! (animated; also known as Disney's "Fillmore!"), ABC, 2002
Voice of Lord Hades, "Paradise Lost: Parts 1 & 2," Justice League (animated; also known as JL, JLA, Justice League of America, and The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure), Cartoon Network,2002
Voice of ManRay, "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V," SpongeBob SquarePants (animated), Nickelodeon, 2002
Voice of Oberon, "House of Scrooge," House of Mouse (animated), ABC, 2002
"All That Glitters," Arli$$, HBO, 2002
Guest, Dennis Miller, CNBC, 2004
Guest, GMTV, Independent Television, 2004
Guest, Mondo Thingo, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2004
Appeared in episodes of other series.
Pilots
John Grimshaw, No Man's Land, NBC, 1984
Dr. Carl Boardman, The Gifted One (also known as Blessed),NBC, 1989
Flynn, "Before the Storm" (also known as "Sacrifices" and "Spy Game"), Under Cover (also known as The Company), ABC, 1991
Agent Michael "Mike" Malone, The Untouchables, syndicated, 1993
Professor Maximilian P. Arturo, Sliders, Fox, 1995
Madman Mustapha, You Wish, ABC, 1997
Lampley, Revelations, NBC, 2004
Television Work
Series
Additional voices, Pirates of Darkwater (animated; also known as Dark Water), ABC, 1991-93
Stage Appearances
Sebastian, The Tempest, Mermaid Theatre, London, 1970
Under Milk Wood, Dolphin Theatre Company, Shaw Theatre, London, 1974
Duke Frederick, As You Like It, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 1977
Monatond, The Sons of Light, Royal Shakespeare Company, Other Place Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 1977
Captain Vitelli, The Lorenzaccio Story, Royal Shakespeare Company,Other Place Theatre, 1977, then Warehouse Theatre, London, 1978
Henry Beaufort, Henry IV, Part One, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, 1977, then Aldwych Theatre, London, 1978
Cardinal Beaufort, Henry IV, Part Two, Royal Shakespeare Company,Aldwych Theatre, 1978
Appeared as Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor, England. Appeared in other stage productions, including The Cherry Orchard, DesireCaught by the Tail, Hamlet, Hedda Gabler, How the OtherHalf Loves, It Happened in Venice, Love on the Dole, Macbeth, The Misanthrope, A Month in the Country, Murder atthe Vicarage, Othello, The Revenger's Tragedy, Royal Hunt of the Sun, A Servant of Two Masters, The Shop at Sly Corner, Troilus and Cressida, Volpone, and Women Beware Women. Also performed at Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich, England.
RECORDINGS
Videos
The Making of "The Lord of the Rings," 2002
Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy, 2003
The Making of a Legend, 2003
Making of "20,000 Leagues under the Sea," Buena Vista Home Video,2003
Video Games
Narrator, Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness, 1994
Voices of Major James "Paladin" Taggart and Prince Thrakhath nar Kiranka,Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, 1994
Voice of Senator James Paladin Taggart, Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom, 1995
Voice of Vigo Haman, Ripper, 1996
Voice of Noree Moneo, Dune 2000, 1998
Voice of Jherek, Forgotten Realms: Baldur's Gate--Dark Alliance, 2001
Voice of Gimli, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
Voice of Gimli, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, EA Games, 2003
Voice of Lord Huigar, Lords of Everquest, Sony Online Entertainment, 2003
Voice of Richard Winston Tobias, Freelancer, Microsoft, 2003
WRITINGS
Screenplays
(With Tara Hawkins Moore) Tusks (also known as Fire in Eden), Magnum/Marquis Releasing, 1990

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

The television series Sliders, broadcast by Fox from 1995-97 and the Sci-Fi Channel from 1998-2000, was reportedly based on a story by Rhys-Davies.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

Cult Times, June, 1998, p. 11
Houston Chronicle, January 3, 2003
Starlog, August, 1989, p. 45; July, 1997
Sydney Morning Herald, September 2, 2004
TV Zone, December, 1997, pp. 14-19

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