Warwick Davis

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Warwick Davis
File:Warwick Davis Photo Op Nightmare Weekend Richmond 2023 (cropped).jpg
Davis at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023
Born Warwick Ashley Davis
(1970-02-03) 3 February 1970 (age 54)
Epsom, Surrey, England
Occupation
  • Actor
  • television presenter
Years active 1979–present
Height 3 ft 6 in (107 cm)[1]
Television <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Spouse(s) Samantha Burroughs (m. 1991; d. 2024)
Children 3,[lower-alpha 1] including Annabelle Davis
Relatives Peter Burroughs (father-in-law)
Website warwickdavis.co.uk

Warwick Ashley Davis (/ˈwɒrɪk/ WORR-ik, born 3 February 1970)[2] is an English actor and television presenter. Active within the industry since he was twelve, Davis is one of the highest grossing supporting actors of all time and has the highest average gross revenue of all time.[3] He played the title character in Willow (1988) and the Leprechaun film series (1993–2003), several characters in the Star Wars film series (1983–2019), most notably Wicket the Ewok, and Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011).

Davis starred as a fictionalised version of himself in the sitcom Life's Too Short (2011–2013). He has also presented the ITV game shows Celebrity Squares (2014–2015) and Tenable (2016–).

Early life

Davis was born on 3 February 1970 in Epsom, Surrey, the son of Susan J. (née Pain) and Ashley Davis, an insurance worker.[4][5] He has a younger sister. He was educated at Chinthurst School in Tadworth, Surrey and later the City of London Freemen's School.

Davis was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism. When Davis was 11, his grandmother heard a radio advertisement calling for people who were 4 feet (120 cm) tall or shorter to be in Return of the Jedi.[6] As a Star Wars fan, this was a dream come true for Davis. During the filming of Return of the Jedi, Mark Hamill bought Davis every Star Wars action figure that he did not already own.[7][8]

Career

Acting

Davis in 2007

Davis was originally cast as an extra Ewok, but when Kenny Baker, who was originally going to be Wicket, fell ill, George Lucas picked Davis to be the new Wicket after seeing how he carried himself as an Ewok.[4]

Davis based his Ewok movements on his dog, who tilted his head from side to side whenever he saw something strange.[9] During production on the film, Davis was the subject of a short mockumentary film about his experience as Wicket, titled Return of the Ewok, made by Return of the Jedi's first assistant director, David Tomblin. The unreleased film was a fictional look at his decision to become an actor and act in the film and his transformation into Wicket the Ewok. Davis reprised his role as Wicket in the ABC made-for-TV films Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.

In 1987, Davis was called to Elstree Studios near London to meet with Ron Howard and George Lucas to discuss a new film project called Willow, which was written with Davis specifically in mind. Willow was his first opportunity to act with his face visible. He co-starred with Val Kilmer in the film, which received a Royal Premiere before the Prince and Princess of Wales. He then moved to television to be in the BBC Television adaptation of the classic The Chronicles of Narnia, specifically in Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (as Reepicheep), and The Silver Chair (as Glimfeather) and an episode of Zorro filmed in Madrid. In 1993, he played the villainous Irish lead character in Leprechaun, opposite Jennifer Aniston, a role he reprised in five sequels, from 1994 to 2003. He also played a leprechaun in the 1998 family film A Very Unlucky Leprechaun. Davis returned to the Star Wars universe, playing four roles in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: Weazel, a gambler sitting next to Watto at the Podrace; Wald, who was Anakin's Rodian friend, Yoda in some scenes where Yoda was seen walking, and finally, an extra seen walking around the streets of the city of Mos Espa.

Davis played the role of Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter film series.[10] In addition to playing Flitwick, Davis played the role of the goblin Griphook in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, despite the role being played previously by Verne Troyer.

In 2004, Davis played the character "Plates" in the indie film Skinned Deep, directed by special effects artist Gabriel Bartalos. In 2006, Davis appeared, alongside fellow Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, in an episode of BBC's comedy series Extras as a satirical version of himself. Davis starred in the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as the "body" of Marvin the Paranoid Android (the voice was provided by Alan Rickman). In December 2006, Davis starred in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Opera House, Manchester, and again in 2007–08 at the New Wimbledon Theatre.

Davis appeared in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, in which he played Nikabrik the Dwarf, adding to his previous involvement in TV adaptations of the Chronicles of Narnia series. He also appeared as a contestant on the 2007 series of Children in Need reality show Celebrity Scissorhands. Davis starred as a fictional version of himself in Life's Too Short, written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who also starred.[11] In December 2012, Davis returned to New Wimbledon Theatre to reprise his role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[12]

Davis with fellow Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) in 2007

Davis also appeared in the 2008 TV series Merlin as the character Grettir, the gatekeeper to the "lands of king fisher" in the episode "The Eye of the Phoenix" in Series 3.

In March 2013, Davis presented an episode of the ITV series Perspectives: "Warwick Davis – The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz", in which he explored the story of the Ovitz family, a touring musical troupe which included seven dwarfs who survived the Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp and the experiments of Josef Mengele.[13]

Davis appeared as the character Porridge in the Doctor Who episode "Nightmare in Silver", first broadcast in May 2013.

In late 2013, Davis appeared for one month as Patsy in the musical comedy Spamalot, based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail in London.[14] At the same time, Davis hosted a press conference to announce the Monty Python reunion.[15]

In 2014, Davis hosted a factual series for ITV called Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis. The show saw Davis and his family travelling around Britain, enjoying short weekend holiday breaks.[16] The show returned for a second series in spring 2015. From 2014 to 2015, he hosted the revived version of game show Celebrity Squares on ITV. The first series was shown in 2014 and a second aired in 2015.[17]

Davis appeared in the 2015 sequel Star Wars: The Force Awakens.[18] In July 2015, he became the voice of Gordon the Gopher in a pilot developed for BBC Taster, and the pilot progressed well, becoming one of the highest rated on the BBC's Taster section.[19][20]

In November 2016, Davis began presenting the daytime ITV game show Tenable. The show returned for further series in 2017 and 2018.[21] Davis also appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, released December 2016, as the rebel fighter Weeteef Cyubee and that was also his first Star Wars role with a blaster.[22] In April 2017, at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, it was announced that Davis would voice Grand Admiral Thrawn's bodyguard Ruhk in the fourth season of Star Wars Rebels.[23] In December 2017, Davis appeared as Wodibin, an alien gambler, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.[24] Davis appeared in the film Solo: A Star Wars Story, released in May 2018, reuniting with his Willow director Ron Howard. This was Davis' eighth appearance in a Star Wars film.[25] In the film, Davis reprised his role of Weazel from The Phantom Menace.[26] Davis also briefly appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, reprising his role of Wicket. He appeared in the role alongside his son Harrison, who also cameoed as Wicket's son Pommet.[27][28]

Davis reprised his role as Willow Ufgood in the Disney+ series Willow to generally positive critic reviews.[29][30][31][32]

Star Wars characters

Davis plays Wicket in four films and Weazel in two films; all fifteen of Warwick Davis' Star Wars characters break down as such:[33]

Title Year Character
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi 1983 Wicket
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure 1984 Wicket
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor 1985 Wicket
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 1999 Wald, Weazel, Yoda (walking shots), a street trader on Tatooine
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens 2015 Wollivan
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016 Weeteef Cyu-Bee
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi 2017 Wodibin, Thamm (voice), Kedpin Shoklop
Star Wars: Rebels 2017 Rukh (voice)
Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018 Weazel, DD-BD, W1-EG5, WG-22
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker 2019 Wicket, Wizzich Mozzer

Other projects

In 1995, Davis co-founded, with fellow actor and father-in-law Peter Burroughs, the talent agency Willow Management, that specialises in representing actors under five feet (1.52 m) tall. Many of Davis's co-stars and fellow actors with dwarfism from Star Wars, Willow, Labyrinth and the Harry Potter series are represented by the agency. In 2004, the agency also began representing actors over seven feet (2.13 m) tall who had suffered from being confined to "niche" roles. Over forty members of Willow Management were cast as goblins in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.[34]

In April 2010, Davis published his autobiography, Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis, with a foreword by George Lucas.[35]

In October 2012, Davis appeared in a set of videos with the popular YouTube group The Yogscast, after the hosts of the yogscast's podcast "The YogPod" discussed him in several episodes. In January 2013, he appeared in a Comic Relief episode of The Great British Bake Off, winning that episode's title of "Comic Relief Star Baker".[36]

Davis is a founder of the Reduced Height Theatre Company, which stages theatrical productions cast exclusively with short actors and using reduced height sets. Their first production was See How They Run, touring the UK in 2014.[37] In February 2015, the production was the subject of the BBC's "Warwick Davis' Big Night" as part of the Modern Times documentary series.[38]

On 15 July 2014, Davis appeared on stage with Monty Python during their live show Monty Python Live (Mostly). He was the special guest in their "Blackmail" sketch.[39] In June 2016, he was the castaway on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.[40]

Davis produced a new original musical Eugenius! by Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins, which premiered as a concert performance on 29 June 2016 at the London Palladium (which Davis also starred in as Evil Lord Hector) followed by fully staged runs at The Other Palace in 2018.

In February 2017, the BBC broadcast an episode of the genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are? about Davis.[41] In the episode Davis learned that in his family tree he had an ancestor that had been married to two women at the same time, another who had died in an asylum from syphilis and another who performed at minstrel shows in blackface.[42]

Personal life

Davis was married to Samantha (née Burroughs[43]), the daughter of Davis' business partner Peter Burroughs and the sister of actress Hayley Burroughs, until her death on 24 March 2024.[44] Davis met the Burroughs family while filming Willow, where Samantha and Peter had minor roles as Nelwyn villagers.[45] They have three children.[46] Their daughter, Annabelle Davis, starred in the CBBC show The Dumping Ground as Sasha Bellman, and in Hollyoaks as Lacey Lloyd.

Unlike most people with dwarfism who have a condition called achondroplasia (70.65%), Davis' dwarfism is caused by an extremely rare genetic condition called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED). Davis' wife, Samantha, had achondroplasia, and their two children have SED.[47] As a result of inheriting both conditions, the couple's first son died eleven days after birth.[43] Their second son was miscarried at 19 weeks.[48]

Davis has said the only real drawback to being small was the associated health problems. Of his own dwarfism, Davis has said, "Well, as you get older, it gets worse... Your joints, for a start. My hips are dislocated, so they're sitting out here. Very painful knees. I had surgery on my feet when I was very young. There's a risk of retinal detachment, but I know the signs now."[49]

Davis is co-founder of Little People UK, a charity that provides support to people with dwarfism and their families.[50]

Filmography

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Main article: Warwick Davis filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1982 Return of the Ewok Himself / Wicket W. Warrick Unreleased
1983 Return of the Jedi Wicket W. Warrick
1984 Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure Voiced by Darryl Henriques
1985 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
1986 Labyrinth Goblin Corps member
The Princess and the Dwarf
1988 Willow Willow Ufgood [51]
1993 Leprechaun Lubdan
1994 Leprechaun 2
1995 Leprechaun 3
1997 Leprechaun 4: In Space
Prince Valiant Pechet
1998 A Very Unlucky Leprechaun Lucky
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Yoda (walk-in shots) / Weazel / Wald
The New Adventures of Pinocchio Dwarf / Pepe the Cricket
The White Pony Lucky
2000 The 10th Kingdom Acorn the Dwarf
Leprechaun in the Hood Lubdan
2001 Snow White: The Fairest of Them All Saturday
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Professor Filius Flitwick / Goblin Bank Teller / Griphook (voice)
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Professor Filius Flitwick
Al's Lads Leo
2003 Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood Lubdan
2004 Ray Oberon
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Choir Master Choir Master appearance later reused for the rest of the series as a design for Professor Filius Flitwick- A separate character to Choir Master
2004 Skinned Deep Plates
2005 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Marvin the Paranoid Android Voiced by Alan Rickman
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Professor Filius Flitwick
Small Town Folk Knackerman
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Professor Filius Flitwick
2008 Agent One-Half Agent One-Half
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Nikabrik
2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Professor Filius Flitwick
Tell Him Next Year Santa's Elf Short film
2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Griphook
2011 Dick and Dom's Funny Business Himself
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Griphook / Professor Filius Flitwick
2012 Chingari Gangster Boss As featured on An Idiot Abroad 3 [52]
An Idiot Abroad Himself Series 3 [53]
2013 Jack the Giant Slayer Old Hamm
Ashens and the Quest for the GameChild Himself / The Silver Skull Unmasked Independent film
Dwarves Assemble Oberon the Ufgood All episodes
The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz Himself / Presenter Documentary
Saint Bernard Othello
2014–2015 Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis Presenter 2 series
Celebrity Squares
2014 Get Santa Sally
Text Santa Father Christmas
2015 Piers Morgan's Life Stories Himself
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Wollivan
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Weeteef Cyubee
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Wodibin / Kedpin Shoklop (deleted scene) [54]
2017 British Airways Safety Video Himself Pre-flight safety video
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Weazel / DD-BD / W1-EG5 / WG-22[55]
2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Lickspittle
Horrible Histories – The Movie Gladiator Trainer[56]
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Wicket W. Warrick / Wizzich Mozzer

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1989 Prince Caspian/The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Reepicheep
1990 The Silver Chair Glimfeather
1991 Zorro Don Alf onso Episode: "The Jewelled Sword"
1996 Gulliver's Travels Grildrig
1997 The Fast Show Dwarf Series 3 Episode 8
1998-2001 Jamboree Baby Bopkin [57]
2005 Extras Himself
2009 M.I.High Per Trollberger Season 3 Episode 11: "The Visit" [58]
2010 Merlin Grettir[59] Episode: "The Eye of the Phoenix"
2011 Life's Too Short Himself Creator
2013 Doctor Who Porrige/Ludens Nimrod Kendrick Cord Longstaff XLI Episode: "Nightmare In Silver"
Bookaboo Episode: "Dustbin Dad"
2014 Catchphrase Contestant Celebrity Series 3, Episode 1
2015 The One Show Guest presenter Stand-in presenter
Catherine Tate's Nan Graham Fanee Episode: "Nanger Management" [60]
Realms of Fightinge Teuthis Web series
2015–2016 Planet's Got Talent Narrator[61] 2 series
2016 Billionaire Boy Himself Television film
The Dumping Ground Lou 2 episodes [62]
The Entire Universe The Big Bang Television special [63]
Fantastic Beasts and JK Rowling's Wizarding World Presenter
Jonathan Creek Rev. Wendell Wilkie Episode: "Daemons' Roost"
2016–present Tenable Presenter ITV game show
2017–present Comic Relief Co-presenter 2017 telethon
2017 Who Do You Think You Are? Himself 1 episode
2017–2018 Star Wars Rebels Rukh (voice) 6 episodes
2019– Moominvalley Sniff (voice) 26 episodes
2020 JJ Villard's Fairy Tales Rumpelstiltskin (voice) Episode: "Rumpelstiltskin"
2022 Willow Willow Ufgood Lead role [64]
TBA Valeria 3D Movie Leonardo Pre-production; Television movie

Notes

  1. ↑ His first child died eleven days after birth.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 'Life's Too Short' BBC Pilot, Warwickdavis.co.uk, 22 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "Snow White Wimbledon Tickets – 2012 Pantomime New Wimbledon Theatre", atgtickets.com; retrieved 17 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Warwick Davis: Willow DVD commentary.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ https://twitter.com/WarwickADavis/status/528616761722404864
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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