Donald Davis (actor)

Donald Davis (born February 17, 1928, in Aurora, Illinois; died October 6, 2003, in Vancouver, British Columbia) was a Canadian actor known primarily for his stage work and television appearances. Davis was a graduate of the University of Minnesota and furthered his acting studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Davis was a prominent figure in Canadian theatre, performing extensively at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, where he spent over twenty seasons. He took on roles in numerous Shakespearean productions, as well as contemporary works. His stage credits include appearances in Hamlet, King Lear, The Tempest, and Waiting for Godot.

While primarily a stage actor, Davis also built a substantial career in television. He is perhaps best known internationally for his role as Major Garland Briggs in the cult television series Twin Peaks (1990-1991) and its subsequent film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992). He reprised the role in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), which used archival footage.

Other notable television credits include appearances in The X-Files, Street Legal, The Beachcombers, and numerous television movies. Davis often portrayed authority figures, lending his distinguished voice and presence to characters in positions of power or knowledge.