Daniel Davis (born November 26, 1945) is an American actor who is best known for portraying Niles the Butler on the sitcom The Nanny.
Davis was born in Gurdon, Arkansas and first became interested in acting at a young age, when his parents operated and owned a movie theatre. He specifically enjoyed Tyrone Power movies, stating later that this inspired his desire to act. His first acting job was at the age of 11, when he was cast on a local Little Rock broadcast program called Betty's Little Rascals. He then studied at the Arkansas Arts Center, followed by work with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and six years with the American Conservatory Theatre. He also taught acting while with the A.C.T. He guest starred on an episode of Frasier where he plays a doctor who comes to visit Dr. Niles Crane.
Davis' natural accent is Southern American, however his English accent as "Niles" was so accurate that many viewers have become convinced that Davis is actually English. This also stems from Davis being cast as Professor Moriarty in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Elementary, Dear Data" and " Ship in a Bottle". Coincidentally, during the same time in Davis's career, he was cast as CO of the USS Enterprise in the film The Hunt for Red October where he speaks in his regular voice with an American accent.
The character Niles is mostly the comic relief, frequently using deadpan one-liners. Davis first became popular in daytime television, playing opposite Beverlee McKinsey as her character Iris Cory's former husband, Eliot Carrington, for two years on the soap opera Texas in the early 1980s.
At the 2000 Tony Awards, Davis was recognised with a nomination for "Best Actor" for his role in Wrong Mountain. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Davis guest starred as Professor Moriarty in the episodes "Elementary, Dear Data" and "Ship in a Bottle". He appeared in the movie The Hunt for Red October as Charlie Davenport, the Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He appeared in the musical La Cage Aux Folles with Gary Beach from November 2004 to March 2005, along with many other theater roles. He also played a doctor in an episode of the critically proclaimed T.V show Frasier.
Davis briefly appeared in the 2006 film release of The Prestige directed by Christopher Nolan. In addition, he was among the odd assortment of celebrities featured lipsynching to The Bee Gees Stayin' Alive on the Idol Gives Back episode of American Idol on March 25, 2007.
During an episode of "The Nanny" he did a scene similar to that of Tom Cruise in Risky Business. This scene, to the music of Old Time Rock and Roll, has been described as one of his most memorable moments in the series.
In July 2008, he will be portraying King Lear at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, under the direction of Bonnie Monte.
