Biography
Who is Warwick Davis?
Early life and education
Warwick Ashley Davis was born on February 3, 1970, in Epsom, United Kingdom. His parents were Susan J. Davis and Ashley Davis, who worked in insurance. He has a younger sister. During his childhood, he attended Chinthurst School in Tadworth, Surrey, and later the City of London Freemen's School.
Davis was born with a rare bone growth disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, which results in dwarfism. When he was 11, his grandmother heard a radio advertisement seeking people who were four feet tall or shorter to appear in the film Return of the Jedi. As a fan of the Star Wars franchise, he auditioned for the opportunity.
Rise to fame and Star Wars
He was originally cast as an extra Ewok in Return of the Jedi. When the actor originally slated for the role of Wicket fell ill, director George Lucas selected Davis for the part. To prepare for the performance, he observed his own dog and mimicked the way it tilted its head to convey movement. While filming, he was the subject of a short, unreleased mockumentary titled Return of the Ewok.
His involvement with the franchise continued for decades. He played multiple characters across various films, including Weazel in The Phantom Menace and Wodibin in The Last Jedi. In Solo: A Star Wars Story, he reprised his role as Weazel. He appeared in The Rise of Skywalker alongside his son, Harrison, who played the son of Wicket. Throughout his career, he has portrayed fifteen different characters within the Star Wars universe.
Acting career highlights
In 1988, Davis played the title character in the fantasy film Willow, a role written specifically for him. This project marked his first opportunity to act with his face fully visible on screen. He later moved to television roles, including parts in BBC adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia and an episode of Zorro. In 1993, he took on the villainous lead role in the film Leprechaun, appearing in five sequels between 1994 and 2003.
He became widely known for his portrayal of Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter film series. In the final two films, Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2, he also played the goblin Griphook. Beyond film, he starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Life's Too Short. He also hosted television programs, including the game show Tenable and Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis.
Business and personal life
In 1995, he co-founded a talent agency called Willow Management with his father-in-law, Peter Burroughs. The agency specializes in representing actors who are under five feet tall. In 2004, the agency expanded its scope to represent actors over seven feet tall who previously struggled to find roles outside of niche casting. Many of his former co-stars from his major film projects are represented by this agency.
He is married to Samantha Davis. Together, they have a daughter named Annabelle Davis. In 2010, he published an autobiography titled Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis, which features a foreword written by George Lucas. He has received significant recognition for his contributions to the arts, including the BAFTA Fellowship and the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Birthday and age
Warwick Davis was born on February 3, 1970, which makes Warwick 56 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Warwick shares the date with 27 other famous people.
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