Marvin Davis
Encyclopedia
Marvin H. Davis was an American
industrialist and philanthropist
. He made his fortunes as the chairman of Davis Petroleum and at one time owned 20th Century Fox
, Pebble Beach, the Beverly Hills Hotel
, the Denver Broncos
NFL team, and the Aspen Skiing Company
.
in 1947. He joined his father Jack Davis
in the oil exploration business and was nicknamed "Mr. Wildcatter." The Davis Oil Company drilled for oil and gas in the Midwest beginning in the 1940s and was incorporated in 1986 as Davis Petroleum. Marvin Davis's son Gregg Davis took over as president of Davis Petroleum and Davis Offshore in 1997.
Friend Aaron Spelling
loosely based the "Carrington" characters of his hit TV series Dynasty
on the Davises, even filming an episode at their Colorado home.
with financier Marc Rich
. Fox's assets included Pebble Beach Golf Links
, the Aspen Skiing Company
, and a Century City
property upon which he built and twice sold Fox Plaza, which was made famous as the "Nakatomi building" in the original Die Hard
film. Davis retained these real estate assets when he bought out Rich's half in 1984, and sold the studio and film library to Rupert Murdoch
in 1985. Davis sold Pebble Beach to Japanese businessman Minoru Isutani for $841 million in 1990.
), and Nancy (godmother of Nicole Richie
and mother of Brandon Davis, Alexander Davis and Jason Davis
).
Davis was a long-time philanthropist, especially for medical research. A research building at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles is named for him.
He is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
in Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrialist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He made his fortunes as the chairman of Davis Petroleum and at one time owned 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Pebble Beach, the Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena...
, the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
NFL team, and the Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Skiing Company
The Aspen Skiing Company, known locally as "Ski Co", is a commercial enterprise based in Aspen, Colorado in the United States.-History:Founded in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, it operates the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, comprising four ski areas near the town of Aspen...
.
Petroleum business
Davis graduated from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1947. He joined his father Jack Davis
Jack Davis
Jack Davis may refer to:* Jack Davis * Jack Davis * Jack Davis , Olympic hurdler* Jack Davis * Jack Davis...
in the oil exploration business and was nicknamed "Mr. Wildcatter." The Davis Oil Company drilled for oil and gas in the Midwest beginning in the 1940s and was incorporated in 1986 as Davis Petroleum. Marvin Davis's son Gregg Davis took over as president of Davis Petroleum and Davis Offshore in 1997.
Friend Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
loosely based the "Carrington" characters of his hit TV series Dynasty
Dynasty (TV series)
Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard & Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado...
on the Davises, even filming an episode at their Colorado home.
20th Century Fox
In 1981, Davis acquired 20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
with financier Marc Rich
Marc Rich
Marc Rich is an international commodities trader and entrepreneur. He is best known for founding the commodities company Glencore. He was indicted in the United States on federal charges of illegally making oil deals with Iran during the late 1970s-early 1980s Iran hostage crisis and tax evasion...
. Fox's assets included Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Pebble Beach Golf Links is a golf course located in Pebble Beach, California, on the west coast of the United States.Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of Carmel Bay, opening to the Pacific Ocean,...
, the Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Skiing Company
The Aspen Skiing Company, known locally as "Ski Co", is a commercial enterprise based in Aspen, Colorado in the United States.-History:Founded in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, it operates the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, comprising four ski areas near the town of Aspen...
, and a Century City
Century City, Los Angeles, California
Century City is a 176-acre commercial and residential district on the Westside of the city of Los Angeles. It is bounded by Westwood on the west, Rancho Park on the southwest, Cheviot Hills and Beverlywood on the southeast, and the city of Beverly Hills on the northeast...
property upon which he built and twice sold Fox Plaza, which was made famous as the "Nakatomi building" in the original Die Hard
Die Hard
Die Hard is a 1988 American action film and the first in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by John McTiernan and written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza. It is based on a 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp titled Nothing Lasts Forever, itself a sequel to the book The Detective, which...
film. Davis retained these real estate assets when he bought out Rich's half in 1984, and sold the studio and film library to Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
in 1985. Davis sold Pebble Beach to Japanese businessman Minoru Isutani for $841 million in 1990.
Personal life
Marvin Davis was married for 53 years to the former Barbara Levine. They had five children: Dana, Gregg, Patricia, John (founder of Davis EntertainmentDavis Entertainment
Davis Entertainment is an American independent film production company, founded by John Davis in 1985.-Selected filmography:* Brewster's Millions * "Crocodile" Dundee * Predator * Superman IV: The Quest for Peace...
), and Nancy (godmother of Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Her father was Peter Michael Escovedo, a musician who played for a brief time with Lionel Richie, and her mother Karen was the executive assistant for Sheila Escovedo...
and mother of Brandon Davis, Alexander Davis and Jason Davis
Jason Davis (actor)
Jason Davis is an actor best known for his voice acting work on the Animated TV series Recess.-Early life:...
).
Davis was a long-time philanthropist, especially for medical research. A research building at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles is named for him.
He is interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery is a cemetery in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles, California. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood....
in Los Angeles.