Timcast IRL · September 4, 2022 · 2h 0m

Sunday Uncensored: Robert Davi & Alex Marlow Member Podcast: Robert Davi Tells Crazy Hollywood Stories And How Pablo Escobar Gave Him Emeralds

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Episode Recap

Robert Davi, the legendary actor known for his roles in Die Hard and The Goonies, joined Tim Pool and the Timcast IRL crew for an uncensored Sunday episode to share wild stories from his Hollywood career. The conversation centered on Davi's early days as a struggling actor in New York City, specifically his time working as a waiter at Fiorello's restaurant near Lincoln Center. Davi recounted being fired from the restaurant under questionable circumstances, only to land his first film role working alongside Frank Sinatra just months later in the 1977 film Contract on Cherry Street. The actor shared intimate details about his relationship with Sinatra, including how the legendary singer noticed they were both forceps babies and showed Davi's his own scar as a sign of camaraderie. Davi also revealed fascinating anecdotes about Hollywood power broker Sidney Korshak, who was known as the most powerful man in Hollywood who could solve any problem. One particularly entertaining story involved Korshak's intervention in securing Al Pacino for The Godfather, demonstrating the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that shaped cinematic history. The discussion touched on the inner workings of Hollywood during the 1970s, exploring themes of mentorship, serendipity, and the old-boy network that governed casting decisions. Davi painted a picture of a different era in show business, one where connections and character could launch careers seemingly overnight. The episode also featured co-host Ian Crossland contributing to the conversation as Davi spun his tales of the entertainment industry's deep-seated traditions and unwritten rules.

TL;DR

  • →Robert Davi shared his journey from working as a waiter at Fiorello's restaurant near Lincoln Center to starring alongside Frank Sinatra in Contract on Cherry Street (1977)
  • →Davi recounted being fired from his waitering job under suspicious circumstances, only to have his employer apologize and offer severance pay after seeing him with Sinatra
  • →The actor revealed personal details about Frank Sinatra, including that both men were forceps babies who showed each other their birth scars
  • →Davi discussed Sidney Korshak, the legendary Hollywood power broker who could resolve any studio problem and famously secured Al Pacino for The Godfather
  • →The conversation explored 1970s Hollywood culture, including lunch meetings between Korshak, Sinatra, and Bond producer Cubby Broccoli
  • →Stories demonstrated how connections and mentorship shaped careers in the entertainment industry during that era

Key Moments

  • 0:01:23
    Waiter Stories Begin
    Robert Davi begins discussing his early career as a waiter at Fiorello's restaurant in New York City, sharing details about his $175 monthly railroad flat apartment on 2nd Avenue
  • 0:02:27
    Getting Fired
    Davi recounts being fired from his waitering job after being accused of not handing in all his checks, despite his innocence
  • 0:03:28
    Sinatra Career Breakthrough
    Davi reveals landing his first film role with Frank Sinatra in Contract on Cherry Street just two and a half months after being fired, earning $3,500 per week
  • 0:04:04
    Sinatra's Dinner Invitation
    Harry Guardino tells Davi that Frank Sinatra wants to take them to dinner, leading to a fateful restaurant visit
  • 0:05:21
    Restaurant Confrontation
    Davi's former employer turns pale white when seeing him arrive with Sinatra and the head of all New York City restaurants
  • 0:06:54
    Hollywood Power Players
    Davi discusses Sidney Korshak, describing him as the most powerful man in Hollywood who could solve any studio problem
  • 0:07:17
    The Godfather Casting Story
    Davi recounts the legendary story of how Sidney Korshak secured Al Pacino's release from MGM to star in The Godfather

Notable Quotes

“I was making my nut. I had a railroad flat on 2nd Avenue. It was $175 a month back in the day. And now, so I was able to do that. I was studying with Stella Adler, great acting coach at her school.”

— Robert Davi · early career discussion

“You didn't hand in all your checks the other night. I always am very careful. Check your drawer. And you have a drawer with a key. I went in this drawer. I'm a lefty. This was so slanted the other way. I pulled out the check. I said, well, it's not me. It's not my writing.”

— Robert Davi · firing incident

“Harry Guardino says, the old man wants to take us to dinner. So I go over, get in the car. In the car is Jilly Rizzo, who was Frank's right-hand guy, like his brother.”

— Robert Davi · Sinatra dinner invitation

“Sidney Korshak was the most powerful man in Hollywood. He was a lawyer. And any problem in the world in film, Sidney Korshak could take care of it.”

— Robert Davi · Hollywood power structure

“Spill the beans. Spill the beans. Spill the beans.”

— Tim Pool · opening prompt to guest

“He goes, you're a forceps baby, huh? Ha-ha. I go, yeah. He goes, yeah, me too. And he showed me his scar. He says, never let them bother you.”

— Robert Davi · personal Sinatra connection

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