Biografia
Mark Jonathan Davis is an actor, comedian, writer, and director. Born in New York and raised in Arizona, he has lived and worked in Southern California since 1990. With over 35 years of experience, Davis has worked as an actor, stand-up comic, singer, writer, producer, and consultant across film, television, music, advertising, marketing, and politics.
Davis launched his professional career in radio during the early 1980s, serving as morning show producer at renowned stations such as KZZP and Pirate Radio. In 1990, he relocated to Los Angeles to manage the Premiere Radio Comedy Networks, where he wrote and produced parody songs like "The Star Wars Cantina," "Jeannie's Diner," and "Rice Rice Baby." By 1992, Davis joined the KROQ-FM Kevin & Bean morning show in L.A. as creative director, producing jingles and comedy songs, conducting celebrity interviews, and creating memorable on-air characters including Paul The 55-Year-Old Intern and Shakespeare Man, as well as quirky impersonations of Lt. Sulu and Bob Hope.
During the 1990s, Davis lent his voice to Warner Brothers' "Superman" and "Batman Beyond" cartoons, achieved a #1 song on The Dr. Demento Show, and worked as a network announcer, commercial producer, lyricist, and jingle singer for NBC, CBS, The Disney Channel, and Nick At Nite. He continues to offer copywriting, branding, and production services through his award-winning World Creative Supply advertising agency, specializing in product naming and advertising slogans.
Davis's diverse career includes stunt work in a Chris Isaak music video, developing theme park attractions and branding for Walt Disney Imagineering, writing jokes for President Bill Clinton, appearing as himself on NBC's "NewsRadio," performing a Stupid Human Trick on the Late Show with David Letterman, and attending a White House Holiday Party where he met President Barack Obama.
Since 2000, Davis has performed and recorded as Las Vegas lounge singer character Richard Cheese, who delivers jazz and big-band renditions of popular rock and rap songs. His band, Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine, has sold over 250,000 albums and consistently sells out shows across the U.S. and Europe.
As Richard Cheese, Davis has appeared in films such as "Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar," "Army Of The Dead," "The LEGO Batman Movie," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice," "Dawn Of The Dead," and HBO's "The Leftovers." He has also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Jonathan Ross Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, CNN with Anderson Cooper, and MTV's Say What Karaoke. Their latest album, "Big Cheese Energy," released in 2021, marks their 28th release.
Through his independent label Coverage Records, Davis has produced albums including Johnny Aloha: Lavapalooza, featuring Hawaiian-style tiki interpretations of rock and rap hits; Mozzapella, an a cappella cover group; "Sulu's Greatest HITS," a comedy album for "Star Trek" enthusiasts; and two parody albums titled "The Parody Songs The Destroyed Earth" and "Parody Songs For A Better Tomorrow."
Davis is currently working on an autobiography about his career titled "Grateful: 21 Years Of Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine," set for release in 2021. He also recently published "Fonts In Paradise: Signs Of Mid-Century Hawaii," a photographic book showcasing vintage Honolulu architecture. Additionally, Davis is developing books on politics, astronomy, and art history to be published through his new arts and entertainment venture, World Art Supply.
In his free time, Davis enjoys swimming, visiting museums, watching Turner Classic Movies, playing Scrabble, and eating pizza.
