In Memory of Hugh Davis: A Life on Buffalo’s Stages

By Anthony Chase

This week our community lost a gifted artist. Hugh Davis — actor, collaborator, and memorable presence on Buffalo’s stages for more than three decades. His loss is deeply felt, not only because of the tragedy surrounding it, but because of the light he brought to our theaters and the fullness with which he embraced the stories he helped tell.

Hugh’s artistry was soulful, and purposeful. He belonged to the Buffalo theater community in the most meaningful way: lending his voice, his body, and his heart to the work. His performances were never simply about being seen — they were about showing truth. He left us with a record of roles that span decades and genres, carrying a richness that focused on contemporary voices, especially the work of African American playwrights.

Below is a record of the roles and productions in which Hugh gave so much of himself. This is part of the legacy he leaves to Buffalo theater.

The Work of Hugh Davis

1992

• The Showdown

  Conceived and directed by Willie Judson, Jr. Presented by People of Drama acting ensemble featuring Ray Shedrick, Joyce Carolyn, Gwendolyn Clark, Helen Moore, Willie Judson, and Hugh Davis at The Cotton Club on Bailey Avenue.

  
  

• A Star Ain't Nothin' But a Hole in Heaven

  Paul Robeson Theatre. Directed by Josephine Mayfield with Roslyn Ruff, Hugh Davis, Willie Judson, Maryan S. Harley, and Holly Bryant. Roslyn Ruff would go on to a Broadway and Hollywood career.

  
  

• Victims of Circumstances

  Three one-act plays about people trapped in their past, at the Paul Robeson Theatre, directed by Willie Judson, Jr. with Holly Bryant, Maryam S. Harley, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

1993

• It’s Gonna Be Hot

  Conceived and directed by Willie Judson, Jr. Featuring Ray Shedrick, Joyce Carolyn, Jetaun Legg, Gwendolyn Clark, Helen Moore, Trish Cox, Derrick Powers, Nathan Goldsmith, Holly Bryant, Hugh Davis, and Scott Webster at Club Kilimanjaro.

  
  

1995

• Beyond the Pale

  Alleyway Theatre. Directed by Neal Radice with Hugh Davis, Joyce Stilson, Gerry Maher, Daniel Sheffield, and Aisha Nayo Hobbs.

  
  

• Brown Silk and Magenta Sunsets

  By P.J. Gibson, directed by Ansley Valentine at Paul Robeson Theatre with June L. Saunders Duell, Hugh Davis, Roslyn Ruff, Verneice Turner, and Yolanda Harris.

1997

• Distant Fires

  Ujima Company. Directed by Phil Knoerzer with Paul O'Hern, Hugh Davis, Willie Judson, Roosevelt Tidwell III, Marco Rodriguez, and Guy Wagner.

  
  

• A Life in the Theatre

  By David Mamet. Buffalo Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Richard Lambert with John Buscaglia and Hugh Davis.

1998

• The Little Tommy Parker Celebrated Colored Minstrel Show

  Ujima Company. Directed by Roosevelt Tidwell III with Gerald C. Ramsay, Dwight E. Simpson, Kinzy Brown, Rodney Appleby, Hugh Edward Davis, Tim Newell, and Olurotimi "Tim" Akanbi.

1999

• Colored Museum

  Ujima Company. Directed by Lorna C. Hill and Phillip Knoerzer with Catherine E. Horton, Beverly Dove, Dwight Simpson, Nas I. Afi, JaJa Muhammad, Junie Robinson, and Larry S. Sayres.

  
  

• Spunk

  Ujima Company. Directed by Lorna C. Hill with Rodney Appleby, Roosevelt Tidwell III, Roslyn Ruff, Nas Afi, Dwight E. Simpson, Ernest Griffin, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

• Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil

  Ujima Company. Directed by Lorna C. Hill with Beverly Dove, Dwight E. Simpson, Kirkland Gilmer, Rodney Appleby, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

• The Amen Corner

  By James Baldwin. Directed by Lorna C. Hill at Ujima with Lydia Gelsey, Beverly Dove, Roslyn Ruff, Pat Armstrong, Catherine Horton, Dwight E. Simpson, Jaja Juhammad, and Hugh Davis.

2000

• The African Company Presents Richard III

  Ujima Company. Directed by Phil Knoerzer with Tim Newell, Dan Walker, Kinzy Brown, Dwight Simpson, Pat Armstrong, Romana Leeper, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

• In the Blood

  Ujima Company. Play by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Lorna C. Hill with Jermain Cooper, Philip Knoerzer, Dwight E. Simpson, Beverly Dove, Hugh Davis, and Hilda Ramos.

2001

• The Green Pastures

  Ujima Company with Jermaine Cooper, Dwight Simpson, Donald Capers, Hugh Davis, Jonathan K. Lee, Olurotimi Akanbi, Maisha Davis-Pierce, Michael Lee, and Larry S. Sayres.

  
  

• The Sty of the Blind Pig

  By Phillip Hayes Dean. Ujima Company, directed by Phillip Knoerzer with Penny Judson, Dwight Simpson, Beverly Dove, and Hugh Davis.

2002

• East Texas Hot Links

  By Eugene Lee, directed by Ron OJ Parson with Nas I. Afi, Rodney Appleby, Dwight E. Simpson, Hugh Davis, Jonathan K. Lee, Melvin P. Huffnagle, and G. Anton Moore.

2003

• Why Black Men Play Basketball

  Paul Robeson Theatre, directed by Willie Judson, Jr. with Ozzie Lumpkin II, Roger Killian, Bidemi Akanhi, Deon Davis, Hugh Davis, Harold L. White, and Maisha Davis.

2005

• Jesus Hopped the A Train

  By Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Robert Waterhous at New Phoenix Theatre with Hugh Davis, Carmelo Lopez, Jennifer Linch, and Dan Walker.

  ARTIE AWARD WINNER – Hugh Davis, Outstanding Actor in a Play for "Jesus Hopped the A-Train" (2004-2005).

2007

• Axeman's Jazz

  New play by Matthew LaChiusa, and the inaugural production of American Repertory Theater of WNY, presented as part of the Infringement Festival

2009

• Mechanics

  By Mark Humphrey, directed by Drew McCabe with Hugh Davis, Brian Bernys, and Jacob Albarella. American Repertory Theater of WNY.

  
  

• Pyretown

  Ujima Company with Hugh Davis, Tammy Reger, and Michele Ninacs, directed by Willie Judson.

2010

• Murder Squared

  Ujima Company. By Gary Earl Ross with Darryl Hart, Tilke Hill, Alexis Koetting, Samantha Sherwood, Aaron Krygier, Mary Moebius, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

  Kaleidoscope at Medaille, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher with Hugh Davis, Patrick Cameron, Daniel J. Greer, Joseph Spencer, and Jeanne Vuich. Directed by Beth A. Gerardi Wharton.

2011

• Ruined

  By Lynn Nottage. Ujima Company with Annette Daniels Taylor, Shanntina Moore.

  ARTIE AWARD NOMINATION – Hugh Davis, Outstanding Actor in a Play for "Ruined" (2010-2011).

2012

• Scavenger’s Daughter

  Written and directed by Gary Earl Ross at Ujima with Shantinna Moore, Willie Judson, Cindy Miller, Brandon Williamson, and Saron Ephraim.

  
  

• Radio Golf

  August Wilson’s play set in the 1990s, directed by Victoria Pérez with Hugh Davis, Alton Bowens, Marcus Thompson, Jr., Candace Whitfield, and Carlton Franklin.

2013

• Sex’d

  Paul Robeson Theatre, directed by and starring TaNisha Fordham with Alphonso Walker, Jr., Erica Dennis, Hugh Davis, and Linda Barr.

  
  

• Stick Fly

  Directed by Willie Judson, Jr. at the Paul Robeson Theatre. Hugh Davis as Dr. Joe LeVay; Ashley Dolson as Taylor, Elexa Kopty as Kimber, Brandon Williamson as Flip, Marcus Thompson Jr. as Kent, Candace Whitfield as Cheryl.

  ARTIE AWARD NOMINATION 2012-2013 – Hugh Davis, Outstanding Actor in a Play.

2013–14 Season

• Little Robert

  Hugh Davis appeared in this original play by Mark Humphrey, recounting the final day of bluesman Robert Johnson, at ART/WNY.

  
  

• Hatful of Rain

  Davis appeared in this production presented by ART/WNY.

2014

• Bourbon at the Border

  By Pearl Cleage at Ujima with Shanntina Moore, Roosevelt Tidwell III, Candace Whitfield, and Hugh Davis.

  
  

• A Hatful of Rain

  American Repertory Theatre of WNY, directed by Matthew LaChiusa with Hugh Davis, Maura Nolan, Raphael Santos, Victor Morales, Bryan Figueroa, Leo DiBello, Steve Brachman, and Brianna Lanoye.

2018

• King Hedley II

  By August Wilson at the Paul Robeson Theatre. Directed by Edward G. Smith. Christina Foster, Renita Shadwick, Hugh Davis, Al Garrison, Jon Cesar.

2019

• Two Trains Running

  By August Wilson at the Paul Robeson Theatre, directed by Ed Smith with Fisher, Roosevelt Tidwell III, Hugh Davis, Debbi Davis, Michael Hicks, Vincenzo McNeill, and Al Garrison.

2021

• Speed of Dark (Staged Reading)

  American Repertory Theater of WNY.

2022

• Speed of Dark

  By Mark Humphrey, American Repertory Theater of WNY.

  Hugh Davis was an ARTIE AWARD WINNER as part of the Best Ensemble cast. Cast included Hugh Davis, Quentin Gray, Vincenzo McNeil, and Monish Bhattacharyya.

Remembering Hugh

It is rare for any actor to sustain such a long and consistent presence on stage in one city. Hugh Davis did that, from his first appearance in the early 1990s to his award-winning work as recently as 2022. His was a talent that might have extended to national prominence; chronic health issues disrupted that trajectory and undoubtedly contributed to his sad and untimely end.

He was an ensemble player in the truest sense: devoted to the work, and deeply committed to telling stories that mattered. While we mourn the painful circumstances of his passing, we honor him best by remembering the artistry he left behind. Hugh’s life reminds us that theater is not just about fleeting performances but about the community and humanity that endure long after the curtain has fallen.

May he rest in peace, and may his work continue to inspire all who take the stage after him.