Jason Davis, troubled oil heir who voiced gentle giant Michael ‘Mikey’ Blumberg on Recess, dies age 35
Troubled oil heir Jason Davis, who voiced the character of Michael ‘Mikey’ Blumberg on the Disney animated series Recess, died Sunday at age 35 in Los Angeles.
‘I am so heartbroken to share the saddest news of my life that my son Jason Davis passed away this morning in Los Angeles. Jason had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life,’ his mother Nancy Davis said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
‘He was such a caring soul to everybody who ever knew him. He loved his friends and his family above all else. We ask for privacy as we take time to grieve this most devastating loss,’ the statement added.
Recess star: Jason Davis, shown in January 2015 in Beverly Hills, California, died on Sunday at age 35 in Los Angeles
The cause of death was unknown.
Jason was the grandson of late studio chief Marvin Davis and philanthropist Barbara Davis.
Marvin Davis bought 20th Century Fox in 1981 and sold it four years later to Ruper Mudoch for a profit reported to be more than $300 million.
The tycoon also owned the Beverly Hills Hotel and world famous Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterrey, California around the same time.
Jason is also the brother of Brandon Davis who famously hung out with Paris Hilton and made a derogatory remark about Lindsay Lohan (branding her a ‘firecrotch’) while leaving the Hyde Nightclub on Sunset Boulevard back in 2006.
He voiced the character of ‘gentle giant’ Mikey in Recess from its series premiere in August 1997 until its conclusion in November 2001, as well as in films based on the Disney series.
Jason was the son of Nancy and wine grower Nebil Zarif.
Gentle giant: The grandson of late studio chief Marvin Davis and philanthropist Barbara Davis played gentle giant Mikey on the animated Disney series Recess
He had been committed recently to the Cure Addiction Now charity that he co-founded.
Jason appeared on the fourth season of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2010 to deal with an addiction to heroin, OxyContin and Xanax.
During the reunion show, Jason claimed he relapsed twice, but was currently sober. He was arrested in January 2011 in Newport Beach, California, however, for drug possession and was later charged with felony possession and being under the influence of narcotics.
Family portrait: Barbara Davis, Jason and Nancy Davis are shown in March 2006 in Beverly Hills, California
Jason was survived by brothers Brandon Davis and Alexander Davis and two half-sisters, Isabella and Mariella Rickel from his mother’s second marriage to Ken Rickel.
His acting credits include bit parts on Roseanne and 7th Heaven and the films Rush Hour and Beverly Hills Ninja.
Jason at the time of his death was working on a TV show titled The Two Jasons.
Studio chief: Late studio chief Marvin Davis and wife Barbara are shown in November 2002