Andy Davoli

I was born in Syracuse, New York, the middle of five children, in a proud Italian-American family. Raised as a cradle Catholic, I received all my sacraments and even served as an altar boy. From a young age, I was deeply fascinated by God and eternity. At just five years old, I would ask my mom questions like, "What if I don’t like forever?" and "Why did Eve eat the apple, because now we have homework?" These early questions were a sign of my curiosity about the deeper mysteries of life.

As I grew older, I faced some challenges. I switched schools several times, dealt with bullying, and became introverted. It was during this period that the dream of becoming an actor was born. Theater became my refuge, a way to express myself when I felt invisible. I eventually attended Villanova University, an Augustinian school, where I became involved in the theater department. It was there that I met Fr. Peter Donahue, a priest who was also my RA. Fr. Peter, now the president of Villanova, played a pivotal role in my life. A few weeks before I graduated, my father passed away suddenly, and Fr. Peter honored me by overseeing his burial.

I moved to New York City to pursue acting, but the grief of losing my father weighed heavily on me. Though I never stopped believing in God, I began to drift away from my faith. A couple of years later, I suffered another devastating loss when my cousin Holly died in a motorcycle accident. As Shakespeare said, "When sorrows come, they come not as single spies, but in battalions." Amidst this sorrow, I occasionally visited Old St. Patrick’s Church in Little Italy but was no longer practicing the sacraments.

Despite having success in film and television, I felt deeply lost. I moved to Los Angeles in 2003, and shortly after, my first son was born. Fatherhood taught me profound lessons about love and selflessness, though I was still living a worldly life. In my search for meaning, I wrote a screenplay based on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a reflection on my own family's struggles.

A decade later, the birth of my second son was a turning point. Through my children, I began to experience a deeper, more profound love that healed many of my old wounds. In 2017, after a breakup, I found myself in therapy where a counselor recommended a 12-step program for relationships. It was there that I first truly encountered God in a new way. This experience led me back to the Catholic faith, but in a more intimate and personal way. I read the Bible cover to cover, explored non-denominational Christian churches, but always returned to the Eucharist.

During the pandemic, when the Eucharist was unavailable, I sought out the Latin Mass in Los Angeles. There, I found a reverence that deeply touched my soul. I enrolled my sons in religious education and proudly had them receive their remaining sacraments. Around that time, I was cast in a film about miracles of the Eucharist, The New Mana, where I played St. Jude.

Today, my life is a testimony to the power of faith and love. I pray the rosary daily with my girlfriend, receive the sacrament of confession regularly, and attend Mass every Sunday. I’ve also been dedicated to Marian devotions, including the Seven Saturdays and First Fridays. Through all of this, I’ve learned to put God first in everything I do. I now strive to use my platform as an actor to be a light in the world, encouraging others to seek the fullness of joy that comes only in God’s presence.