GateWorld: Over the seasons, his focus kind of shifts from what it was initially, into becoming essentially more of an “I need to terrorize and seek revenge on [John] Sheppard” vendetta-type thing. It becomes more personal,  that one-to-one conflict.  Maybe it comes from a place of revenge.  I felt more that he was trying to make up for his previous failures. That he felt like, if he could just nail Sheppard to the wall one time, that it would make up for past failures. What elements did you get out the script that you wanted to rely on?

Kolya's death in Atlantis Season Four's 'Irresponsible' is not the way Davi envisioned the character going out.

Robert Davi: Well, at that point again, like I say, you always do something without it being too endgame-ish. I would have preferred to have an allegiance to Sheppard. I wanted to befriend him at first. I didn’t want to directly go after him. I wanted to create an ally with him. So this way the audience is off-guard.  If I had my druthers, I would have of course made, after those initial encounters, I would have found a way where they needed each other. And where Kolya then befriends Sheppard. And then the audience goes, “Oh god, this guy is cool.”

But in the meantime Kolya is really gaining intelligence and then later on you can have that kind of “Oh sh**!  They got played.”  You know what I mean?  To get in.  I would have loved to have that kind of arc.  But you know, they have so many characters, that they were not worrying about a recurring character coming in, so I have to service the needs they want.

But if I had my druthers, I would have sat down and said, “Hey guys.” [laughs]

GW: I have to say, for being a recurring actor in six episodes out of one hundred, you made a massive impact on the series.

RD: Interesting!  Thank you.

GW: Season Three of Atlantis killed off Kolya in the episode “Irresponsible”, but through the magic of sci-fi, you returned for an episode — “Remnants” — in the final season. Was it nice to be able come back and at least kind of have a coda on the character?

The Humane Society of the United States is just one of the many charities and groups Davi is involved in.

RD: Yeah, I mean I thought that was a nice way to kind of come back with the character. Where you could have twists of things, now that  he’s inside of Sheppard’s head. That was the way he was able to control him. Sheppard’s nightmare of different things, so I think I liked having that. I felt the death of Kolya was for me … odd.  I said to them, “You’re going to kill me off that way?” They laughed about it.

GW: In the end of that episode, I was like “What?!  Really?  Like that?”  It was just out of nowhere and it just seemed so anti-climactic after the years of building the character up.

RD: Well, as I was saying, you are going to build.  Plus, I’ve been considered one of the top Bond villains, and there’s a certain cache that comes with that, so that denouement and the end of Kolya was too abrupt, I felt.  I don’t know how the majority of fans feel.  But if I was judging from my thing [Q&A session] today, when I asked the majority of fans in the room,  there were a handful who did like that. But most of them — I’d say at least eighty percent — didn’t like the denouement of Kolya.

GW: You’ve also branched out into some voice work. Cartoons and more recently and primarily video games. Like the Halo series, Scarface and Grand Theft Auto.

RD:   That’s just it. You can go there, you kick back and get into those. And also, it’s another form of entertainment, in reaching a lot of youth. My 10-year-old son is playing Halo. You hear him saying “Dad’s voice is on Halo.” It’s cool for the kid. His friends are getting through those levels. So it’s another form of reaching a market and keeping yourself current. It’s really very quite extraordinary.

GW: You’ve been active in several charities throughout the years.  Are there some that you’d like to bring a little light to? Or that you are currently actively with?

RD: There is quite a few. I have been the national spokesman for I-Safe Inc. America, which is “internet safety” or I-Safe. It’s around the world now. Canada and everything. Internet safety for K-12 (Kindergarten through twelfth grade) on the Internet. And this was in the mid-90s when I started doing this. Way before, this was 15 years ago. It is a tremendous organization, I-Safe.

The other is the Humane Society of the United States. Animal welfare and rights. I am very active with that. I have The Dream Foundation. Which is the only organization that gives to adults who are dying their last wish. That’s a very good. National Italian American Foundation, Sons of Italy, different organizations like that. The Wounded Warrior. I am very big on the Wounded Warriors. There is quite a few.

'Davi Sings Sinatra' is garnering great reviews. You can preview and purchase it via the link below and help support GateWorld!

GW: Briefly, are there any projects you have in the can or haven’t been released yet that are coming out?

RD: “Davi Sings Sinatra” comes out soon.  Also the film I directed, The Dukes.  If you haven’t seen it, please see it.  I think you’ll enjoy it.  My Facebook is Davi Sings Sinatra, so buzz me there and I’ll give you an update when I am around and stuff. There is a film called Doonby, that’s coming out, I think some time in the fall. And Kill the Irishman is out now, it’s in theaters.

GW: Any message for fans of not just Stargate but your whole body of work?

RD: No, just keep in touch, stay healthy, and I hope you follow all your dreams and having fun. Sometimes life can be difficult, I hope everyone’s enjoying the time we have on this planet, making the most of it.

Interview and minor transcription by Chad Colvin.  Main transcription by Avi Zisook.

The Dukes is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray.

“Davi Sings Sinatra: On The Road to Romance” is now available in both CD and digital formats.