David Banks (born 24 September 1951) is a stage and television actor and occasional writer and producer. He is best known to Doctor Who fans for his portrayal of the Cyber-Leader in Earthshock, The Five Doctors, Attack of the Cybermen, and Silver Nemesis. Banks also played Karl in the stage production Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure. As Jon Pertwee's understudy in the production, he played the Doctor for two performances when Pertwee fell ill.He also wrote Iceberg, a novel in the Virgin New Adventures which featured the Cybermen. He wrote the part non-fiction, part speculative Doctor Who: Cybermen, the in-universe portions of which were adapted for audio (with Banks' narration) as The ArcHive Tapes.Banks also produced a series of audiocassette interviews with Doctor Who actors including The Ultimate Interview (with Colin Baker), Pertwee in Person (with Jon Pertwee), and Who's the Real McCoy? with Sylvester McCoy.
He is most famous for playing the Cyber Leader in the BBC series "Doctor Who" during the 1980s. He was cast because he was tall and had a good speaking voice.
His first car was a black Morris Minor 1000 with flip-up yellow indicators, registration number 50 MPJ.
His father Tom Banks was the Exec. at Foote Cone & Belding San Francisco, and creator of "Heard It Through The Grapevine" spot with the dancing raisins.
Studied at the Groundlings
His first national commercial was Samsung with Director Hype Williams.
Comes from Petaluma, California, where he attended PHS as a contemporary of Winona Ryder (Horowitz).
Transformed himself by losing 20 pounds in preparation for doing the role of Chris in the movie Doing Hard Time , with Steven Bauer , Giancarlo Esposito and Boris Kodjoe. He did so by fasting for some 12 days.
Shares a birthday with Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Modine.
Was a member of the band "Flipside"
Is a stand-up comedian.
Drummer for the 3 heads.
Is of Native American (Comanche Indian) lineage.
Son of Thomas Banks.
California Raisins...The concept was originally created for a 1987 commercial on behalf of the California Raisin Advisory Board when one of the writers (Thomas Banks of the advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding) came up with an idea for the new raisin commercial, saying "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (the 1968 Marvin Gaye song). To their surprise, the commercial became wildly popular, spawning future commercials, two TV specials (Meet the Raisins in 1988 and Raisins: Sold Out! in 1990), four studio albums, and a Saturday morning cartoon series, aptly titled The California Raisin Show.
Has appeared in over 100 commercials.
Is an avid 80s Metal listener.
Auditioned for the role of Moe in The Three Stooges.
Produced his first film Cut!.
His favorite films are Vacation , Breakfast Club , Max Dugan Returns , and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
(August 2013): Working as Commercial spokesman for Allegiant Air.
He said that Chevy Chase is his idol in comedy, Ray Liota is his idol in acting, and that Neil Peart is his idol in music.
Improvised most of his lines in Doing Hard Time.
Lives in Sherman Oaks, California.
Has one brother.
Wore a Y&T shirt in CUT! It was his first live concert as a child. The band welcomed their shirt be in the film.
Holds The Guinness World Record for the largest amount of individual television commercial advertisers.
His daughter Jade Banks is a nun.
Engaged to actress Sara Castro.
[on working with Director David Fincher]: I remember him blasting Ozzy,Osbourne so loud between takes that the caterer ran out holding his,ears. I knew I was in the right place. .
