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From Syracuse Roots to Hollywood Dreams with Andy Davoli
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What happens when a promising tennis career transitions into the world of acting through an unexpected encounter? Join us as we share the extraordinary story of Andy Davoli, an Italian-American actor whose journey from Syracuse, New York to California was marked by resilience, creativity, and faith. His story is a testament to the power of pursuing one's passions and navigating life's challenges with a deep spiritual foundation.
Andy opens up about how a chance meeting with Father Peter at Villanova University changed his life's direction from tennis to acting, igniting a fire that was fueled by family support and a rich creative upbringing. Listen as Andy describes the role of faith in his life, providing strength through personal losses and the courage to embrace unexpected opportunities. He candidly shares the complexities of balancing a career in acting with personal beliefs, drawing insight from both non-denominational teachings and a return to Catholic traditions.
Throughout our conversation, Andy reflects on the transformative power of storytelling and spiritual practices in healing and personal growth. From the solace found in sacred spaces after the loss of loved ones to the renewal of faith during the pandemic, Andy's journey is a reminder of the enduring nature of faith as a source of strength and renewal. His experiences with confession and spiritual reconnection offer a compelling perspective on finding peace and purpose amidst life's struggles, inspiring listeners to embrace their own paths of personal and spiritual discovery.
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Welcome to yes Catholic, where real people share their real stories and discover God's grace at work in their lives. I'm your host, David Patterson, and every week we bring you inspiring guests who share how they came to say yes to Jesus and His Church. Let's dive into their journeys of faith and see how grace is transforming lives in our world today. I am really excited to welcome Andy DiValli. Welcome, man. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. So great to be here. Why don't you share a little bit about yourself before we dive into the rapid fire?
Speaker 2I was born in Syracuse, new York, middle of five children, italian-american background, cradle Catholic, in a hospital right next to the to the carrier dome where the syracuse orange play their basketball. So that was a big thing that we would do as a family is go to those games ever since I was little, and so I left at 17, went to college at villanova, graduated from there and you know I've had the stream of being an actor and moved right to new york city and then I stayed there for eight years pursuing my career and had some nice successes there and then moved out West to California and then, two kids later, I'm still out here.
Speaker 1Well, let's get to know you a little more. With the rapid fire we're just going to rhyme off some questions and then we'll get you to share your story pretty soon. You ready to tackle them? Let's go All right. Describe yourself as a child in three words. I'd say creative, athletic and curious. Morning person or night owl Currently.
Speaker 2Currently man. I'm currently a morning person because I'm taking my son to school in the morning. Fair enough, Lots of alarm clocks for me, Not going to lie. Exactly, I've never used a snooze in my life. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Flying? I used to have that dream as a kid and I haven't had it all in time. So if you have any hints, let me know. You know it'd be nice to fly again.
Speaker 1St Joseph Cappuccino. Pray for us, Amen, that's right. Okay, go-to order at a coffee shop.
Speaker 2I'll give away the coffee shop coffee splash of cream, a two stevia. It'd been in LA too long. I like cappuccinos and espresso too, but that's the go-to for the morning, Okay.
Speaker 1Go-to short prayer You're going to about your day. Hail Mary, ask our mama to pray for us. Yes, okay. If you could have coffee with any saints, who would it be?
Speaker 2I thought about this one and I thought it's got to be St Joseph, because he never said anything in the scripture. So it'd be so amazing to finally hear what he has to say. The silent warrior, you know.
Speaker 1If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
Speaker 2I would say how's my dad doing and his name's also Joseph.
Speaker 1All right. Well, you flew through a rapid fire. Let's begin with an opening prayer and we'll have you share your story In the name of the Father and of the Son, holy Spirit. Amen, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen, saint Joseph, please pray for us In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. All right, andy, let's dive right in. Where's your story begin?
Speaker 2Upstate New York middle child six acres of woods in my backyard For an Italian boy it's probably it's different than the whole kind of concept sometimes of Italian Americans. I think it's more of an urban section but I had that as well, like an access to that in Syracuse, but I felt more like a goonie as a kid. You know we saw our house was like three or four acres and then there was another six acres of woods behind that were like my playground. You know also got to travel a lot as a kid.
Rediscovering Faith Through Acting
Speaker 2My father was fascinated by the sport of tennis for some reason. I think it's because he had played football and lacrosse when he was younger and he had bad knees and you know he wanted to instill work ethic in his children. So it was either you work a full-time job or you play a sport and the sport kind of had to be tennis, you know, I think because of the longevity of the sport, easier on the knees, and he liked also that it's you're kind of out there alone and have to figure out a way through, like chess I guess, in a way like athletic chess. I did end up playing division one tennis for about three weeks at Villanova. It helped me get into the school but I knew I wanted to be an actor and I was so burnt out by the time I got there playing, like you know, five, six hours a day that I just I didn't have the love for it, you know, to continue like that. So it was kind of like the Cliff Notes version.
Speaker 2I'd gone to a few tennis camps as a kid, so that's how I got to see different parts of the world. Like I took a trip with my brothers to Fiji, australia, new Zealand, I got to go to Italy a few times and in Europe and England and stuff. So it was kind of nice to know that there was a bigger world out there than just upstate New York, and so I've been on that journey ever since. You know I'm all the way out on the opposite side of the coast now, while most of my family's in New York, with my, my two beautiful children and yeah, you know, as an actor in this it's really New York or LA when I was coming up was more like the place to go, and so first I did it in New York. Now you can do it like pretty much anywhere in Atlanta and everything's done, self tape too, which pretty much could live anywhere. I guess you know. You just have to make sure that you can get to the shoot or the stage, and so what got you into acting?
Speaker 1How did that come about?
Speaker 2I think it was a combination of. I was not introverted with my family but I had switched schools a few times as a younger person and dealt with some getting picked on and some bullying and I kind of clammed up and quieted up and I have big feelings and I think I was sitting on a lot of feelings for a long time. But then with my family, I was always the one quick with a joke, using the levity to kind of deal with any anxiety and things like that, kind of like the sad clown. I guess my mother had put me in clown college as a kid. It was more of like a summer camp and we would always make movies with the family. She put me in theater at a young age so I think that was just a genuine natural. She had me play piano, you know, consistently, and so I think just being involved in the arts I kind of attribute to her.
Speaker 2I never thought of it really as a career until probably high school, but I always had a love of it and you know I think a lot of families do this.
Speaker 2But like when the holidays would come around, the cousins and the siblings would get together and put on show hoos and all right showtimes, you know what I mean, like in between the meal. You know I don't know why we do that, but it's just, I guess, telling stories, you know. You know on that journey of finding my voice again through other people's words, in a sense through great writers, and obviously doing classes and things like that and training and learning the craft. But it's always nice to you know when you have these really lofty thoughts that some of the great writers are able to articulate through characters and you can use the opportunity to find yourself within that. Not that you would literally become the character, it's almost as if you're that character. But getting a chance to express that stuff and fill up a room and feel some visibility, I think has been very healing. And then, maybe it's because I'm Italian, I have a knack for, you know, some theatrics.
Speaker 1And so how did that getting involved in theater, how did that impact you with being bullied and kind of becoming an introvert at that time?
Speaker 2The theater came back. I did it as a kid and then I feel like when I switched schools, I was doing it in my elementary school and then when I switched into middle school, in high school it was kind of stunted and that's where I was like feeling really like the wings clipped. We talked about the flying, you know, and I was almost like when I would go out of town with the tennis stuff I could feel more like myself to put on a facade or just like I was almost like biding my time until I ended up going to Villanova and then it might've been the second semester that I was there. I was kind of like considering, you know, you know you're trying to figure out who you are doing things to make your parents happy, you know. But I was like I knew I wanted to be an actor. So I got to do an acting class and at Villanova, I think freshman year, and it turned out my RA. In the building, because it's an Augustinian school, it was a priest, his name was Father Peter and he would always make Sunday dinners for everybody and he'd yell because the dormitories were separated. But at that time I'd gone to the theater building to take this class and I walked out of there and there was Father Peter, the RA of my dormitory, and he was like Andy, what are you doing here? And like I really had this dream very shy about it, but I had this dream of being an actor. And he's like, well, you know, I'm the head of the theater department and so it was kind of like that God shot moment. I said that's amazing. And then he goes I'm actually casting West Side Story and I think you'd really be right for it.
Speaker 2I also had done chorus in high school and because of, you know, playing the piano, I had a decent ear and could keep the tune, you know. And but, again, very shy about it, I was like you know, what do I have to sing? Like, you know, trying to act like I don't do that. And then he's like, yeah, a little bit, you know, but not too much. And then I went home and the girl that I was dating at the time like my first real girlfriend, so anyway, she was like you're crazy if you don't do this, cause I was nervous to do it, I didn't want to audition for it. I remember going and putting a note under his door saying I would do it. And then he cast me as Bernardo, which was the leader of the sharks, so it was like a lead part in West Side Story and after that it was that was a wrap. So I ended up doing like four shows, four plays throughout college and giving up all my spring breaks and stuff like that. But it was just. That was my joy.
Speaker 2And then it's really kind of like what reawakened it and resurrected it. Let's say, my father actually got to come and see one of my shows. But anyways, a couple of weeks before I graduated my father passed suddenly on Easter weekend and it was only a couple of weeks before graduation. So it was kind of having this plan to either move to New York City or move to Los Angeles. And then turns out Father Peter, who was a dear friend and mentor and still is, ended up doing the honor of the burial of my father. And then we went back and I graduated and then I moved to New York City and started pursuing my career professionally. You know, To answer that question was really just. I think it was really reawakened there.
Speaker 1It was, the desire was there and that was, I think, the first time I really started to feel like I was blooming more into who I could be, you know. And then Holy Week, your dad suddenly dies.
Speaker 2Yes In three days and it was sudden, it wasn't like it was out of nowhere. You know, where was your faith at this point? My faith was profound from a young age, but in college I think like I wasn't intentionally taking it for granted, but there was, like there was this kind of, like you know, youthful taking it for granted. Like you know, I always felt close to God. I always believed in God. I never stopped believing in God ever. My catechism, I had all my sacraments, I was an altar boy and I have so many seared memories in my brain and just always, always, always pray every night as a boy before I go to bed. I don't know when that stopped, but I know in college I wasn't getting to mass consistently. I would go, but not like trying to learn how to be social and find this voice, and it was kind of like I was focusing on that more. But it's interesting that like there was always a priest around. You know what I mean. But I was kind of like you know, learning the theater, but there was still kind of like I, I was kind of like you know, learning the theater, but there was still kind of like I guess the apostolic succession was still there, you know, even in the theater, which is crazy. You know what I mean. It's kind of fun to think about, you know.
Speaker 2And then when my father passed, I moved to New York City. That's where a big drift happened in the sense of like there was some shock, obviously, and a lot of trauma around that. Just not you, you know. It was kind of sheltered in many ways, a very, very tight family, you know, just very close and it can, you know, when the patriarch is gone and since he can create a lot of havoc. You know, and it did, everybody was dealing with it on their own in many, many facets. I had a brother that worked for an actor that was successful at that time and so he was in new york city with as an assistant to that actor and I lived with him for a little bit, but then he moved back, I think he moved out west to continue that job and I stayed in New York and jumped in a class there and just started, you know, kind of like, a little bit like. I know it's a different age, but it felt a little bit like Simba, you know, because like country mouse in the big city, I felt a little bit like Simba, you know, because, like country mouse in the big city, I was there for eight years, all the way through 9-11. I was actually there for that and watched that with my own eyes and I actually had a play that was opening that night. We actually ended up opening because it was a Tuesday, remember, because the theater always starts on Tuesdays and we ended up opening that Friday because we couldn't get off the island of Manhattan. That was intense for everybody.
Quest for Faith Amid Loss
Speaker 2But so I wanted to touch on this real fast because I feel it's spirit coming, but like I don't want to undersell the level of introversion I felt you know what I mean, Because I say it now as a story, because it's like I've worked on it a lot, you know acting for so many. You know, close to 30 years now professionally, which I'm dating myself by saying that. But you know it's like it's true it's 30 years. I mean I started at 21. But it was painful, it was really seated inside me and it's like I didn't feel like I could be myself and there was a lot of healing that came through, just all of that. Now it's like this marriage of in the past seven years or so. This really, you know, just to circle back into the faith, this real intimate relationship with God and, of course, our faith, in a way that's so personal, not just because I was raised with it and I've been learning things that it's like, how did I not know that Like and I don't want to blame anybody, it's just, for whatever reason, I was meant to learn it now. And so it's been amazing because it's like it's, you know, without that, with all that suffering and pain and kind of going through this journey of loss.
Speaker 2And I also, two years after my father had passed away, my first cousin, holly, who's like a sister, a sister, you know passed away in a motorcycle accident where her her was right after she graduated college and her boyfriend was driving and he lived and she passed and it wasn't his fault, like somebody ran a stop sign, but it was kind of like it affected us, you know as well.
Speaker 2Um, and that was something that was more my age, you know, I think I was 23 and she's 22, so that was like different experience.
Speaker 2But these kinds of events we all go through, but it really now, especially like looking at it. It's like when you, when you look at our faith, like, yes, there's a training ground in this life and how we're supposed to live, and it really puts eternity into the forefront in that conversation. You know, cause it's, it's, it's no joke, you know it's, it's a lot to comprehend and think about. You know, now consistently utilize the sacraments. I mean it's like night and day in my life. You know to where it was. You know I'm not trying to be like so dramatic, but it's hard God to me. But it's really like you know to know that. You know those are the seven steps on the ladder to heaven that was put there for us as a map. You know that we're so lucky to have that and obviously trying to find ways to always witness and share that in a way that's not coming off like you know it's different for everybody right Went through those losses of your father and you said your cousin.
Speaker 1Yes, holly, did that shake you to the core? Faith wise.
Speaker 2Yes, it did. I never stopped believing but, yeah, I was completely like lost for a while, and so sometimes even the challenge of playing a character that, like, let's say, was living a lighter life you know, that was sometimes the challenge to go in there and play a guy, that's just like having a good time or something like that was acting for me, cause I was really like lost, you know, and in pain, struggling, and it's amazing, right, cause, like the camera rolls or the curtain opens and you have a job to do and you're like you have to find a way. Usually you're trying to do it the opposite way. Are you trying to have some emotion or, you know, not always Cause in life most people are trying to hide or cover when they cry, or if you have feelings like that's more how humans are, because pain comes up and it's scary, right, so we try to like it's only beginning actors that are trying to cry like more established. You're trying to figure out ways to like naturally a human would do, right, like it was a lot.
Speaker 2There's always questions, there's always times where I want to be able to call my dad. My mother's still alive, but she's not doing that great right now, so I'm having this similar dynamic where it's like I can't really call. I can call her but I can't ask her advice. Let's just say you know she's dealing with some stuff. It's crazy, right. And the other thing is, we know this is all temporary, so like I'm willing, one day we will be to have have all these conversations, but you know, I haven't seen my dad in 30 years, you know, and it's like, but in eternity that's not even a speck of sand. That's like, it's like nothing, you know, which is crazy because for us it's everything you know.
Speaker 1During that time of just struggling and suffering, like what helped you get closer to Jesus during that time suffering Like what helped you get closer to Jesus.
Speaker 2During that time One of my apartments in Manhattan was on Mott Street and that's like right next to Little Italy in Manhattan and I think, coming from upstate New York, I said more and more of a kind of country. You know, there were urban areas, of course, the university and stuff like that. But having seen, like the godfather and you know, scorsese movies, I was like I'd heard they, you know scorsese grew up like a block from there. You know, chino, de niro, all these guys were. You know what I'm thinking as an italian-american actor. This would be on a cool neighborhood to live in and there was a church there that they used in I think they used it in the godfather and they used it in the thing the film mean streets, one of scorsese's early movies and it was across the street from my apartment so I would always go in there and there was an Italian restaurant, this guy, emilio Palatos, and he'd see when I'd be suffering and he'd always just be like you know, hang in there, why don't you go to the church, why don't you just go sit in the pews? You know, and I would get such solace out of that, just sitting in there and just weeping you know what I mean like where I could just let it all out. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to be doing the sacraments, but it was like I think the world had gotten to me. I think, like maybe some of the restrictions I felt, I just want to say it was my introversion, like where I felt like I couldn't wrap that all up into one thing of where I was coming from, you know, but I still always thought about Jesus and God. I never stopped believing. Just to be honest, I even got a tattoo of Jesus on my back at that time, after Holly passed, and I think I even was witnessing them. When I talked to people or when people would talk about certain issues, let's just say that they're near and dear to our heart. That, just instinctually, god has always put in my heart. It's funny that I was born in 1973, right, and my mother's birthday is January 22nd, so I just made the cut because that was when Rover's Wave was passed. It was actually on that day. So I was born September of that year and it's not lost on me that you know.
Speaker 2I don't know, just like, but I've always been, you know, been pro-life. You know, even outside of politics, it just always felt that way, and I get in debates about it, even with family and people that I go out with, even, as you know, even outside of politics, it just always felt that way, and I get in debates about it, even with family and people that I go out with, even, as you know, as an actor in the industry. It's like like who's this young? What do you think this is? You're in an area where it's like, you know, I know it's a little bit of a button, but you know it's just the truth. It's how I feel. So, yeah, never stopped believing and I think, like.
Speaker 2I think I felt just like alone. You know, I felt just alone. I felt very alone, even though God was there all along and it was just. Yeah, it was obviously more on my side of the street that I wasn't taking care of my end of the bargain as much. I was still doing things that were.
Speaker 2You know, I was always fascinated with helping the homeless, hang out with homeless people in the street and trying to understand what happened. How did they get into that situation? I've even written a film that was inspired by what happened with my cousin and how it affected my family in a poetic way, but it's an allegory of the rich man, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. And I've been working on that for 20 years, and you know, because I'm an actor first, so learning to write a script is a whole nother thing. I never gave up on it because it's so personal, because about my family, but also I've always been fascinated by that kind of conversation of how much is enough, how much it's too little.
Speaker 2And of course, you know eternity. You know, since I was little I was fascinated about that. You know, um, and would go to my mother and ask her you know questions as a young, a young boy, and she'd be like how did I get stuck with this? You know like what? What if I don't like eternity? You know what I mean. Or you know I'm talking like five or six. And why did Eve eat the apple? Because now we have homework and things like that, just like, but they were genuine. I was like, really like. You know, I would get this feeling like man, what if I don't like it? Like it's forever? You know it's like I'm going to like it, you know, and so, but I, you know, it just really felt that.
Speaker 2So obviously the parable touches on that because of that chasm and how they switch places in the afterlife, and it's a parable that Christ told too.
Speaker 2So it's interesting too that the beggar in the parable is named Lazarus, you know. So there's not so much research on that about the two, if they're connected. Because at the end of the parable he says through Abraham's voice, he says they wouldn't even believe even if somebody rose from the dead. And then of course he raises Lazarus as the last miracle before the resurrection, attacking wealth per se. Because there's that, you know, that thing of like it's harder for a wealthy person to get to heaven than a camel through the eye of a needle. But with god, all things we always forget, with god all things are possible. So I don't think it's that, I think it's just more kind of starving, the spirit versus the flesh, which can show up in. We see it in the world now in many ways where the greed is just rampant, and I always try to challenge myself myself with that and I, you know, it's like it's easier to point the finger, but it's like where is that, where is that in me, you know?
Speaker 1Hey friends, I want to pause for a moment to give a quick shout out to our friends at Tabella. They're a sponsor managing the production of this podcast, so I can keep bringing these powerful stories to you week after week. Join ministry groups, stay connected to your parish and grow in your faith with the best Catholic content, all for free on Tabela. If you haven't checked it out yet, you can download the Tabela app on the App Store or Google Play. You can use it to listen to all your favorite podcasts, like this one, father Mike Schmitz Abiding Together, and more, as well as other exclusive content. You can also use Tabela as a communication tool for your parish or group. If you're interested in activating Tabela in your diocese, parish or group, just head over to wwwtabelaapp to learn more. All right, let's get back to listening to God's grace at work in our world today. During working on this project with Lazarus and whatnot like did that start to kind of sit with you as you dove deeper?
Rediscovering Faith Through Confession
Speaker 2No question it still does and I am so grateful for, let's just say, the. About seven years ago I went through a breakup and reconnected with God in the 12-step rooms and I didn't even know they had 12-step rooms for like relationships. Let's just say you know what I mean. I had a therapist, you know, that was calling to save that relationship. It was an interesting therapy. It was the Gottmans.
Speaker 2I don't know if you've ever heard of the Gottmans, but they have a great. They're a married couple and they've studied couples in labs and can like quantify until like the 90th percent, like how to have a successful relationship, things like bids for connection, right, so it's like the couples that answer bids 70% of the time. So if my lady's like, hey, I want to watch this show, or I say to her, hey, could you get me a cup of water? Like, of course I can get the cup of water, but I'm, it's a bid for connection when, when we say yes, 70% of the time, that's more of us, you know. So I was focusing on that, not like the sacraments, but like maybe this will fix this relationship. You know it didn't. But those, not that those tools don't work, but it's like I needed to really start putting God first in a much just that's. It just put him first, you know, and that in all of its capacity of adding back in a prayer life like I had as a kid, back in a prayer life like I had as a kid.
Speaker 2So I remember, going to, I was going no, not only going through a breakup, but I was kind of like going through a breakup of the way I had been living my life, you know. And so there was a God-shaped hole there that I had been trying to fill with other things through trying to recreate home in relationship out here and maybe rushing into things, maybe, but like wanting to feel like whole again. And through that I started to experience, you know, where two or more meet. God is here, right, so you pray in and then have you know, I could go to the morning meetings and you'd hear a lot of people that had been working on themselves, that are getting up and really like have a spiritual life and also psychologically exploring things, their traumas and stuff. I was like I didn't even know this existed really, you know what I mean, like I had a prejudice against it and then experiencing God in those rooms and I started to surrender the way I was living my life, one day at a time, back to God, you know, temporarily, like just not dating for a while and like putting all that on hold. You know, I said, well, if I'm experiencing God here and the miracles here, let me go back, you know, let me go back to what I always believed but had drifted from, and I would still go to Mass Like I would do it, but I wasn't practicing, I wasn't doing the Ten Commandments. You know what I mean. It wasn't like honor the Sabbath.
Speaker 2I was approached by a pastor in a park non-denominational and I learned a lot from this gentleman Like Park, non-denominational, and I learned a lot from this gentleman like a love of the word. You know what I mean A love of the word. It's amazing. I just never. I was like I didn't know anything about it. I mean meaning what that would be like, and so I checked that out. I'd still be going to mass at our church and, you know, getting the Eucharist. There was a Catholic church two blocks from my old apartment where both of my sons were baptized, and then I ended up reading the Bible cover to cover. Because of that experience I had friends that are Catholic, that were witnessing to me, like, hey, you know you're getting, they have a piece of the diamond, but if you want the whole diamond, you got to come home all the way, you know. And that's basically what happened. You know it just. You know. God worked on me and I think I want to thank our Blessed Mother too.
Speaker 2Incorporating a daily rosary was part of that journey. I think I'd seen a video at one point where Catholic girl was mentioning she tried it for like just try it for like 30 days, see how you feel, type of thing. And that's how I started doing it daily. I was praying every day. At that point. Now I was, you know, even if it was five minutes a day, just like getting into the gym a little bit, just starting to get that process going, like you brush your teeth, like just start, and then you have to build that spiritual muscle. So the rosary was the next step. You know, 12, 15 minutes, you know what I mean, and that's really what brought me all the way home. And then, of course, when the pandemic hit and you couldn't get the Eucharist, god was like, oh, you think, you know.
Speaker 2You know, I don't know if you know, in the 12 steps that I think step four and five are kind of like where you confess to another person but it's not obviously the apostolic succession. So I went and interviewed a bunch of Catholic priests about this. I said what's the difference of, you know, doing it as a sacrament, versus if I were just to tell a friend, you know, like, hey, I did this, I did this. And this one priest told me his name was Father Ed, over at the Good Shepherd. He said even if you're living a holier life than that priest, because of the apostolic succession that you know, the laying on of hands that can be traced back. It goes right back to Peter in Christ. So that office, that channel that opens when you're in there in persona, christa obviously happens and it's just you're talking to God and that's when it clicked. I now go at least once every two weeks, often once a week, if not more, if I need it. What game changer Did you?
Speaker 1say you were away from the sacrament of confession before that interviewing with priests.
Speaker 2I had gone probably 20 years without confession.
Speaker 1When that moment clicked, what was that like to go back.
Speaker 2It was so scary? Yeah, because I was like, am I going to get the hammer dropped on me? You know what I mean, Like, you know, it's that fear of, like you're going in front of the judge, you know Like it's the fear A lot of people relate to that man, Right it's the fear A lot of people relate to that man Right, right, absolutely.
Speaker 2It's like going to the principal's office I'm going. You know what I mean? I don't know. You know, you ever heard that analogy Like if you get your alignment checked, it's just a little bit, but if you wait, you're going to, you're going to crash into the wall, like it's going. But I will give credit also to that.
Speaker 2What they call the fourth and fifth step, the 12 steps, is you literally take an inventory of your whole life from childhood and it took time and I didn't want it to. It was, you know, like in life. I want the quick fix. Just tell me what I got to do, get fixed. I want to get back out there and date again. It's like, no, you're changing everything, you're surrendering that the way you've been doing it for God's way, and but that that step it was like you know, there was things I had forgotten, like things you just go through, and I remember going through it and looking at it and and, and I'd take pieces of it, you know, verbally into the confession as well. You know what I mean. But it almost was like if I looked at somebody else's life, if it was my life with somebody else's just as data. You know it was fascinating. It's like wow, there was definitely some wreckage there. You know what's that?
Speaker 1like to actually hear the words of absolution.
Speaker 2It's still every time, even though if I'm in confession I know he's going to say it, it's still kind of like the answer is mercy, which is we get a chance to go. You know, I just flashed on the Indiana Jones and the last crusade. You know, like the penitent man will pass. You know, I just love that because it's like we can do it now. And there's just something about, we know this, like our blessed mother, the humility and his greatest creation, right, the Virgin Mary. You know it's her, it's her humility.
Speaker 1Looking back and kind of doing a survey on your life, like would you say that time of introverted was fear.
Healing Journey and Faith Renewal
Speaker 2Yeah, I didn't feel safe, absolutely. I didn't feel safe in the social sense and, you know, there were some physical things too. Like you know, a BB gun put to my head at one point, I used to get called. Like you know, a BB gun puts in my head at one point, I used to get called. I used to get really tan, I think just Southern Italian complexion and I used to get called the N word. As a young kid Like you know, you turn, I internalized that I felt like wow, you know what I mean. Like in my elementary school it was the opposite. I was like in the play, I was the star of the play. I had one athlete of the year. I was like it wasn't perfect, but I mean I was. I was doing the clown school thing. I was, you know, in a. In a my mother's had me playing the piano and it was just like you know, I was being creative and I think the classes were smaller and I felt like I was blooming, you know.
Speaker 1On the healing journey that you've been on as a man. Today, if you go back and and give advice to your younger self, what would you say I?
Speaker 2would say hey, do you want to go on this journey, deal with all this stuff and really find out who you really are and have character development? Or I could tell you you know what anybody says is all BS, it doesn't matter anyways. But I would also say that you have such a close relationship with your creator, like don't let anything that happens in the world ever separate you from that in any any way, even though I know you're gonna stay close in your own way. But like he's with you, I really he's with you all the time and you can keep checking in, just keep checking in. Like we forget to check in. Like it's crazy how that happens. Like just a quick disconnect and all of a sudden it's like at a friend, we talk about it. Like sometimes an event happens, like just a quick disconnect and all of a sudden it's like at a friend, we talk about it.
Speaker 2Like sometimes an event happens that it can feel like the bubble of that event becomes your whole narrative and your God squad is there to call, check in with, to pop that bubble and be like all right, it was a couple hours, you're going to get reset. You're going to reset again. The therapy part that's good is that you know, you've heard of the fight, flight or freeze. That part where you get activated, it happens, and whatever traumas or things like that, and it's true that problem-solving sense of humor, those things go offline for that time.
Speaker 2I do know that sometimes it takes men longer to reset because it has to do with physiologically, regarding the cave in a sense, where a woman can reset faster because they have to be able to breastfeed. It's just the way the design of the body, it's just the way the design of the body. But knowing, feeling that activation, and then knowing like, all right, it's the moment where I'm feeling that like, can I go journal, can I go to adoration? If I need confession, can I get the confession? Obviously, go to massive, I need to call, call, call the people you trust and don't isolate, and then obviously pray, do a rosary, which I've done a lot, you know, and usually you know, and usually you know, get right back on track and then you feel like it's, I feel like it's more us to drift right, not God, it's just like, and then I guess it's also finding some compassion. I think that question that you asked me about what I say to the younger self is like having more compassion for yourself when you feel like you're imperfect.
Speaker 1And that's that's. That's still a challenge. Listening to you share your story of just you as a little kid like coming up. For me, a lot is that the Lord gave you such a big heart and from such a young age and it just seems like the enemy wanted to make you shut up and stay down. What I love about your story, man, is like God just had so much victory over that in the sense that he broke you free to just really like be you. It took a journey, Absolutely, but just the Lord's victory over that, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2It does. He's victorious outside of time too. It's like he's already victorious, but we forget that journey of struggle and you know the devil's a loser. You know what I mean. Like it's been done, it's just like we got to remember that.
Speaker 1Shift gears a little bit. Do you have any words for someone who's experiencing the loss of a loved one, who's just in the midst of that struggle and pain that you went through?
Speaker 2If they have the faith, I would have a mask set for that person right away. I mean just the practicality of one's soul. And then, as I've learned now that you can't do anything on the other side anymore and since it's like you're at the kind of at the mercy obviously it was King, but that we can pray for, like prayers can be retroactive, which is crazy Like I can pray for my grandfather even if it's way back. You know what I mean. It's right, like God's outside of time, like we're in time, so we're thinking like it's got to be in this order, so that kind of thing. In regards to the salvation of whoever crossed over, of course the other part is depends on who it is I just feel like I would go the opposite way that I did. I would stay in Mass, I would stay in the sacraments, I'd talk about it, know that it's going to be waved. It's not like overnight. I mean there's still times now. You still feel it. I would also try to do something creative, some way to express it. I'm so thankful for the times that I had still have when I get to just pick up a play or find something that really you can get some stuff out.
Shared Comfort in Faith and Storytelling
Speaker 2I heard an interview with Gary Oldman say it's kind of like a snow globe. It's not like you ever really get it out, but you shake it up, but it feels good because you're like it's around, it's not just sitting and it can't just feel like it's sitting on you. You're like a pretty oppressive feeling of pain and depression or darkness, but you shake it up and you get it out and and then, if you can share that as much as possible and it affects other people and that's that can change the temperature of a room, it can change somebody's day to create with the destruction in a sense. And I guess it has some of that holy weak aspect in it, because without the cross you don't have the resurrection. Without that pain you don't have the ability to create as much. I don't know if that makes sense. I also wouldn't isolate. I would definitely talk about it journal, about it. Therapy has helped me, you know. Yeah, just to have a group, like be able to talk and hey, I'm having a rough day or I'm not having a better day.
Speaker 1I mean when I've gone through loss in my own life. I mean you kind of say about express yourself right, and I'm a little bit of a geek when it comes to the lord of the rings but that scene of gandalf and pippin, when he says I didn't think it would end this way, I love how he just says like the, the gray rain current of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it. And pippin's like, see what? And he says white shores and beyond a far green country under swift sunrise. Exactly, and it's just so powerful because even in the scene man like Gandalf just takes this exhale of, just like peace.
Speaker 2It's like it made me think of the. I guess it would be the beatific vision in a sense.
Speaker 1Just holding on to the fact that this isn't it. There's so much more Wow that awaits and it's just brought so much comfort in my own grief, absolutely so, just kind of how you say like express yourself, like find those things that really help you in those times yeah, you know what I think the movie braveheart was one of the first movies I saw after my father passed.
Speaker 2I remember that movie helping me so much, you know, because, yeah, it was. It was a creative thing like that, where I just like you know he was a boy and you know he lost his father and his love, which it just was like I'd gone through two losses, you know what I mean. So it was kind of like there was that faith journey in there too, you know, and, um, you know even just the music and you know it's just there's something about that. Yeah, then, like, like, in the sense, it's really beautiful. Right, there's a place to go that is better than we could ever have imagined, because we're created to know him, to love him and, obviously, to serve him. Paradise is being as close as possible to that. That is the number one goal for all of us, you know so obviously you got a passion for storytelling.
Speaker 1Why do you think it's so important today?
Speaker 2it's important today, just like it was important in the caves, you know, I think True, I think you know. What's wild that's coming to me right now is that now information is so accessible, almost too accessible. It's so fast and I think, like telling the right stories, ordered with conflict, of course, and human, and it's got to cover all the bases of a great story. But you tell me about your family and you're asking me some questions. It's like you tell me about yours, I hear strangers, I'm going to think about mine, and that's what story does? It's a reflection back of the human condition and when we can weave in, have the DNA of our faith in there, like a lot of great stories can have the greatest story ever told the Bible, you know. But not everything has to be over the top. You know what I'm saying? Pushing the faith in a sense, but that what it's comprised of our faith is is our creator. So it's like the greatest stories will have that in there.
Speaker 1You know, um talk about Rocky. Right, the first image of Rocky is in the boxing gym. It's an image of Christ. It says Resurrection, ac, and it pans down and then there's a human going through their journey, metaphorically of what that is, and it's like Transcendentals and it's really how to evangelize. It's highlighting the goodness, the truth, the beauty. Absolutely yes, exactly. What was it like for you to be involved with the Miracles of the Eucharist, the new manna?
Speaker 2That was. You know, I had two movies One movie I had passed on and respectfully because of the content of it, and then another movie I was up for. It was something that was like a mob thing. They came to me, they wanted me and then they kind of went away. It was kind of like, well, that's Hollywood, you know it's like how many times. But I was like, man, you know.
Speaker 2Then the pandemic hit and so, man, you know, sometimes you're in the desert, you know, and you're like, all right, well, I've been here before, you know it's like. One thing I know that the acting industry has taught me is that it's a gigging life. So when everything's shut down, I've been in that place where I don't know where the next job's coming from. So I wasn't prepared in that sense of not knowing what happens next, you know, globally. But then we couldn't get to Eucharist and had this return to our faith in this intimate way. And, like I said, I knew, if you like the church, there was two blocks where my kids were baptized. And, like I said, I knew, if you like the church, there was two blocks where my kids were baptized. You know, I know the priest well, so I could call for confession if I needed it, or sometimes he'd have a private mass for us. You know, during that time you know you couldn't get mass. It was crazy. And I'd heard about the Latin mass and I'd never been to one. So I started to go check that out and it was always full and at first I was too intimidated to go to the Mass so I would just go to confession. I had a confession six days a week. I'm like, look at that, Like incredible, like you could get it any time. You know More of that. So then, like, once a week, like you know and you need it, right, so it's like. It's like just just, of course, getting the Eucharist and stuff. I didn't understand everything.
Speaker 2And then to hear that that's the way it was done up until the Second Vatican Council, like everywhere. So our parents, my parents' generation and all that of the FSSP and there was a gentleman, my friend, rob Renzi, with Angela Labuti, the director, were there as well. Now there was a sweet lady there who I call the cast director of Eucharistic Miracles. She's not literally, but she was just always connecting people and when I go to confession I'd see Rob in line and he'd see me and like we were both examining our conscience and so out of respect, he kind of looks like he's serious about his faith. But then there he was at that speech and the sweet lady Rita went over and connected us, say they're doing a movie, he's an actor, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2I remember these two movies had just gone by. I had heard about this film because they had been filming stuff throughout the pandemic, and then Angela was kind of intense and I could tell you those director's eyes. You know angelo's kind of intense and I could tell you those director's eyes. You know, let go, my god, I have no idea what's gonna. You know, nice to meet you guys, you never assume.
Speaker 2And then we're we'd end up giving rob my number. He called me. He's like listen, get somebody, just drop out of this movie. Play one of the apostles. There's no lines. He goes it's jude. I'm like well, which one? No, he's like satan, shoot. Like you know the good one.
Speaker 2I'm like I'll, like I'll take the part.
Speaker 2He's like really, I'm like yeah, I've been wanting to do something that was in our faith.
Speaker 2You know what I mean.
Speaker 2Like I'm like all these other different types of roles and stuff.
Speaker 2So in the other thing. It was like there's no money, so there's no money, no lines. But I didn't matter. I, this is for God. It was so clear, it was clear as day to me Like this is not like of course I'd like to speak in movies and get paid for it. It's not like it's not. But at the same time I'm going there for the Eucharist. You know what I mean Going there for my faith, so for it to come out of that, and that's how it happened.
Speaker 2And then, of course, they ended up building the roll up and the funny thing is Rob like he jokes was in that movie, like it's one of the leads or whatever. So he laughs and he's like I'm calling this guy, like he's done these, like you know, leads and features and stuff to do a part with, like no money. It's such a good story, you know, like, like. And I was like absolutely, and I went through and I read the whole, like obviously I went and got the, the book of Jude. I'm like all right, here's some lines we can put in here. He's got a whole chapter here, you know.
Speaker 1Did you say that being involved in the movie has impacted your faith as well?
Speaker 2Yeah, no question, from the beginning. We went down and shot into Hatchipi, which is two hours out of LA. I don't know, I've been in California since 2003, and I'm still learning it, but there's some beautiful parts of California, so yeah. So then it learning it, but there's some beautiful parts of california, so yeah. So then then, um, it was in norberstein, norbertine monastery and like we're like praying in and the nuns are so close like you can't take pictures.
Speaker 2And I remember there was like fog rolling over. It was like six o'clock in the morning and, um, it was nuts because like it looked like the three days of darkness. It was so dark, that's how thick the fog was. And I had mentioned that to somebody and they were like laughing, like oh, this guy, I'm like I feel like we're shooting the three days of darkness, you know, and so. But it was, it was just, the whole thing was every day we were shooting, we were having mass on set and, of course, the content like of what we were doing, doing like the miracle of the fish, loaves and john six and all that stuff, if you could play any saints in a movie other than because you you already did St Jude.
Speaker 2just curious like who would it be? I'll go with St Joseph again, you know, and maybe he'll have some lines. We can finally hear what he says, you know.
Speaker 1On that note, Andy, I just want to thank you so much for your yes to Jesus and his church. It's been such a blessing to be able to hear you share your story, man.
Speaker 2And thank you so much for being so vulnerable, as you shared, because moving it takes a lot of courage to go there. So you're so welcome. I have a lot of gratitude for you asked me to do this and I know we've been talking about it for a while and, again, god's timing and it's it's, it's so amazing to be able to like share, in 2024, your faith with like kind of like what we're doing, you know, is our careers and all that and as family, men and stuff and and just to be a, you know, yeah, bastion of light and and um, just point to where it's coming from as much as possible absolutely.
Speaker 1People want to connect and learn more about what you've got going on. How can they go about doing that?
Speaker 2I have on instagram and I have like a link tree which is just andy davoli you know my name and all my links are on there and stuff and I usually post about that stuff and I'll post everything from work to family and relationship and faith stuff and they can always ask you and we can talk about it too. So hopefully we can keep sharpening the iron together. You know that's right.
Speaker 1Love that man. On that note, do you want to close us in prayer? Absolutely, That'd be great.
Speaker 2In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him. We humbly pray and do thou, prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl around the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen, amen.
Speaker 1Thanks again, brother. I really appreciate you. Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and want to support our ministry, please share it with others, post about it on social media and leave a rating and review. To stay updated with the latest stories, follow us on Instagram at yescatholic and visit our website at yescatholiccom. If yes Catholic has made a difference in your life, consider joining our Patreon community at Patreoncom. Slash yes Catholic A big shout out and thank you to our current patrons for all the prayers, support and contributions that help us reach thousands of souls around the world every week. Let's remember the words of Saint Peter always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you. You have a story. Don't be afraid to share the good news of how Jesus has moved in your life with a family member, friend or colleague. Give Jesus your yes every single day and witness the ripple effect of the gospel. Join us next week as we continue the journey right here at yes Catholic.