Davis was born in Salt Lake City. He attended Woods Cross High School, and the University of Utah.

Davis is best known for playing Warner Huntington III, boyfriend of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in the smash hit comedy Legally Blonde (2001) (opposite Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair). Other notable film credits include Blue Crush (2002) (opposite Kate Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez), Tigerland (2000) (opposite Colin Farrell) and BloodRayne (2005).

He is currently starring in The Vampire Diaries as high school history teacher/vampire hunter Alaric Saltzman, he also featured in the ABC drama What About Brian (2006–7) as "Adam Hillman".

Entertainers, Utah, Celebrity