He graduated from the gymnasium Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík in 1970. There he was an amateur actor and performed in plays like "Bubbi kóngur" (Ubu Roi - Davíð was the king). He graduated from the law faculty of the University of Iceland in 1976.
Mayor of Reykjavík from 1982-1991 as head of an Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) majority. Prime minister of Iceland since 1991 as head of four coalition governments. Following the elections of 2003, post-election negotiations with the junior coalition partner, the Progressive Party (Framsóknarflokkurinn), led to an agreement that Davíð would cede his office to the head of the Progressive Party, Halldór Ásgrímsson, in 2004, date unspecified.
Although educated as a laywer and serving as politician for most of his working life Davíð Oddsson has never laid aside his literary pretensions. During his days in office he has authored several plays and short stories as well as some poetry.
Politically Davíð has championed the Icelandic right-wing cause presiding over privatization of multiple government owned corporations.
In foreign affairs he has been pro-American from day 1 and a staunch NATO supporter. He supported the American invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq despite opposition among the population and several small protests.