Clifton Davis

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Clifton Davis
Born Clifton Duncan Davis
(1945-10-04) October 4, 1945
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Actor, songwriter, minister
Years active 1966–present
Spouse(s) Ann Taylor (1981-1991; divorced) Monica Durant (2000-present)
Website
http://www.cliftondavis.com

Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, songwriter and minister. He has appeared on the television shows as A World Apart, That's My Mama and Amen. Davis also wrote several hits for The Jackson 5, including "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Lookin' Through the Windows"

Career

Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thelma van Putten Langhorn, a nurse, and Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, a Baptist minister.[1] He was raised in Mastic, New York. In a piece he wrote for Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, he described the racism he suffered growing up during the pre-Civil Rights Act era.[2]

Before finding fame in acting, Davis worked as a songwriter, most famously penning The Jackson 5's #2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye".

Davis starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the mid-1970s television show That's My Mama with Theresa Merritt, Theodore Wilson and Ted Lange (who subsequently became a mainstay of The Love Boat). Davis' romantic interest with songstress and Broadway performer Melba Moore led to his co-starring role on her musical variety television show.

Davis made a guest appearance on the third episode of the first season of The Bobby Vinton Show in September 1975, singing "I've Got The Music In Me" and "Never Can Say Goodbye". He successfully sang the Polish lyrics with Vinton to the show's "My Melody of Love" theme song.

A triple heart bypass survivor, he participated in the "superstars" celebrity TV sports competitions of the seventies, in addition to making several appearances on the popular 70s celebrity game show Match Game. He also appeared in the film Scott Joplin in 1977. He also made numerous appearances on several incarnations of Pyramid from the early 70s to the mid 80s.

From 1986-91, he co-starred with Sherman Hemsley in the NBC sitcom Amen, which ran for four seasons. Davis released one acclaimed (and now hard to find) studio recording in 1991 on Benson Records titled Say Amen. He also played the mayor of Miami in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday.

Davis most recently performed on stage in the first national North American touring production of the acclaimed musical Wicked, in the supporting lead role of Doctor Dillamond.

Davis has continued his stage work - starring in the Toronto production of "Aladdin", playing the father of Princess Jasmine.

Minister

In addition to being an actor and a singer, he is also an ordained Seventh-day Adventist[3] minister. Davis holds a BA in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.[4] For the last 25 years he has been an active part of Youthville, USA a children's services organization. He currently serves as National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman. He is the emcee and host of The Most Soulful Sound, an annual gospel choir competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament in Elizabeth City, NC at Elizabeth City State University, where he served as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement. Since the end of 2005 Davis has held the position of Executive Director for Welcome America, a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that produces the largest Fourth of July celebration each year in the nation.

Davis is a frequent guest host on Trinity Broadcasting Network. Davis also hosted the Gospel Superfest TV show from 2000 to 2008, which is syndicated by United Television.

Davis is the author of an autobiographical essay entitled "A Mason Dixon Memory" in which he recounts his experiences as an eighth grader dealing with prejudice on a trip to a southern state.[5]

Davis also portrayed a minister on the prime time series Amen.

References

  1. ↑ [http:/.filmreference.com/film/60/Clifton-Davis.html Clifton Davis Biography (1945-)]
  2. ↑ "Mason-Dixon Memory". Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (pages 127-133).
  3. ↑ http://www.cliftondavis.com/min_biography.php
  4. ↑ http://www.cliftondavis.com/min_biography.php
  5. ↑ A Mason-Dixon Memory

External links

Authority control
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