Davis, Clifton 1945–

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DAVIS, Clifton 1945–

PERSONAL

Full name, Clifton Duncan Davis; born October 4, 1945, in Chicago, IL; son of Toussaint L'Ouverture (a Baptist minister) Davis and Irma Davis Langhorn (a nurse); married second wife, Ann L. DeShae (a dance teacher), 1981 (divorced, May 1994); married Monica D. Durant (a flight attendant), May 27, 2000; children: (second marriage) Christian Noel, Holly Danielle. Education: Oakwood College, B.A., 1984; Andrews University, M.Div., 1987; Lincoln University, L.L.D., 1989. Religion: Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist. Avocational Interests: Golf, licensed pilot, scuba diving.

Addresses:

Agent—Agency for the Performing Arts, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Career:

Actor, singer, and composer. Clifton Davis Enterprises, Inc., president and chief executive officer, 1986–92; Oasis Nuclear, vice president of international business development, 1993–94; Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina, interim vice chancellor of development and planning, 1995–96; Clifton Davis International, Inc., chief executive officer, 1996. Previously worked as organizer, Chapel Four Gospel Group; ABC–TV, New York City, video engineer; St. John Terrell's Music Fair, Lambertsville, NJ, apprentice scenery painter; Reno Sweeney's, nightclub performer; Motown Records, staff composer and lyricist; motivational speaker; Union Seventh Day Adventist Church, Loma Linda, CA, associate pastor. Military service: U.S. Air Force.

Member:

Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, National PTA (honorary membership chairman, 1989–91), The Children's Defense Fund (member of the advisory council).

Awards, Honors:

Theatre World Award, 1971, for Do It Again; Antoinette Perry Award nomination, 1971, for Two Gentlemen of Verona; Grammy Award nomination, best rhythm and blues song, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1971, and gold record, both for "Never Can Say Goodbye"; Heart Torch Award, American Heart Association, 1975; Distinguished Service Citation, UNCF, 1981; Oakwood College Distinguished Service Citation, UNCF, 1984; Distinguished Leadership Award, UNCF, 1987; Dedicated Service Award, National Black Child Development Institute, 1987; Legacy of the Dreamer Award, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1989; Distinguished Service Award, UNCF, 1990, 1991, 1992.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

(Broadway debut) Cornelius, Hello Dolly, St. James Theatre, 1967.

Foxtrot, Scuba Duba, New Theatre, New York City, 1967.

How to Steal an Election, Pocket Theatre, New York City, 1968.

Jimmy Shine, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1968.

Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, Center Stage Theatre, Baltimore, MD, 1969.

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1969.

Political man, Horseman, Pass By, Fortune Theatre, 1969.

Homer, Look to the Lilies, Lunt–Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1970.

Roger Porter, The Engagement Baby, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1970.

Valentine, Two Gentlemen of Verona, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, then St. James Theatre, both New York City, 1971.

Do It Again, Promenade Theatre, New York City, 1971.

Wates, Hapgood, Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, New York City, 1994–95.

Samuel Clark, Jr., Blue, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA, 2002.

Also appeared in Hunger and Thirst, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge, MA; No Place to Be Somebody, Public Theatre, New York City; Pal Joey, Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles; On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Funny Girl, and as Little John, Robin Hood, all St. John Terrell's Music Fair, Lambertsville, NJ.

Major Tours:

Valentine, Two Gentlemen of Verona, U.S. cities, 1973.

Thomas, Daddy Goodness, U.S. cities, 1979.

Film Appearances:

(Film debut) The Landlord, United Artists, 1970.

Gus, Together for Days, (also known as Black Cream), Olas, 1972.

Absalom, Lost in the Stars, American Film Theatre, 1974.

Louis Chauvin, Scott Joplin, Universal, 1977.

Mayor Tyrone Smalls, Any Given Sunday, Warner Bros., 1999.

Charles Winslow, Kingdom Come, Fox Searchlight, 2001.

Superintendant Bobby "Crazy Legs" Knebworth, Max Keeble's Big Move, Buena Vista, 2001.

Thomas Ayers, The Painting, 2002.

Television Appearances; Series:

Matt Hampton, A World Apart, ABC, 1970–71.

Regular, Love, American Style, ABC, 1971.

Cohost, The Melba Moore–Clifton Davis Show, CBS, 1972.

Clifton Curtis, That's My Mama, ABC, 1974–75.

Reverend Reuben Gregory, Amen, NBC, 1986–91.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Comfort, Little Ladies of the Night (also known as Diamond Alley), ABC, 1977.

P. K. Jackson, Superdome, ABC, 1978.

Captain Joe Prince, Cindy, ABC, 1978.

Arnold Clements, The Night the City Screamed, ABC, 1980.

Cool Papa Bell, Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige (also known as Don't Look Back), ABC, 1981.

Bill Fairview, Dream Date, 1989.

Principal Phil Flanagan, Halloweentown III: Halloweentown High, 2004.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Cotton Club '75, NBC, 1975.

Mitzi and a Hundred Guys, CBS, 1975.

Celebration: The American Spirit, ABC, 1976.

Himself, Circus of the Stars #11, CBS, 1986.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1988.

Himself, Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular, 1988.

NBC team member, Battle of the Network Stars XIX, ABC, 1988.

Host (English), A Day to Care for the Children, syndicated, 1989.

Command Performance: An All–Star Salute to the President, ABC, 1989.

Host, The 56th Annual King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1989.

Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1990.

Starathon '90, syndicated, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

Host, The 1990 King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1990.

Host, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Holiday Parade, TBS, 1992.

The 19th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1992.

Scott Ross Street Talk, The Family Channel, 1993.

Host, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday Parade, TBS, 1993.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Himself, The 30th Annual Tony Awards, ABC, 1976.

The 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1987.

Presenter, The 20th NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1988.

Presenter, The 21st NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1989.

Host, The 10th Annual American Black Achievement Awards, syndicated, 1989.

Host, The 5th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 1990.

The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990.

The 21st Annual Dove Awards, TNN, 1990.

Host, The 22nd Annual Dove Awards, TNN, 1991.

Host, The 7th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 1992.

Host, The 9th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 1994.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Himself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1971.

Mark Randolph, "The Ho Chi Min Trail," Police Story, NBC, 1973.

"A Glow of Dying Embers," Love Story, NBC, 1973.

The $10,000 Pyramid, 1974, 1975.

Match Game 73, 1975, 1976.

Guest panelist, Match Game PM, syndicated, 1975.

The $20,000 Pyramid, 1976.

Ed Webber, "The Malfores," Police Story, NBC, 1977.

Leon Hazlett, "The Eleventh Event," Vega$, ABC, 1979.

Mr. Reeves, "Invisible Maniac/September Song/Peekaboo," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980.

Phil McLean, "License to Steal," The Littlest Hobo, CTV and syndicated, 1980.

Con artist, "Pros and Cons," The John Larroquette Show, NBC, 1993.

Charles, "Seems Like Old Times," The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 1996.

Harrison Cushmore, "Mother Inferior," Living Single, Fox, 1997.

Pastor Alexander, "It's the Gospel," Sparks, UPN, 1997.

Mr. Lawson, "Club Story," Malcolm & Eddie, UPN, 1997.

Martin Wilcox, "Point of No Return," Party of Five, Fox, 1997.

Dr. Swanson, "Sam's Dad," Grace under Fire, ABC, 1997.

President Lemec, "Fool Me Twice," The Sentinel, UPN, 1997.

Pauley's father, "Three's Not Company," The Gregory Hines Show, CBS, 1997.

Councilman Lyle Hammond, "No Comment," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 1998.

Ted Miller, "How Nana Got Her Groove Back," In the House, UPN, 1999.

Ted Miller, "Cornbread, Marion and Me," In the House, UPN, 1999.

Dr. Langston Ellis, "Bride and Prejudice," City of Angels, CBS, 2000.

Alvin Lewis, "The Home Front," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

Paston David Adams, "The Big Practice What You Preach Episode," Half & Half, UPN, 2004.

Also appeared in The Chuck Barris Rah–Rah Show, NBC; The David Frost Show, syndicated; Johnny Ghost; On Being Black; as himself, Celebrity Sweepstakes, NBC; himself, Praise the Lord (also known as TBN's Praise the Lord), TBN; Brian's father, "Veronica Checks Out," Veronica's Closet, NBC.