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{{Short description|American actor, musician and minister}}
{{Infobox actor
{{BLP sources|date=June 2009}}
| image = Clifton_Davis.jpg
{{Infobox person
| caption = Photo by Patricia Wagner
| image = Clifton Davis in 1998.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Davis in 1998
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1945|10|4}}
| birth_name = Clifton Duncan Davis
| birthplace = [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|10|4}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer|songwriter|minister|author}}
| years_active = 1971–present
| nationality = American
| known_for = ''[[That's My Mama]]'', ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]''
| spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Ann Taylor|1981|1991}}|{{marriage|Monica Durant|2000|}}}}
| homepage = {{url|www.cliftondavis.com}}
}}
}}


'''Clifton Duncan Davis''' (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, minister, and author.
'''Clifton Duncan Davis''' (born [[October 4]], [[1945]]) is an [[United States|American]] actor who has appeared on television shows such as ''[[A World Apart]]'' (playing Matt Hampton) and ''[[That's My Mama]]'' (on which he had the lead role) in the 1970s, and on ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]'' from 1986 to 1991. Davis has also acted on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], and he was nominated for a [[Tony Award]] for Best Actor in [[1972]] for his performance in a musical version of ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical)|Two Gentlemen of Verona]]''. He made a guest appearance on the third episode of the first season of "[[The Bobby Vinton Show]]" in September of 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. Before finding fame in acting, Davis worked as a [[songwriter]], most famously penning [[The Jackson 5]]'s #2 hit "[[Never Can Say Goodbye]]". He also appeared in the film ''[[Scott Joplin]]'' in [[1977]]. Davis released one acclaimed (and now hard to find) studio recording in 1991 on Benson Records titled Say Amen. He also appeared as a panelist in the second version of [[The Match Game]].


Davis wrote [[The Jackson 5]]'s No. 2 hit "[[Never Can Say Goodbye]]" in 1971. He has numerous Broadway credits, including ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' (opposite [[Pearl Bailey]]), ''[[Aladdin (2011 musical)|Aladdin]]'', ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]'', and his [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]]–nominated turn in ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical)|Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'', among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/clifton-davis-37456 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> Davis starred in the television shows ''[[That's My Mama]], [[Amen (TV series)|Amen]],'' ''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]'', and others. He has hosted the [[Stellar Awards|Stellar Gospel Music Awards]], Gospel Superfest and Lifestyle Magazine. Davis has appeared on the game shows ''[[Match Game]]'' and ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]'' and appeared in many movies.
Davis was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], the son of Irma Langhorn, a [[nurse]], and Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, a [[Baptist]] minister.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/60/Clifton-Davis.html Clifton Davis Biography (1945-)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He was raised in [[Mastic, New York]]. In addition to being an actor and a singer, he is also an ordained [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] minister. 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, NC. 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 minister of a Baptist church and has also operated an interdenominational ministry for many years. He has been a guest on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] many times. Davis wrote "A Mason-Dixon Memory", one of the chapters in the book ''[[Chicken Soup for the Soul|Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul]]'', about the racism which he experienced while growing up.<ref name="chickensouponlinebooklink">{{cite book|url=https://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/38785/a-mason-dixon-memory|title=Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (A Mason-Dixon Memory)|date=1997|last=Davis|first=Clifton|editor=Jack Canfield|editor2=Mark Victor Hansen|editor3=Kimberly Kirberger|editor4=Mitch Claspy|pages=127–133|isbn=1558744630|access-date=August 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828175804/https://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/38785/a-mason-dixon-memory|archive-date=August 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
Davis cohosts the [[Christian Lifestyle Magazine]] television program and is a frequent guest host on [[Trinity Broadcast Network]].


==Early life==
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.<ref>[http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/hblim/reflections/mason.html A Mason-Dixon Memory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Davis was born in [[Chicago]], Illinois, the son of Thelma van Putten Langhorn, a nurse, and Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, a [[Seventh-day Adventist]] minister. He was raised in [[Mastic, New York]], and he is a graduate of [[Pine Forge Academy]], a Black boarding school operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Davis holds a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in Theology from [[Oakwood University]] and a [[Master of Divinity]] degree from [[Andrews University]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cliftondavis.com/min_biography.php |title=Clifton Davis in Ministry |access-date=2010-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813042410/http://www.cliftondavis.com/min_biography.php |archive-date=2010-08-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==See also==
==Career==
[[File:Clifton_Davis.jpg|150px|thumb|Davis in a club]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
Before becoming a successful actor Davis was a songwriter who wrote [[The Jackson 5]]'s No. 2 hit "[[Never Can Say Goodbye]]."

He made his Broadway debut in the mid-1960s as a replacement in the original Broadway production of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' In 1969, he replaced [[Cleavon Little]] in the role of Lee Haines in ''Jimmy Shine'', opposite [[Dustin Hoffman]] and [[Rue McClanahan]]. The following year, he served as standby for Al Freeman, Jr. in the short-lived Broadway play ''[[Look to the Lilies|Look to the Lillies]]'', followed by a featured role in ''The Engagement Baby''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/clifton-davis-37456 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He created the role of Valentine in [[Galt MacDermot]] and [[John Guare]]'s musical ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical)|Two Gentlemen of Verona]]'', based on the eponymous [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] comedy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/production/two-gentlemen-of-verona-st-james-theatre-vault-0000004197|title=Two Gentlemen of Verona Broadway @ St. James Theatre - Tickets and Discounts - Playbill|website=Playbill|access-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184446/http://www.playbill.com/production/two-gentlemen-of-verona-st-james-theatre-vault-0000004197|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9z86evRYaU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Y9z86evRYaU |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Mansion (Two Gentlemen Of Verona/1971 Original Broadway Cast/Remastered)|website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=June 12, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> For this production, he was nominated for a 1972 [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/two-gentlemen-of-verona-3627 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He left the Broadway production on November 27, 1972,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/two-gentlemen-of-verona-3627 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> to open the touring company in January 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – 1973-1973 Tour {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/two-gentlemen-of-verona-523331 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He played the role of Joey Evans in the 1978 West Coast Revival of ''[[Pal Joey (musical)|Pal Joey]]'', which was called ''Pal Joey '78''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pal Joey – Broadway Musical – 1978-1978 Tour {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/pal-joey-531188 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He returned to Broadway in 2014, creating the role of the Sultan in the [[Aladdin (2011 musical)|stage adaptation]] of [[Aladdin (franchise)|Disney's ''Aladdin'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aladdin – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/aladdin-495244 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> In 2022, Davis joined the Broadway company of ''Wicked'', playing Dr. Dillamond, a role he had previously played in the show's two separate touring companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff {{!}} IBDB |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/clifton-davis-37456 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.ibdb.com}}</ref> He has amassed several Off-Broadway credits as well, including ''How to Steal an Election'' (1968), ''Horseman, Pass By'' (1969), [[Lorraine Hansberry]]'s ''[[To Be Young, Gifted and Black (play)|To Be Young, Gifted, and Black]]'' (1969), ''Do It Again!'' (1971), and ''Hapgood'' (1994).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clifton Davis |url=http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/6625 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.iobdb.com}}</ref>

He starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the mid-1970s television show ''[[That's My Mama]]'' with [[Theresa Merritt]], [[Theodore Wilson]], and [[Ted Lange]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFXUiqC_sD8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/qFXUiqC_sD8 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Ted Lange And Clifton Davis|last=baydog|date=December 17, 2006|publisher=[[YouTube]]|work=youtube.com|access-date=June 12, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Davis co-starred with singer and Broadway performer [[Melba Moore]] on her musical variety television show. Later he 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 sang the Polish lyrics with Vinton to the show's theme song, titled "[[My Melody of Love]]".

A triple heart bypass survivor, Davis participated in the "Superstars" celebrity TV sports competitions of the 1970s as well as made several appearances as one of the celebrity panelists on the game show ''[[Match Game]].'' He appeared in the film ''[[Scott Joplin (film)|Scott Joplin]],'' in 1977. Davis made numerous appearances on several incarnations of ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]'' from the early 1970s to the early 1990s.

From 1986 to 1991, Davis co-starred with [[Sherman Hemsley]] and [[Anna Maria Horsford]] as the Reverend Doctor Ruben Gregory in the sitcom ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]],'' which ran for five seasons. Davis released one acclaimed 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 starred in Toronto and on Broadway in ''[[Aladdin (2011 musical)|Aladdin]],'' playing the Sultan of Agrabah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/182186-Adam-Jacobs-and-Courtney-Reed-Will-Co-Star-in-Disneys-Aladdin-Complete-Cast-Announced?tsrc=nx|title=Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed Will Co-Star in Disney's Aladdin; Complete Cast Announced|publisher=[[Playbill]]|work=playbill.com|date=September 16, 2013 | access-date=September 16, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213124450/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/182186-Adam-Jacobs-and-Courtney-Reed-Will-Co-Star-in-Disneys-Aladdin-Complete-Cast-Announced?tsrc=nx|archive-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref>

==Ministry==
From 1987 to 1989, he was an Associate Pastor of the Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church in southern California. For the last twenty-five years, Davis has been an active member of [[Youthville, USA]] a children's services organization. He served as the co-founder and co-pastor of the Welcome Christian Center in [[Huntington Beach, California]]. Davis is a licensed minister at St. Luke Baptist Church, New York, New York. He has had an interdenominational ministry for over 30 years. Davis has served as its National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bio|url=http://www.cliftondavis.com/about-me.html|access-date=2014-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505074950/http://www.cliftondavis.com/about-me.html|archive-date=2014-05-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the emcee and host of The Most Soulful Sound, an annual gospel choir competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. Davis also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament in Elizabeth City State University, where he served as its 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, which hosts the largest Fourth of July celebration in the nation each year. He is a frequent guest and host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Davis also hosted the TV show ''Gospel Superfest'' from 2000 to 2008, syndicated by United Television.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307447/ |title=Gospel Superfest (TV Movie 2005) - IMDb |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2018-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405204743/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307447/ |archive-date=2017-04-05 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Together for Days]]''
| Gus
|
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Lost in the Stars (1974 film)|Lost in the Stars]]''
| Absalom
|
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Scott Joplin (film)|Scott Joplin]]''
| [[Louis Chauvin]]
|
|-
| 1994
| ''Heart of Stone''
| Richard Polite
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Any Given Sunday]]''
| Mayor Tyrone Smalls
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Kingdom Come (2001 film)|Kingdom Come]]''
| Charles Winslow
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Max Keeble's Big Move]]''
| Supt. Bobby 'Crazy Legs' Knebworth
|
|-
| 2001
| ''The Painting''
| Thomas Ayers
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Halloweentown High]]''
| Principal Phil Flannagan
|
|-
| 2006
| ''The Engagement: My Phamily BBQ 2''
| Uncle Joe
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Cover (film)|Cover]]''
| D.A. Simmons
|
|-
| 2011
| ''David E. Talbert's What My Husband Doesn't Know''
| Franklin
|
|-
| 2013
| ''God's Amazing Grace... Is Just A Prayer Away''
| Wilbert Richardson
|
|-
|2016
|''Prayer Never Fails''
|Michael Brown
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1971
| ''[[A World Apart (TV series)|A World Apart]]''
| Matt Hampton
| 1 episode
|-
| 1972
| ''The Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show''
| Co-host
| Series
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Love Story (1973 TV series)|Love Story]]''
| James Monroe
| Episode "A Glow of Dying Embers"
|-
| 1973–1977
| ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]''
| Mark Randolph<br />Ed Webber
| Episodes: "The Ho Chi Minh Trail"<br />"The Malflores"
|-
| 1974–1975
| ''[[That's My Mama]]''
| Clifton Curtis
| Main role (39 episodes)
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Superdome (film)|Superdome]]''
| P.K. Jackson
| TV movie
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Little Ladies of the Night]]''
| Comfort
| TV movie
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Vega$]]''
| Leon Hazlett
| Episode: "The Eleventh Event"
|-
|1978
|''[[Cindy (film)|Cindy]]''
|Captain Joe Prince
| TV movie
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Mr. Reeves
| Episode: "Invisible Maniac"
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Littlest Hobo]]''
| Phil McLean
| Episode: "Licence to Steal"
|-
| 1980
| ''The Night the City Screamed''
| Arnold Clements
| TV movie
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige]]''
| Cool Papa Bell
| TV movie
|-
| 1986–1991
| ''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]''
| Reverend Reuben Gregory
| Main role (110 episodes)
|-
|1989
|''Dream Date''
|Bill Fairview
| TV movie
|-
| 1990–1994
| ''[[Stellar Awards|Stellar Gospel Music Awards]]''
| Co-host
| Specials
|-
| 1993
| ''[[The John Larroquette Show]]''
| Jada Sweet
| Episode: "Pros and Cons"
|-
| 1996
| ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]''
| Charles
| Episode: "Seems Like Old Times"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Living Single]]''
| Harrison Cushmore
| Episode: "Mother Inferior"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Sparks (TV series)|Sparks]]''
| Pastor Alexander
| Episode: "It's the Gospel"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Malcolm & Eddie]]''
| Leonard Larson
| Episode: "Club Story"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Party of Five]]''
| Martin Wilcox
| Episode: "Point of No Return"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Grace Under Fire]]''
| Dr. Swanson
| Episode: "Sam's Dad"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Sentinel (TV series)|The Sentinel]]''
| President Lemec
| Episode: "Fool Me Twice"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Gregory Hines Show]]''
| Pauley's Father
| Episode: "Three's Not Company"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Any Day Now (TV series)|Any Day Now]]''
| Councilman Lyle Hammond
| Episode: "No Comment"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[In the House (TV series)|In the House]]''
| Ted Miller
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[City of Angels (2000 TV series)|City of Angels]]''
| Dr. Langston Ellis
| Episode: "Bride and Prejudice"
|-
| 2000–2008
| ''Gospel Superfest''
| Host
|
|-
| 2001
| ''Lifestyle Magazine''
| Host
| Series
|-
| 2002
| ''[[American Dreams]]''
| Alvin Lewis
| Episode: "The Home Front"
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Half & Half]]''
| Pastor David Adams
| Episode: "The Big Practice What You Preach Episode"
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Political Animals (miniseries)|Political Animals]]''
| Reporter
| Miniseries; episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Mr. Box Office]]''
| Judge
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2013
| ''[[The First Family (TV series)|The First Family]]''
| Clayton
| Episode: "The First Triangle"
|-
| 2015–2019
| ''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]''
| Ephraim Ware
| Recurring role
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Iron Fist (TV series)|Iron Fist]]''
| Lawrence Wilkins
| Recurring role
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Good Fight]]''
| Anthony Spiegel
| Episode: "Not So Grand Jury"
|-
| 2017–2023
| ''[[Billions (TV series)|Billions]]''
|Judge Wailand
|6 episodes
|-
| 2018
| ''[[New Amsterdam (2018 TV series)|New Amsterdam]]''
| Pierre Pampil
| Episode: "Rituals"
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]''
| Inspector Azoulay
| Episode: "Mind Games"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson]]''
|Jeffrey Carter
|Episode: "It's the Cigars You Smoke That Are Going to Give You Cancer"
|-
| 2019–2021
| ''[[Godfather of Harlem]]''
| [[Elijah Muhammad]]
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Survival of the Thickest]]''
|Emmanuel
|Episode: "Let It Out, Bitch!"
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Clipped (miniseries)|Clipped]]''
| [[Elgin Baylor]]
|Upcoming series
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=0204389|name=Clifton Davis}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0204389|name=Clifton Davis}}
*{{ibdb name | id=37456 | name=Clifton Davis}}
*{{IBDB name|id=37456|name=Clifton Davis}}
*{{iobdb name|6625}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Clifton}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Clifton}}
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:African-American actors]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:African-American male actors]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Andrews University alumni]]
[[Category:Elizabeth City State University faculty]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Motown songwriters and producers]]
[[Category:Male actors from Chicago]]
[[Category:People from Chicago]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American Seventh-day Adventists]]
[[Category:Oakwood University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Mastic, New York]]
[[Category:Singers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Former Seventh-day Adventists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:African-American male singers]]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 17 May 2024

Clifton Davis
Davis in 1998
Born
Clifton Duncan Davis

(1945-10-04) October 4, 1945 (age 78)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • minister
  • author
Years active1971–present
Known forThat's My Mama, Amen
Spouses
  • Ann Taylor
    ​
    (m. 1981⁠–⁠1991)​
  • Monica Durant
    ​
    (m. 2000)​
Websitewww.cliftondavis.com

Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, minister, and author.

Davis wrote The Jackson 5's No. 2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1971. He has numerous Broadway credits, including Hello, Dolly! (opposite Pearl Bailey), Aladdin, Wicked, and his Tony Award–nominated turn in Two Gentlemen of Verona, among others.[1] Davis starred in the television shows That's My Mama, Amen, Madam Secretary, and others. He has hosted the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Gospel Superfest and Lifestyle Magazine. Davis has appeared on the game shows Match Game and Pyramid and appeared in many movies.

Davis is a minister of a Baptist church and has also operated an interdenominational ministry for many years. He has been a guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network many times. Davis wrote "A Mason-Dixon Memory", one of the chapters in the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, about the racism which he experienced while growing up.[2]

Early life[edit]

Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thelma van Putten Langhorn, a nurse, and Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, a Seventh-day Adventist minister. He was raised in Mastic, New York, and he is a graduate of Pine Forge Academy, a Black boarding school operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Davis holds a BA in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.[3]

Career[edit]

Davis in a club

Before becoming a successful actor Davis was a songwriter who wrote The Jackson 5's No. 2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye."

He made his Broadway debut in the mid-1960s as a replacement in the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! In 1969, he replaced Cleavon Little in the role of Lee Haines in Jimmy Shine, opposite Dustin Hoffman and Rue McClanahan. The following year, he served as standby for Al Freeman, Jr. in the short-lived Broadway play Look to the Lillies, followed by a featured role in The Engagement Baby.[4] He created the role of Valentine in Galt MacDermot and John Guare's musical Two Gentlemen of Verona, based on the eponymous Shakespeare comedy.[5][6] For this production, he was nominated for a 1972 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.[7] He left the Broadway production on November 27, 1972,[8] to open the touring company in January 1973.[9] He played the role of Joey Evans in the 1978 West Coast Revival of Pal Joey, which was called Pal Joey '78.[10] He returned to Broadway in 2014, creating the role of the Sultan in the stage adaptation of Disney's Aladdin.[11] In 2022, Davis joined the Broadway company of Wicked, playing Dr. Dillamond, a role he had previously played in the show's two separate touring companies.[12] He has amassed several Off-Broadway credits as well, including How to Steal an Election (1968), Horseman, Pass By (1969), Lorraine Hansberry's To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1969), Do It Again! (1971), and Hapgood (1994).[13]

He starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the mid-1970s television show That's My Mama with Theresa Merritt, Theodore Wilson, and Ted Lange.[14]

Davis co-starred with singer and Broadway performer Melba Moore on her musical variety television show. Later he 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 sang the Polish lyrics with Vinton to the show's theme song, titled "My Melody of Love".

A triple heart bypass survivor, Davis participated in the "Superstars" celebrity TV sports competitions of the 1970s as well as made several appearances as one of the celebrity panelists on the game show Match Game. He appeared in the film Scott Joplin, in 1977. Davis made numerous appearances on several incarnations of Pyramid from the early 1970s to the early 1990s.

From 1986 to 1991, Davis co-starred with Sherman Hemsley and Anna Maria Horsford as the Reverend Doctor Ruben Gregory in the sitcom Amen, which ran for five seasons. Davis released one acclaimed 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 starred in Toronto and on Broadway in Aladdin, playing the Sultan of Agrabah.[15]

Ministry[edit]

From 1987 to 1989, he was an Associate Pastor of the Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church in southern California. For the last twenty-five years, Davis has been an active member of Youthville, USA a children's services organization. He served as the co-founder and co-pastor of the Welcome Christian Center in Huntington Beach, California. Davis is a licensed minister at St. Luke Baptist Church, New York, New York. He has had an interdenominational ministry for over 30 years. Davis has served as its National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman.[16] He is the emcee and host of The Most Soulful Sound, an annual gospel choir competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. Davis also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament in Elizabeth City State University, where he served as its 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, which hosts the largest Fourth of July celebration in the nation each year. He is a frequent guest and host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Davis also hosted the TV show Gospel Superfest from 2000 to 2008, syndicated by United Television.[17]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Together for Days Gus
1974 Lost in the Stars Absalom
1977 Scott Joplin Louis Chauvin
1994 Heart of Stone Richard Polite
1999 Any Given Sunday Mayor Tyrone Smalls
2001 Kingdom Come Charles Winslow
2001 Max Keeble's Big Move Supt. Bobby 'Crazy Legs' Knebworth
2001 The Painting Thomas Ayers
2004 Halloweentown High Principal Phil Flannagan
2006 The Engagement: My Phamily BBQ 2 Uncle Joe
2007 Cover D.A. Simmons
2011 David E. Talbert's What My Husband Doesn't Know Franklin
2013 God's Amazing Grace... Is Just A Prayer Away Wilbert Richardson
2016 Prayer Never Fails Michael Brown

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1971 A World Apart Matt Hampton 1 episode
1972 The Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show Co-host Series
1973 Love Story James Monroe Episode "A Glow of Dying Embers"
1973–1977 Police Story Mark Randolph
Ed Webber 		Episodes: "The Ho Chi Minh Trail"
"The Malflores"
1974–1975 That's My Mama Clifton Curtis Main role (39 episodes)
1977 Superdome P.K. Jackson TV movie
1977 Little Ladies of the Night Comfort TV movie
1978 Vega$ Leon Hazlett Episode: "The Eleventh Event"
1978 Cindy Captain Joe Prince TV movie
1980 The Love Boat Mr. Reeves Episode: "Invisible Maniac"
1980 The Littlest Hobo Phil McLean Episode: "Licence to Steal"
1980 The Night the City Screamed Arnold Clements TV movie
1981 Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige Cool Papa Bell TV movie
1986–1991 Amen Reverend Reuben Gregory Main role (110 episodes)
1989 Dream Date Bill Fairview TV movie
1990–1994 Stellar Gospel Music Awards Co-host Specials
1993 The John Larroquette Show Jada Sweet Episode: "Pros and Cons"
1996 The Jamie Foxx Show Charles Episode: "Seems Like Old Times"
1997 Living Single Harrison Cushmore Episode: "Mother Inferior"
1997 Sparks Pastor Alexander Episode: "It's the Gospel"
1997 Malcolm & Eddie Leonard Larson Episode: "Club Story"
1997 Party of Five Martin Wilcox Episode: "Point of No Return"
1997 Grace Under Fire Dr. Swanson Episode: "Sam's Dad"
1997 The Sentinel President Lemec Episode: "Fool Me Twice"
1997 The Gregory Hines Show Pauley's Father Episode: "Three's Not Company"
1998 Any Day Now Councilman Lyle Hammond Episode: "No Comment"
1999 In the House Ted Miller 2 episodes
2000 City of Angels Dr. Langston Ellis Episode: "Bride and Prejudice"
2000–2008 Gospel Superfest Host
2001 Lifestyle Magazine Host Series
2002 American Dreams Alvin Lewis Episode: "The Home Front"
2004 Half & Half Pastor David Adams Episode: "The Big Practice What You Preach Episode"
2012 Political Animals Reporter Miniseries; episode: "Pilot"
2012 Mr. Box Office Judge Episode: "Pilot"
2013 The First Family Clayton Episode: "The First Triangle"
2015–2019 Madam Secretary Ephraim Ware Recurring role
2017 Iron Fist Lawrence Wilkins Recurring role
2017 The Good Fight Anthony Spiegel Episode: "Not So Grand Jury"
2017–2023 Billions Judge Wailand 6 episodes
2018 New Amsterdam Pierre Pampil Episode: "Rituals"
2018 Blue Bloods Inspector Azoulay Episode: "Mind Games"
2019 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Jeffrey Carter Episode: "It's the Cigars You Smoke That Are Going to Give You Cancer"
2019–2021 Godfather of Harlem Elijah Muhammad 6 episodes
2023 Survival of the Thickest Emmanuel Episode: "Let It Out, Bitch!"
2024 Clipped Elgin Baylor Upcoming series

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  2. ^ "Clifton Davis in Ministry". Archived from the original on 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  3. ^ "Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  4. ^ "Two Gentlemen of Verona Broadway @ St. James Theatre - Tickets and Discounts - Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "Mansion (Two Gentlemen Of Verona/1971 Original Broadway Cast/Remastered)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  6. ^ "Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  7. ^ "Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  8. ^ "Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway Musical – 1973-1973 Tour | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  9. ^ "Pal Joey – Broadway Musical – 1978-1978 Tour | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  10. ^ "Aladdin – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  11. ^ "Clifton Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  12. ^ "Clifton Davis". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  13. ^ baydog (December 17, 2006). "Ted Lange And Clifton Davis". youtube.com. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  14. ^ "Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed Will Co-Star in Disney's Aladdin; Complete Cast Announced". playbill.com. Playbill. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  15. ^ "Bio". Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  16. ^ "Gospel Superfest (TV Movie 2005) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2018-11-09.

External links[edit]

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