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Clifton Davis

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Clifton Davis
Davis in 2007
Born
Clifton Duncan Davis

(1945-10-04) October 4, 1945 (age 78)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation(s)Actor, songwriter, singer, minister
Years active1971–present
Spouses
  • Ann Taylor
    ​
    (m. 1981⁠–⁠1991)​
  • Monica Durant
    ​
    (m. 2000)​
Websitewww.cliftondavis.com

Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, songwriter, singer, and pastor. He starred on the television shows 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 No. 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. 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 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 1970s to the early 1990s.

From 1986 to 1991, he co-starred with Sherman Hemsley, as the Reverend Ruben Gregory, in the NBC sitcom Amen, which ran for five 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 has continued his stage work, starring in Toronto and on Broadway in Aladdin, playing the Sultan of Agrabah.'[3]

Ministry

Davis holds a BA in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.[4] From 1987 to 1989, he was an Associate Pastor of the Loma Linda University SDA Church in southern California. For the last 25 years he has been an active part of Youthville, USA a children's services organization. He served as co-founder and co-pastor of Welcome Christian Center in Huntington Beach, California.

Davis is a licensed minister by St. Luke Baptist Church, New York, New York. He has had an interdenominational ministry for over 30 years. He has served as National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman.[5] 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.[6]

Filmography

| Reverend Reuben Gregory | Main role (110 episodes) |- | 1990–1994 | Stellar Gospel Music Awards | Co-host | Specials |- | 1993 | The John Larroquette Show | Con Artist | 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–present | Madam Secretary | Ephraim Ware, Director of National Intelligence | Recurring role |}

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Scott Joplin Louis Chauvin
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
2012 What My Husband Doesn't Know Franklin
2013 God's Amazing Grace... Is Just A Prayer Away Wilbert Richardson

References

  1. ^ Clifton Davis Biography (1945-)
  2. ^ "Mason-Dixon Memory". Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (pages 127-133).
  3. ^ "Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed Will Co-Star in Disney's Aladdin; Complete Cast Announced". playbill.com. Playbill. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  4. ^ http://www.cliftondavis.com/min_biography.php
  5. ^ "Bio".
  6. ^ A Mason-Dixon Memory

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clifton_Davis&oldid=706650292"