Danny Kaye White Christmas

Co-starring Danny Kaye White Christmas is one of the all time great Christmas movies. Here is a biography of Danny Kaye and his movie career.

Full name: Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky)

DOB: 18th January 1913

DOD: 3rd March 1987

Where born: New York, USA

Danny Kaye became one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century. While “White Christmas” is nowadays more associated with Bing Crosby's rendition of the song of the same name, Kaye co-starred in the movie with the world-famous crooner.

The duo play former World War Two pals, Bing Crosby – Bob Wallace, and Danny – wannabe entertainer entertainer Phil Davis.

“White Christmas”, released in 1954 is a film of its time. It involves former war comrades, show business, the two men getting the girls. And also a hit song came out of it.

While Bing Crosby was a huge star by then, Danny Kaye wasn't far behind. His starring role in “Hans Christian Anderson” two years earlier had earned him a reported $200,000, an absolutely massive figure in the mid-1950s.

Danny's show business career kicked off in in 1933, through vaudeville when he joined the Three Terpsichoreans dance act. It was then that he adapted “Danny Kaye” as his stage name. The act even toured China.

Danny Kaye's involvement in the world of movies – where he was eventually to achieve fame and fortune – came in 1935 in the comedy “Moon over Manhattan.”

His big break came in 1941, though this time on Broadway, when he wowed audiences with his show-stopping rendition of the Weill and Gershwin song “Tchaikovsky” in “Lady in the Dark.”

Danny's first involvement in feature films came in 1944 with “Up in Arms”. His 1952 Movie “Hand Christian Anderson” was one of two biography-movies. The other was “The Five Pennies” about jazz musician Red Nichols

Danny's at times manic patter, tongue-twisting and red hair made him one of the most loved comic actors in Hollywood. But he was much more versatile than just being a movie or even stage performer.

He starred in his CBS radio show “The Danny Kaye show” between 1945 and 1946. In 1948 he appeared in the Royal Command Performance at the Palladium in London. His televised “ The Danny Kaye Sow,” which ran from 1963-to 1967 earned him four Emmys and a Peabody Award.

His roles in movies had previously seen him receive two Academy Awards,and an honorary award in 1955.

In 1976 Danny played Mister Gepetto in the TV musical “Pinnochio”.He also demonstrated his versatility as an actor in 1981 by playing a holocaust survivor in the TV movie “Skokie”A year earlier he had performed at the Disneyland 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

Danny's renown also saw him become a UNICEF ambassador, an organisation for which he organised several concerts.

Related Articles