Comic actor and entertainer, born in New York City, New York, USA. Dropping out of school at age 13, he began as a comic in the Borscht Circuit in the Catskills, then worked as a singer and dancer in nightclubs and vaudeville until he made his Broadway debut in 1939. With his genius for mimicry, controlled slapstick, and patter song delivery, he made his film debut in 1937, and appeared in a series of successful films such as Up in Arms (1944), Wonder Man (1945), and The Court Jester (1956), all concocted primarily as vehicles for his versatility. His best-loved films include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1946), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), and The Court Jester (1956). As a straight dramatic actor his most accomplished performance was as a concentration camp survivor in the television film Skokie (1981). He continued in films until 1969, and he had a popular variety show on television (19637), but increasingly he gave his energies to charitable causes, especially as a fundraiser for UNICEF, and often by appearing as a mock guest conductor of symphony orchestras. He received a special Academy Award in 1955 for his service... to the motion-picture industry and the American people.
Biography
Early life
Born to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, red-haired Kaye became one of the world's best-known comedians.
Kaye made his film debut in a 1935 comedy short subject entitled Moon Over Manhattan, although his feature film debut was Up in Arms (1944). He starred in several movies with actress Virginia Mayo in the 1940's, and is well known for his roles in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), White Christmas (1954), Knock on Wood (1954), The Court Jester (1956), and Merry Andrew (1958). Kaye starred in two pictures based on biographies, Hans Christian Andersen (1952) about the Danish story-teller, and The Five Pennies (1959) about jazz pioneer Red Nichols. His wife, Sylvia Fine, wrote many of the songs Danny Kaye became famous for. Several of Kaye's films included the theme of doubles, two people who look identical (both played by Danny Kaye) being mistaken for each other, to comic effect.
Kaye starred in a radio program of his own, The Danny Kaye Show, on CBS in 1945-1946.
But Kaye went on to work regularly in television in the 1960s and beyond. He hosted his own variety hour on CBS, The Danny Kaye Show, from 1963 to 1967. Later, Kaye also served as a guest panelist on that quiz show. Years later, Kaye also guest-starred in episodes of The Cosby Show and of the 1980's remake of The Twilight Zone (see The New Twilight Zone).
Kaye's influence was felt beyond the entertainment world in the world of professional sports as well.
During the 1950s, Kaye also acted in a pantomime production of Cinderella, in Sydney, Australia, where he played the role of "Buttons", Cinderella's stepfather's servant, and also Cinderella's friend.
In many of his movies, as well as on stage, Kaye proved to be an able actor, singer, dancer and comedian, often having his comedic talents showcased by special material written by his wife, Sylvia Fine. Before he died in 1987, Kaye also demonstrated his ability to conduct an orchestra during a comical, but technically sound, series of concerts organised for UNICEF fundraising. Kaye received two Academy Awards, an honorary award in 1955 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1982.
Kaye died in 1987 from a heart attack, following a bout of hepatitis.
Philanthropy
Danny Kaye was also a very philanthropic person. There is a rehabilitation centre for injured soldiers in the northern city of Nahariya in Israel called Bet Kaye (Kaye House) constructed with the help of a substantial donation from Kaye.
Trivia
According to the biographer Donald Spoto, Danny Kaye and Laurence Olivier had a 10-year affair in the 1950s, when Olivier was still married to Vivien Leigh.
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