BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Clifton Davis
| BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY |
| Clifton Davis | |
|---|---|
Davis in 2007
| |
| Born | Clifton Duncan Davis October 4, 1945 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, songwriter, singer,minister |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, songwriter, singer, and minister. 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 Baptistminister.[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 70s 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 70s to the mid 80s.
From 1986 to 1991, he co-starred with Sherman Hemsley in the NBC sitcom Amen, which ran for four 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.[citation needed]
Minister
Davis holds a BA in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.[3] 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 than 30 years. He has served as National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman.[4]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.[5]
Filmography
Television
| 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 | "The Ho Chi Minh Trail" "The Malflores" |
| 1974–75 | That's My Mama | Clifton Curtis | Main role (39 episodes) |
| 1977 | Scott Joplin | Louis Chauvin | Movie |
| 1977 | Superdome | P.K. Jackson | Movie |
| 1977 | Vega$ | Leon Hazlett | Episode: "The Eleventh Event" |
| 1980 | The Love Boat | Mr. Reeves | Episode: "Invisible Maniac" |
| 1980 | The Littlest Hobo | Phil McLean | Episode: "Licence to Steal" |
| 1980 | Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige | Cool Papa Bell | Movie |
| 1986–91 | Amen | Rev. Reuben Gregory | Main role (110 episodes) |
| 1990–94 | 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" |
| 2000–08 | 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 | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2012 | Mr. Box Office | Judge | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2013 | The First Family | Clayton | Episode: "The First Triangle" |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
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