Arthur Duncan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Duncan
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Duncan in 1962
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| Born | September 25, 1925 Pasadena, California, U.S.
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| Died | January 4, 2023 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Tap dancer, entertainer |
| Years active | 1946–2022 |
Arthur Chester Duncan (born September 25, 1925 – died January 4, 2023) was an American tap dancer. People called him an "Entertainer's Entertainer" because he was so good at what he did. He was famous for being a regular performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1964 to 1982.
Arthur Duncan made history as the first African-American regular on a variety television program. This happened thanks to his earlier appearances on The Betty White Show in 1954. The show's star, Betty White, bravely supported him. Arthur Duncan performed all over the world, including famous places like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
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Early Life
Arthur Duncan was born in Pasadena, California. He was one of thirteen children in his family. He started performing when he was 13 years old. He was part of a dance group at McKinley Junior High School in Pasadena. Later, he went to Pasadena City College to study pharmacy. But he soon decided to follow his dream of becoming an entertainer instead.
Amazing Career
Arthur Duncan learned to dance from great teachers like Willie Covan and Nick Castle. He said that Nick Castle taught him a lot about music and dance.
Before joining The Betty White Show, Arthur Duncan traveled a lot. He toured with the Jimmie Rodgers Show. He also danced in Europe for several years. He performed in cities like London, Paris, Cairo, Beirut, and Switzerland.
Standing Up for What's Right
In 1954, Duncan first appeared on The Betty White Show. He quickly became a regular dancer. However, when the show became popular across the country, some TV stations in the Jim Crow South threatened to stop showing it. This was because Arthur Duncan was African-American.
In an interview years later, Betty White said she refused to fire him. She even gave him more time on the show. She famously said, "I'm sorry, but, you know, he stays. Live with it." This showed her strong support for Arthur Duncan.
In 2018, Arthur Duncan reunited with Betty White on a TV show called Little Big Shots: Forever Young. He shared that he didn't even know about the controversy at the time. He thanked Betty White for helping him start his career.
Entertaining Troops
In 1957, Duncan joined Bob Hope's group. They toured U.S. military bases as part of the United Service Organization (USO). He was the first African-American to be part of this 100-member group. The tour entertained U.S. troops during the Cold War and Vietnam War. It gave soldiers a moment of fun and relief. Arthur Duncan said it was "the best thing I could have done to help my country."
Joining The Lawrence Welk Show
After his time on The Betty White Show and with the USO, Arthur Duncan was noticed by Lawrence Welk's manager. He first appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show as a guest in 1964. Soon after, he was asked to become a regular member of Welk's "musical family."
Dancing with the Best
In the 1980s, Arthur Duncan danced at many events with other famous tap dancers. In 1988, he performed in "An Evening of Tap" at Lincoln Center. This event was called a "tap dancer's summit." It featured amazing dancers like Savion Glover, Bunny Briggs, Jimmy Slyde, and Gregory Hines. Arthur Duncan danced with Gregory Hines again that year at Carnegie Hall.
Arthur Duncan also starred in a musical. In 1988, he played Mr. Magix in "My One and Only." This musical won three Tony Awards. He continued to perform well into the 2000s. He danced at the Los Angeles Tap Festival every year from 2004 to 2008.
The Lawrence Welk Show (1964–1982)
Arthur Duncan is most famous for his time on The Lawrence Welk Show. He was a regular performer from 1964 until 1982. Lawrence Welk introduced him as "a credit to his race and to the entertainment profession." Duncan was the first Black person to be a regular on a variety show.
Being the only Black man on the show was a big responsibility. He often pre-recorded his tap dancing. He said he "didn't take chances." This meant he couldn't always try new things, which is a fun part of tap dancing.
His weekly performances on The Lawrence Welk Show gave tap dancing a lot of attention. This was important because tap dancing wasn't very popular at that time. Even though he mostly tapped by himself, he also danced with Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel on the show.
Later Years
In 1989, Arthur Duncan appeared in the film Tap. He had a small role with other famous tap dancers. He also made guest appearances on TV shows like Diagnosis Murder with Dick Van Dyke and Columbo with Peter Falk.
Arthur Duncan was honored many times for his contributions to tap dance. In 2004, he was honored at the "Tap Extravaganza" in New York City. In 2006, he was recognized at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival.
In 2017, Duncan appeared on the show Little Big Shots: Forever Young. He performed a dance and reunited with actress Betty White. In 2018, he appeared on The Talk. He surprised co-host Sheryl Underwood, who said he was her inspiration for tap dancing.
Personal Life and Death
Arthur Duncan served in the army as a private. His brother, Wilbur, was in the navy.
Arthur Duncan passed away on January 4, 2023, in Moreno Valley, California. He was 97 years old. He died from a stroke and pneumonia. After his death, it was shared that he was actually born in 1925. During his life, many biographies mistakenly said he was born in 1933. His wife said he never corrected this because "he never wanted to discuss anything personal."
Awards
Arthur Duncan received many awards and much recognition for his amazing tap dancing career.
- In 2003, he was featured on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. He represented "the eldest of three generations of tap." The dance number was choreographed by Jason Samuels Smith and won an Emmy Award.
- In 2004, he won the Flo-Bert Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York City Tap Extravaganza.
- In 2005, he received the Living Treasure in American Dance Award from Oklahoma City University.
- In 2006, he was honored at the 15th Annual St. Louis Tap Festival for his "lifetime contribution to the art of tap dance."
- In 2008, Oklahoma City University gave him an honorary Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance degree.
- In 2011, the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Finally, in 2020, he was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Duncan in 1962
