Clifton Davis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clifton Davis
Davis in 1998
Born	Clifton Duncan Davis (1945-10-04) October 4, 1945 (age 79) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor singer songwriter minister author
Years active	1971–present
Known for	That's My Mama, Amen
Spouse(s)	Ann Taylor ​ (m. 1981⁠–⁠1991)​ Monica Durant ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	2

Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, minister, and author. He is known for his many talents!

Clifton Davis wrote the famous song "Never Can Say Goodbye" for The Jackson 5 in 1971. He has also performed in many Broadway shows like Hello, Dolly!, Aladdin, and Wicked. He was even nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Two Gentlemen of Verona.

On television, Davis starred in popular shows such as That's My Mama, Amen, and Madam Secretary. He has also hosted gospel music events like the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Besides acting and singing, he is a minister and has written a chapter in the book Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.

Early life and education

Clifton Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Thelma van Putten Langhorn, was a nurse, and his father, Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, was a minister. He grew up in Mastic, New York.

He attended Pine Forge Academy, which is a special boarding school for Black students run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Davis later earned a degree in Theology from Oakwood University. He also received a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.

Acting and music career

Davis in a club

Before becoming a well-known actor, Clifton Davis was a talented songwriter. He wrote the hit song "Never Can Say Goodbye" for The Jackson 5, which became a very popular song.

Davis started his Broadway career in the mid-1960s in the musical Hello, Dolly!. He later earned a Tony Award nomination in 1972 for his role as Valentine in the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona. This show was based on a play by Shakespeare.

In 2014, he returned to Broadway to play the Sultan in the stage version of Disney's Aladdin. More recently, in 2022, Davis joined the Broadway cast of Wicked, playing the character Dr. Dillamond.

On television, Clifton Davis starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the 1970s show That's My Mama. He also co-starred with Melba Moore on her musical TV show. From 1986 to 1991, he played Reverend Doctor Ruben Gregory in the sitcom Amen.

Davis has also appeared on game shows like Match Game and Pyramid. He has been in several movies, including Any Given Sunday (1999) where he played the mayor of Miami. In 2024, he appeared in the miniseries Clipped. He is also set to appear in a new TV show called Beyond the Gates in 2025.

Ministry and community work

Clifton Davis has been a minister for many years. From 1987 to 1989, he was an Associate Pastor at the Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has also been involved with Youthville, USA, an organization that helps children.

He is a licensed minister at St. Luke Baptist Church in New York City. Davis has hosted "The Most Soulful Sound," an annual gospel choir competition. He also hosts a yearly celebrity golf tournament at Elizabeth City State University.

Since 2005, Davis has been the executive director for Welcome America. This non-profit group organizes the biggest Fourth of July celebration in the United States each year in Philadelphia. He is also a frequent guest and host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television channel.

Filmography

Film roles

Television roles