About
Born David Daniel Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, to Ukrainian Jewish immigrant parents, Danny Kaye began as an all-around entertainer in the Catskill resorts. He made his Broadway debut in The Straw Hat Revue (1939) and broke through with Lady in the Dark (1941), performing the rapid-fire song 'Tchaikovsky'. Signed by Samuel Goldwyn in 1944, he starred in Technicolor musical comedies like Wonder Man (1945) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947). He became UNICEF's first Goodwill Ambassador in 1954 and received an Honorary Oscar in 1955. He was also honored for his humanitarian work and his stage and television performances.
* 1913-01-18 — † 1987-03-03
Major works
- Wonder Man (1945)film
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)film
- Hans Christian Andersen (1952)film
- White Christmas (1954)film
- The Court Jester (1956)film
Key milestones
- 1954Appointed UNICEF's first Goodwill Ambassador.
- 1955Received an Honorary Academy Award for his unique talents and service to the industry.
- 1987Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
Themes
Musical comedyMime and physicalityHumanitarianArtistic versatilityFamily entertainment
Sources: britannica.com · kennedy-center.org · unicef.org