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Tommy Davidson (born November 10, 1963) is an American actor and comedian.[2] He was an original cast member on the sketch comedy TV show In Living Color, Mitchell on Between Brothers (1997–1999), Dexter on Malcolm & Eddie (1999–2000), Oscar Proud on The Proud Family (2001–2005) and its 2022 revival, Rushon in Booty Call (1997), Womack in Bamboozled (2000), and Cream Corn in Black Dynamite (2009) and its subsequent television series. In 2022, Davidson appeared on Storybound reading from his book, Living in Color: What's Funny about Me.
Tommy Davidson | |
|---|---|
 Davidson in 2008 | |
| Born | Anthony Reed[1] November 10, 1963 |
| Alma mater | University of the District of Columbia |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse |
Amanda Moore (m. 2015) |
| Children | 6 |
Early life
editBorn Anthony Reed in Rolling Fork, Mississippi,[1][3] Davidson was abandoned in the trash at 18 months old, before being rescued by a white woman who became his adoptive mother.[4][5] His parents changed his name to Thomas Davidson when they adopted him.[1] He has two older white siblings, Michael and Beryle. He and his family had moved from Colorado to Wyoming to Oregon by the time he was five years old.[6]
His parents divorced when he was five years old, and his mother and the children moved to Washington, D.C.[1] They later moved to Wheaton, Maryland, then the neighborhood of Rosemary Hills in Silver Spring, and then Takoma Park.[1][4] He attended Rosemary Hills Elementary School, Sligo Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, in Bethesda, Maryland.[1][4] After graduating in 1981,[4] he studied communications and interned at the radio station of the University of the District of Columbia for one semester.[7] He had jobs in the kitchen of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, cleaning at Roy Rogers, bussing tables at an IHOP in Wheaton, and working in the stockroom of Hechinger in Hyattsville, Maryland.[1][4]
Career
editDavidson started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1984,[8] when a childhood friend convinced him to perform stand-up at The Penthouse strip club in Park View, Washington, D.C.[4][9] He continued performing in various comedy clubs throughout the Washington Metropolitan region, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. He opened concerts for Patti LaBelle, Starpoint, and Kenny G.[10] He performed on a fundraising telethon for WHMM in 1987.[11]
Davidson won an amateur stand-up competition at the Apollo Theater in 1987.[4] Soon afterwards, he moved to North Hollywood, California, where he met Martin Lawrence, who lived in his building.[4][12] He performed at the Comedy Store, where Robert Townsend heard of him and asked him to be the warm-up comic for an HBO special.[4] After performing at Luther Vandross and Anita Baker shows, he appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show.[4]
Personal life
editDavidson and his wife Amanda Moore have been married since 2015, together they have two children.[13]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Strictly Business | Bobby | |
| 1993 | CB4 | Weird Warren | |
| 1995 | Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls | The Tiny Warrior | |
| 1997 | Booty Call | Rushon | |
| Plump Fiction | Julius | ||
| 1998 | Woo | Tim | |
| 1999 | Pros & Cons | Ron Carter | |
| 2000 | Bamboozled | Womack/Sleep'n Eat | |
| 2002 | Juwanna Mann | Puff Smokey Smoke | |
| The Scream Team | Jumper | TV movie | |
| 2004 | Funky Monkey | Harland | |
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Oscar Proud (voice) | TV movie |
| 2009 | Black Dynamite | Cream Corn | |
| Pimp 24/7 | Detective Bill | TV movie | |
| 2011 | Dance Fu | Addict | |
| 2012 | Who Killed Soul Glow | Himself | |
| 2016 | Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens | Aston Reynolds | TV movie |
| 2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | Homeless Comic | |
| Frat Pack | Big Daddy | ||
| 2021 | Miracles Across 125th Street | Bishop Wishoff | TV movie |
| 2023 | Outlaw Johnny Black | Clancy | |
| So Fly Christmas | Pastor | TV movie | |
| 2024 | The Realtor | Bruce Kevin |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Prince Tariq | Episode: "Coming to America" |
| 1990–94 | In Living Color | Himself/Cast Member | Main Cast |
| 1992 | Roc | Donald | Episode: "The Hand That Rocs the Cradle" |
| 1993 | The Commish | Reese | Episode: "Rising Sun" |
| Martin | Varnel Hill | Episode: "Hollywood Swinging Parts 1 & 2" | |
| 1994 | Just for Laughs | Himself | Episode: "Episode #9.1" |
| Duckman | Marvin (voice) | Episode: "Joking the Chicken" | |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Jester (voice) | Episode: "The Frog Prince" |
| 1996 | The Ren & Stimpy Show | Sammy Mantis (voice) | Episode: "Sammy and Me" |
| 1997 | MADTv | Himself/Host | Episode: "Episode #2.14" |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "Pavement" | |
| Boston Common | Darrell | Episode: "Soup to Nuts" | |
| 1997–99 | Between Brothers | Mitchell Ford | Main Cast |
| 1999 | All That | Himself | Episode: "All That Live! (100th Episode)" |
| Premium Blend | Himself/Host | Main Host: Season 3 | |
| Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Cassim (voice) | Episode: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" | |
| 1999–00 | Malcolm & Eddie | Dexter Sherman | Guest: Season 3, Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 2000 | Cousin Skeeter | - | Episode: "The Feminine Ms. Skeet" |
| The Wonderful World of Disney | Max (Head Elf) | Episode: "Santa Who?" | |
| 2001 | The Test | Himself/Panelist | Episode: "The Fatal-Attraction Test" |
| Weakest Link | Himself | Episode: "Comedians Special" | |
| 2001–03 | Hollywood Squares | Himself/Panelist | Recurring Guest |
| 2001–05 | The Proud Family | Oscar Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2002 | I Love the '80s | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| MADTv | Woogie Jones Johnson | Episode: "Episode #8.11 & #8.19 & #9.6" | |
| 2004 | The Sharon Osbourne Show | Himself/Guest Host | Episode: "March 29, 2004" |
| 2004–05 | The Bernie Mac Show | Lou | Guest Cast: Season 3-4 |
| 2005 | The Drop | Himself | Episode: "Episode #2.8" |
| Poorman's Bikini Beach | Himself | Episode: "La Bamba Tour, Internet Modelpalooza, and Benchwarmer Party" | |
| Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Oscar Proud (voice) | Episode: "Spats" | |
| 2006 | In the Mix | Himself | Episode: "Episode #2.5" |
| 2006–07 | Comics Unleashed | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.19" & "#2.1" |
| 2007 | Everybody Hates Chris | Eddie | Episode: “Everybody Hates Houseguests” |
| 2008 | Live at Gotham | Himself/Host | Episode: "Episode #3.4" |
| Battleground Earth | Himself | Episode: "Finale at the Greek" | |
| 2009 | Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| For the Love of Ray J | Himself | Episode: "The Foxes are Feuding" | |
| Comedy.TV | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.8" | |
| 2009–18 | Laugh Factory | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| 2010 | Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | Himself | Episode: “The Johnson Family” |
| 2011 | Comedy All-Stars | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 2011–15 | Black Dynamite | Cream Corn (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2013 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Episode: "Coco/Craig Kilborn/Diana DeGarmo/Tommy Davidson" |
| 2014 | Gotham Comedy Live | Himself/Host | Episode: "Tommy Davidson" |
| Chopped | Himself/Contestant | Episode: "Chopped Tournament of Stars: Comedians!" | |
| 2015 | Celebrity Wife Swap | Himself | Episode: "Corey Feldman and Tommy Davidson" [14] |
| Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Kevin Davis Jr." | |
| 2016 | Celebrity Family Feud | Himself | Episode: "Tommy Davidson vs. Kristi Yamaguchi/Dave Foley vs. Jalen Rose" |
| Worst Cooks in America | Himself/Contestant | Main Contestant: Season 9 | |
| 2016–17 | Celebrity Name Game | Himself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Melissa Peterman & Tommy Davidson 1-3" |
| 2016–18 | Vacation Creation | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 2017–19 | Funny You Should Ask | Himself | Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2 |
| 2018 | I'm Dying Up Here | Alan Lucas | Episode: "Plus One" |
| 2021 | Dark Humor | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| Soul of a Nation | Himself | Recurring Guest: Season 1 | |
| Uncensored | Himself | Episode: "Tommy Davidson" | |
| 2021–24 | The Ms. Pat Show | Marcus | Guest Cast: Season 1-2 & 4 |
| 2022 | The Real | Himself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: "Men of Comedy Week - Day 3" |
| Phat Tuesdays: The Era Of Hip Hop Comedy | Himself | Main Guest | |
| The Neighborhood | Jordan | Episode: "Welcome to the Feud" | |
| A Black Lady Sketch Show | Jimothy James Paul | Episode: "Y'all Want Some Blood Juice?" | |
| 2022– | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Oscar Proud (voice) | Main Cast |
| 2023 | See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Himself | Episode: "Laughing Out Loud" |
| Celebrity Squares | Himself | Episode: "Can't Have No Cold Hot Sauce" | |
| Disney How NOT to Draw | Oscar Proud (voice) | Episode: "Suga Mama" | |
| Disney Theme Song Takeover | Oscar Proud (voice) | Episode: "LaCienega's Theme Song Takeover" |
Comedy Specials
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Takin' It To D.C. | Stand-Up Special |
| 1991 | Illin' in Philly | Stand-Up Special |
| 1996 | On The Strength | Stand-Up Special |
| 2009 | Shaq & Cedric the Entertainer Present: All Star Comedy Jam | Stand-Up Special |
Music Videos
edit| Year | Artist | Song | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Kid 'n Play | "Fun House" | Devil |
| 1998 | Queen Latifah featuring Apache | "Bananas (Who You Gonna Call?)" | Himself |
| 2001 | Dr. Dre featuring Knoc-turn'al | "Bad Intentions" | Himself |
Book
edit- Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.
- ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1996. pp. 14–.
- ^ Leff, Bill; Snyder, Wendy (September 18, 2013). "Actor and comedian Tommy Davidson reminisces with Bill and Wendy about his "In Living Color" days, compares his life to Webster and talks about his upcoming show at Laugh Factory Chicago" (audio). WGN Radio.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Brown, DeNeen (February 18, 1996). "In Living Black-and-White: How Tommy Davidson's World Shaped His Very Funny Comedy". The Washington Post. p. G1.
- ^ Maron, Marc, "Episode 605 – Tommy Davidson / Phil Hendrie", WTF with Marc Maron, May 25, 2015. (24th minute).
- ^ Gebreyes, Rahel (October 27, 2014). "Tommy Davidson Looks Back On Being Adopted Into A White Family In The '60s". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Peterson, Miranda (February 1, 2012). "Laughing with Comedian Tommy Davidson: Tommy talks Obama, performing for the troops & how to start a career in comedy". joonbug. SkyNet Media Group LLC.
- ^ Stoddard, Christine (May 15, 2013). "Comedian Tommy Davidson Comes to Richmond". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ Piccoli, Sean (April 20, 1990). "From strip joint to Fox: He's 'In Living Color'". The Washington Times. p. E1.
- ^ "WHMM Kicks Off Spring Membership Drive". Washington Informer. March 11, 1987. p. 18.
- ^ Doup, Liz (January 8, 1991). "The Fresh Face of Fame". The Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015.
- ^ "Amanda Moore is Tommy Davidson's Wife Who Owns a Business". 24 January 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (August 18, 2015). "Tommy Davidson just a normal guy on 'Celebrity Wife Swap'". Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan). p. D3.
External links
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