Danny Gans
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| Danny Gans | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 25, 1956 Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Died | May 1, 2009 (aged 52) Henderson, Nevada, USA |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy, theater |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1995-2009 |
| Genres | Impressionist (entertainment) |
| Subject(s) | Impersonations |
| Website | dannygans.com |
Daniel Davies Gans (October 25, 1956 – May 1, 2009)[1] was an American singer and comedian who found success as a vocal impressionist.
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[edit] Career
Gans was a headliner on the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding area for many years, where he was billed as "The Man of Many Voices". He had been named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year, and his production had also been awarded Show of the Year. As these awards would indicate, his fame was largely centered in Las Vegas.[2]
At one time, Gans was a professional baseball player. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox after being named an All-American at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo where he was a Physical Education major. It was at Cal Poly that he met his wife, Julie.[3] Later, he held a small role as a third baseman in the film Bull Durham. After an injury ended his sporting career — a player's cleats tore his achilles tendon while he was fielding a ground ball — Gans turned to the entertainment industry. Gans began his career on the road, performing mostly at private corporate functions. In 1992, he played Dean Martin in the CBS miniseries Sinatra.
In 1995, he moved to Broadway to perform a well-received one-man show, but later decided to move to Las Vegas to reduce time away from his family, who lived in Los Angeles.
Gans started his Las Vegas stay at the Stratosphere Hotel in 1996. He moved to the Rio Hotel shortly thereafter, and then on to The Mirage in 2000.[4] Gans was a permanent performer at The Mirage, where the Danny Gans Theatre was built for him.
In February 2009, Gans changed venues again, and performed at Encore, the sister property to Wynn Las Vegas.[5] "The marquee on Las Vegas Strip, bearing his image, is the largest freestanding marquee in the world."[6]
His inaugural album, produced by Michael Omartian, was cross-marketed in both the pop and Christian music genres, and sold in both mainstream and Christian music outlets, in much the same manner as Amy Grant.
In April 2007, a delegation of Kentucky Colonels went to Las Vegas and presented him with the Kentucky Colonel award. At the time of his death he was grossing $18 million a year.[7]
Gans died on May 1, 2009 at his home in Henderson, Nevada.[7] The cause of death was a drug toxicity caused by the combination of hydromorphone (an opiate, commonly marketed under the name Dilaudid) and a pre-existing heart condition.[8] It was determined that it was an accidental death and not drug abuse related.
Gans had three children, Andrew, Amy and Emily.[7]
[edit] Film history
Gans had been noted many times for his role in Bull Durham, although his part in the movie was ultimately downsized. He used this role as an addition to his resume, even going on Roy Firestone's show and promoting the role while holding a picture of himself from the movie to prove that he was in fact in it.
Danny Gans played Scott Babylon in the TV series Duet from 1987-1989, and reprised his role in the TV series Open House from 1989-1990. He also played a Wayne Newton impersonator on an episode of Roseanne when they went to Las Vegas for the wedding of Arnie and Nancy.
Gans was mentioned several times but did not appear in an episode of the TV series Gary Unmarried, filmed before his death, but aired just afterwards on May 6, 2009. When aired the episode was accompanied by an "In Memory Of" end-credit dedicated to Gans.
[edit] References
- ^ Grimes, William (May 2, 2009). "Danny Gans, Impressionist, Dies at 52". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/arts/02gans.html. Retrieved on May 2, 2009. "Danny Gans, whose seemingly bottomless repertory of impressions, some of them spoken but most of them sung, made him one of the top headliners on the Las Vegas Strip, died on Friday at his home posh home in the Roma Hills estates in Henderson, Nev. He was 52."
- ^ "Danny Gans On His Own Mortality And Legacy". http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2009/05/danny-gans-on-his-own-mortality-and.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
- ^ Roark, Scott (Fall 2008). "Danny Gans Has Faith, Fame". Cal Poly Magazine. http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/magazine/Fall-08/Gans.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-03.
- ^ "BIOGRAPHY". http://www.dannygans.com/biography.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-07. "In May 2008 Danny Gans celebrated 12 years in Las Vegas, the last eight of which have been spent...at the Mirage."
- ^ Danny Gans to star in the new Encore theatre in 2009, expired link
- ^ Fraser, Bob (2009-05-01). "Danny Gans, Vegas Legend, Has Died". The Show Biz Blog. http://theshowbizblog.com/?p=52. Retrieved on 2009-05-03.
- ^ a b c "Vegas’s Man of Many Voices Falls Silent". New York Times. May 20, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/21land.html?scp=5&sq=danny%20gans&st=cse. Retrieved on 2009-05-21.
- ^ Powers, Ashley (2009-06-09). "Drug toxicity cited in death of Las Vegas' Danny Gans". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-danny-gans10-2009jun10,0,1947789.story. Retrieved on 2009-06-09.
[edit] External links
- Baseball Reference article
- DannyGans.com, official web site
- Danny Gans at Internet Movie Database
- Cal Poly Magazine story about Danny Gans
- Danny Gans on EncoreLasVegas.com
- Elko Daily Free Press Gans' obit
- Report of Gans' death
- Los Angeles Times report of Gans' death
- Notice of Gans' death in Las Vegas Sun
- TabloidBaby.com's coverage of Gans' death and reaction
- Danny Gans at Find a Grave
- 911 call from Dannys' wife, report of Danny not responding
