Tommy Davidson
![]() | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification, as its only attribution is to self-published sources; articles should not be based solely on such sources. (February 2021) |
Tommy Davidson | |
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![]() Davidson in 2008 | |
Born | Anthony Reed[1] November 10, 1963 Rolling Fork, Mississippi, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of the District of Columbia |
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Years active | 1984–present[2] |
Known for | Various roles in In Living Color Rushon in Booty Call Mitchell in Between Brothers Dexter in Malcolm and Eddie Womack/Sleep'n Eat in Bamboozled Oscar Proud in The Proud Family |
Children | 4 |
Thomas Davidson (born November 10, 1963) is an American comedian and actor.[3] 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) & its 2022 revival, Rushon in Booty Call (1997), Womack in Bamboozled (2000), 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.
Early years
Born Anthony Reed in Greenville, Mississippi,[1][4] Davidson was abandoned in the trash at 18 months old, before being rescued by the woman who became his adoptive mother.[5][6] He was a child of an interracial adoption, being that his adoptive parents are white.[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.[7]
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][5] He attended Rosemary Hills Elementary School, Sligo Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, in Bethesda, Maryland.[1][5] After graduating in 1981,[5] he studied communications and interned at the radio station of the University of the District of Columbia for one semester.[8] 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][5]
Early career
Davidson started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1986,[2] when a childhood friend convinced him to perform stand-up at The Penthouse strip club in Park View, Washington, D.C.[5][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.[5] Soon afterwards, he moved to North Hollywood, California, where he met Martin Lawrence, who lived in his building.[5][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.[5] After performing at Luther Vandross and Anita Baker shows, he appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show.[5]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Strictly Business | Bobby | |
1993 | CB4 | Weird Warren | |
A Cool Like That Christmas | Orlando | Voice, television film | |
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 | Television film | |
2004 | Funky Monkey | Harland | |
2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Oscar Proud | Voice, television film |
2009 | Black Dynamite | Cream Corn | |
Pimp 24/7 | Detective Bill | Television film | |
2011 | Dance Fu | Addict | |
2012 | Who Killed Soul Glow | - | |
2016 | Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens | Aston Reynolds | Television film |
2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | Homeless Comic | |
Frat Pack | Big Daddy | ||
2021 | Miracles Across 125th Street | - | |
TBA | The Outlaw Johnny Black | Clancy |
Television
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" | |
1999-2000 | 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 | Weakest Link | Himself | Episode: "Comedians Special" |
2001-03 | Hollywood Squares | Himself/Panelist | Recurring Guest |
2001-05 | The Proud Family | Oscar Proud | Voice, main role |
2002 | MADTv | Woogie Jones Johnson | Episode: "Episode #8.11 & #8.19 & #9.6" |
2004-05 | The Bernie Mac Show | Lou | Episode: "Who Gives This Bride" & "Family Reunion" |
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" | |
2006-07 | 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 |
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!" | |
2011-15 | Black Dynamite | Cream Corn/Scarecrow (voice) | Main Cast |
2015 | Celebrity Wife Swap | Himself | Episode: "Corey Feldman and Tommy Davidson" [13] |
Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Himself | Episode: "Danny Pintauro's Secret, Tommy Davidson's Surprising Past & Holly Madison" | |
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 | 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 Guest: 6 episodes |
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" | |
2021-22 | The Ms. Pat Show | Marcus | Episode: "Brotha Poppins" & "Queen of the Court" |
2022 | 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–present | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Oscar Proud | Voice, main role |
2023 | Disney How NOT to Draw | Oscar Proud | Voice, episode: "Suga Mama" |
Comedy Specials
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Takin' It To D.C. | Himself | Stand-Up Special |
1991 | Illin' in Philly | Himself | Stand-Up Special |
1996 | On The Strength | Himself | Stand-Up Special |
2009 | Shaq & Cedric the Entertainer Present: All Star Comedy Jam | Himself | Stand-Up Special |
Music Video
Year | Song | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | "Fun House" | Kid 'n Play | Devil |
Book
- Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (1996). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. pp. 14–.
{{cite book}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ 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 k 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (August 18, 2015). "Tommy Davidson just a normal guy on 'Celebrity Wife Swap'". Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan). p. D3.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1963 births
- African-American male actors
- African-American male comedians
- American male comedians
- 21st-century American comedians
- American sketch comedians
- American stand-up comedians
- American male voice actors
- American male television actors
- American male film actors
- American adoptees
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School alumni
- Living people
- People from Rolling Fork, Mississippi
- People from Greenville, Mississippi
- People from Wheaton, Maryland
- People from Silver Spring, Maryland
- People from Takoma Park, Maryland
- Male actors from Mississippi
- University of the District of Columbia alumni
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American people