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Tommy Davidson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Thomas Davidson, see Thomas Davidson (disambiguation).
Tommy Davidson
Davidson in 2008
Born
Anthony Reed[1]

(1963-11-10) November 10, 1963 (age 60)
Rolling Fork, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of the District of Columbia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1984–present
Spouse
Amanda Moore
​
(m. 2015)​
Children6

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.

Early life

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Born 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

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Davidson 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

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Davidson and his wife Amanda Moore have been married since 2015, together they have two children.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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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

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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 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

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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

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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

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  • Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Davidson, Tommy; Teicholz, Tom (2020). Living in Color. Kensington Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4967-1294-3.
  2. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1996. pp. 14–.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Maron, Marc, "Episode 605 – Tommy Davidson / Phil Hendrie", WTF with Marc Maron, May 25, 2015. (24th minute).
  6. ^ Gebreyes, Rahel (October 27, 2014). "Tommy Davidson Looks Back On Being Adopted Into A White Family In The '60s". The Huffington Post.
  7. ^ Brown, Bridgit (July 22, 2010). "In Living Tommy". The Boston Banner. pp. 11, 13.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Stoddard, Christine (May 15, 2013). "Comedian Tommy Davidson Comes to Richmond". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  10. ^ Piccoli, Sean (April 20, 1990). "From strip joint to Fox: He's 'In Living Color'". The Washington Times. p. E1.
  11. ^ "WHMM Kicks Off Spring Membership Drive". Washington Informer. March 11, 1987. p. 18.
  12. ^ Doup, Liz (January 8, 1991). "The Fresh Face of Fame". The Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Amanda Moore is Tommy Davidson's Wife Who Owns a Business". 24 January 2024.
  14. ^ Hughes, Mike (August 18, 2015). "Tommy Davidson just a normal guy on 'Celebrity Wife Swap'". Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan). p. D3.
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