From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaDavis was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thelma vanPutten Langhorn, a nurse, and Toussaint L'Ouverture Davis, a Baptist minister.[1] He was raised in Mastic, New York.
Clifton starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the mid 1970's television show That's My Mama with Theresa Merritt, Theodore Wilson and Ted Lange (who subsequently became a mainstay of The Love Boat). Davis' romantic interest with songstress and Broadway performer Melba Moore led to his co-starring role on her musical variety television show.
Davis made a guest appearance on the third episode of the first season of The Bobby Vinton Show in September 1975, singing "I've Got The Music In Me" and "Never Can Say Goodbye". He successfully sang the Polish lyrics with Vinton to the show's "My Melody of Love" theme song.Before finding fame in acting, Davis worked as a songwriter, most famously penning The Jackson 5's #2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye".
A triple heart bypass survivor, he participated in the "superstars" celebrity TV sports competitions of the seventies. He also appeared in the film Scott Joplin in 1977.
Davis released one acclaimed (and now hard to find) studio recording in 1991 on Benson Records titled Say Amen. He also appeared as a panelist in the second version of The Match Game.
He played the mayor of Miami in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday.
Minister
In addition to being an actor and a singer, he is also an ordained baptist[2] minister. Davis holds a BA in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University[3]. For the last 25 years he has been an active part of Youthville, USA a children's services organization. He currently serves as National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman. He is the emcee and host of The Most Soulful Sound, an annual gospel choir competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament in Elizabeth City, NC at Elizabeth City State University, where he served as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement. Since the end of 2005 Davis has held the position of Executive Director for Welcome America, a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that produces the largest Fourth of July celebration each year in the nation.
Davis is a frequent guest host on Trinity Broadcasting Network. Davis also hosted the Gospel Superfest TV show from 2000 to 2008, which is syndicated by United Television.
Davis is the author of an autobiographical essay entitled "A Mason Dixon Memory" in which he recounts his experiences as an eighth grader dealing with prejudice on a trip to a southern state.[4] A real life minister, Davis also portrayed a minister on the prime time series AMEN.
