UDC: “We Are Black History”

Tommy Davidson

Comedian, Television and Film Actor

Tommy Davidson started his career as a stand-up comedian while still a student at the University of the District of Columbia.  He studied communications during the day and earned a passionate following, working nights at various comedy clubs around Washington, DC.  In just a short time—through sheer hard work—he was well on his way to launching a lengthy career as an actor and comedian.

As one of the cutting-edge, young stand-ups, he was spotted by major concert promoters, who booked him to open for A-list touring acts, including Patti LaBelle, Kenny G and Luther Vandross. It wasn’t long before he went to Hollywood and was performing stand-up at a number of clubs, including the Comedy Act Theatre, where he met Robert Townsend. This led to his first national television appearance, with a starring role in Partners in Crime (2005) and was the conduit to Keenen Ivory Wayans, who proved instrumental in Davidson’s career by offering him an opportunity to audition and join the uniquely talented cast of In Living Color (1990). He, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans made TV history with their originality.

Tommy’s impressive film debut was opposite Halle Berry in Strictly Business (1991). He immediately segued into high-profile films, starring opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in the romantic comedy, Woo (1998), and in the provocative urban comedy, Booty Call (1997).  His credits include numerous feature film roles, from Spike Lee’s Bamboozled (2000), where he received acclaim and praise for his turn as “Womack/Sleep ‘N Eats”, to Juwanna Mann (2002)  and the cameo in Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995).

Davidson’s hilarious impressions of Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson and other icons have become infamous. His visibility on In Living Color (1990) led to three Showtime specials: “On Strength of New York”, “Illin’ in Philly” and “Takin’ it to DC.”  His delivery on both the big and small screen led to other projects like the lead in the Disney’s animated series, The Proud Family (2001), and as a host on FOX’s “The NFL Show,” alongside football greats Michael Irvin and Tony Siragusa. Davidson also portrayed the lead in Will Smith’s animated series, “Youngin’s” (2000).

Davidson starred – along with 80 other star stand-ups in – I Am Comic (2010), opposite Tim Allen, Lewis Black, Sarah Silverman, Carlos Mencia, Jeff Foxworthy and Kathy Griffin. The film, which premiered on Showtime, is one of Netflix’s hits.  He scored big with reviewers and audiences, alike, opposite Michael Jai White, in the critically-lauded spoof comedy, Black Dynamite (2009).

He appeared in the award-winning documentary, Just Like Us (2010), a feature film which is a cross-cultural study of stand-up comedy bridging all ethnicities. Davidson travels internationally selling out at venues in which he headlines.

His latest venture, Vacation Creation, appears on the CW Network, and provides the opportunity for families with diverse backgrounds and unique stories to travel and explore the world together including locations such as Cartagena, Columbia to Moorea, and French Polynesia.

http://tommycat.net/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0203508/