Davis, Evelyn, 1906-1982

Evelyn Davis (1906-1982) was born and educated in New York City where she lived throughout her life. Before embarking on an acting career, Davis was a teacher, and later she worked as a model. In 1933 Davis joined the Hall Johnson Choir and appeared in Run Little Chillun!, a lyric drama by Hall Johnson. Her resume includes several Broadway plays: Happy Birthday and The Wisteria Trees with Helen Hayes, " Vicki" with Jose Ferrer, and " The Perfect Marriage" with Miriam Hopkins. Touring productions include Macbeth with Orson Welles and The Naked Genius with Gypsy Lee Rose. Davis continued to be cast in plays throughout the 1950s before venturing into minor roles in television and film. On television Davis appeared in the Omnibus production of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the NBC production of The Iron Gate. Her film credits include small roles in Shaft, " Nothing but a Man, Shaft's Big Score, and Final Cut.

Davis was also active in various theatrical organizations: Actors Equity Association (AEA), the American Federation of Television and Radio Actors (AFTRA), the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the Negro Actors Guild of America (NAG). Before her health began to fail, Davis was on the NAG-New York Branch Executive Board and also served as its Recording Secretary. In 1969, Davis was a delegate to SAG's Joint Equality Committee, which held a series of discussions on the issue of casting ethnic minorities in television commercials. Davis died on January 30, 1982 at Harlem Hospital in New York City.

Evelyn Davis was born on October 31, 1906 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Nothing But a Man (1964) and Shaft's Big Score! (1972). She died on January 30, 1982 in New York City.