Davis, Evelyn, 1906-1982

Evelyn Davis (1906-1982) was an African American actress in theater, TV, and film beginning in 1933 and continuing throughout her life. She appeared in supporting roles in numerous Broadway and touring productions. Later in her career, she worked more steadily in television and film. Davis was a member of various theater associations, including Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and the Negro Actors Guild of America, for which she served as a member of the Executive Board and as Recording Secretary. Davis was born and educated in New York City where she lived throughout her life. Before embarking on an acting career, she was a teacher, and later 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 including the 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.