Danny Kaye, born David Daniel Kaminsky, was an American actor, comedian, singer, and dancer. He was born on January 18, 1911, in Brooklyn, New York, to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants Jacob Kaminsky and Clara Nemerovsky. He went to Public School 149 in Brooklyn. The school’s name would later be changed to honor the actor. He then went to Thomas Jefferson High School but failed to graduate.
Many of Kaye’s performances involved physical comedy, rapid-fire novelty songs, and idiosyncratic pantomimes. He had his first break in 1993 after joining the Three Terpsichoreans, a vaudeville dance act. The troupe left for a tour in Asia in 1934. A heavy storm hit in one show, and the crowd became restless and nervous. Kaye reportedly went on stage holding a flashlight to his face and sang every song he could recall in an effort to calm them down. His experience with non-English speaking crowds inspired him to do pantomime gestures, facial expressions, and songs that eventually made his reputation. His first film debut was in 1937.
Kaye’s feature film debut was in a 1944 comedy, “Up in Arms.” He starred in a total of 17 films throughout the 40s and 50s, mostly in comedies. Some of his notable films include “Wonder Man” (1945), “The Kid From Brooklyn” (1946), “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1947), “The Inspector General” (1949), “Hans Christian Andersen” (1952), “White Christmas” (1954), and “The Court Jester” (1955). When he performed at the London Palladium in 1948, he reportedly left the crowd in “worshipful hysteria.” The British Royal Family was in attendance and, for the first time, left the royal box to watch Kaye’s performance from the front row.
Kaye had a quadruple bypass heart surgery and contracted hepatitis C from the blood transfusion in 1983. He died at the age of 76, four years later, from heart failure and internal bleeding. Kaye left a legacy that would become one of the hallmarks of the industry. The actor quickly gained fame and became iconic in the golden age of film and television. Many were left wondering about Kaye’s personal relations and preferences. People nowadays are also curious and want to get to know Kaye more personally. Was Danny Kaye gay? Did he get married? Did he have kids? Was he into men or women? Let’s find the answers to these questions as we read on.
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Danny Kaye’s Relationships
Kaye quickly got into the public’s eye as a handsome young actor in Hollywood. His charm, comedic timing, quick wit, and talent had many women, fans, and other actresses alike swooning over Kaye. But other men also came to appreciate Kaye’s charm. Here are a few of his rumored and notable relationships throughout the years.
Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine (1940-1987)
Sylvia Fine was an audition pianist from Brooklyn. Kaye worked a myriad of odd jobs before his acting career. One of which was being a dentist’s assistant to Fine’s father, Samuel. Kaye and Fine grew up together in Brooklyn and were married in Fort Lauderdale on January 3, 1940, after Kaye proposed to Fine via a telephone call. The couple were married for life except for a brief separation between 1946 and 1949. The couple had a child, Dena, who was born on December 17, 1946. She grew up to be a journalist.
Danny Kaye and Eve Arden (1946-1949
Eve Arden was an American film, radio, stage, and television actress. She starred in various leading and support roles throughout her decades-long career. She had a regular appearance on Kaye’s comedy-variety show. It was this involvement that sparked the rumors between the two. Though no confirmations were made, Kaye and Arden were allegedly together for an extended period.
Danny Kaye and Laurence Olivier (1949-1959)
Laurence Olivier and Kaye were rumored to be in a relationship. Donald Spoto claimed in his book “Laurence Olivier” that Kaye and Olivier had a 10-year secret affair. Though a media frenzy followed this reveal, it quickly died out as no evidence supported the claim. English journalist Terry Coleman studied Olivier’s archives and memorabilia and stated that he couldn’t find any evidence of any affair between the two actors. The claim soon fell into rumors and hearsay, but the allegations stuck. To this day, many still believe that Kaye and Olivier were lovers at some point. Neither Olivier nor Kaye made any remarks or acknowledged the allegations.
Danny Kaye’s Other Alleged Affairs and Flings
Kaye was no stranger to rumors and allegations about women in Hollywood throughout his career. He reportedly romanced singer Benay Venuta and dancer Gwen Verdon. He was also rumored to be involved with Shirley MacLaine and Pat Kirkwood. One particularly notable rumor was his affiliation with Princess Margaret of the British Royal Family.
Danny Kaye’s Other Endeavors
In his later years, Kaye became a home chef. He was particularly fond of Chinese and Italian cooking and even built a Chinese restaurant in his house. He taught Chinese cooking classes in San Francisco in the 70s. He also became an aviation enthusiast and a pilot. He began training for a license in 1959 and was eventually named Vice President of the Learjet Company. He was also named Honorary Member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Was Danny Kaye Gay?
No, Danny Kaye was not gay. Despite rumors surrounding his relations with Olivier, Kaye never made any confirmations, nor did he acknowledge the rumors. He was married to his childhood sweetheart, Sylvia Fine, and had a daughter with her. He was also rumored to be in a relationship with Eve Arden for several years. Kaye was also involved with many women, but his involvement with them remained private.
Featured Image: “Danny Kaye”, by Unknown, licensed under PDM 1.0 DEED