Davey Lee
Encyclopedia
Davey Lee was an American
child actor. He was born in Hollywood, California, USA. He appeared in six feature films between 1928 and 1930.
At the age of three he made his screen debut in one of the early talkies The Singing Fool
(1928) starring Al Jolson
, in which he played the part of Sonny Boy. The Singing Fool remained the most successful film until Gone with the Wind
(1939), produced by MGM. It was Warner Bros.
' most successful film for more than ten years. The theme song "Sonny Boy
" became the first film song to sell over a million copies.
Davey Lee also played the title role in the film Sonny Boy (1929), starring Betty Bronson
. He returned to play opposite Al Jolson
in Say It With Songs
(1929).
His other films were Frozen River
(1929), in which he played opposite a dog Rin Tin Tin
, Skin Deep (1929) as the son of John Bowers
, and The Squealer (1930) as the son of Jack Holt
. This was Lee's last film.
Brother of another child actor, Frankie Lee
(1911-1970), Davey was taken out of films by his mother so that he could have a normal childhood.
After suffering a stroke, he was admitted to Windsor Gardens Healthcare Centre in Van Nuys, California, and died from natural causes in Los Angeles
on June 17, 2008.
In 1986, Davey was brought over to the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End to participate in the unveiling of a memorial bronze bust of Al Jolson, to commemorate the official centenary of his birth. This theatre was chosen because, to the best of knowledge, it was the only UK stage which Jolson ever stood on, although he did not perform, he merely appeared to promote his film. The evening was presented by UK impresario David Lee, a Jolson devotee who had, many years before, chosen David Lee as his stage name without knowing of the connection to Jolson. The show featured tributes to Jolson from Clive Baldwin, David Jacobs and, of course, Davey himself.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child actor. He was born in Hollywood, California, USA. He appeared in six feature films between 1928 and 1930.
At the age of three he made his screen debut in one of the early talkies The Singing Fool
The Singing Fool
The Singing Fool is a 1928 musical drama Part-Talkie motion picture which was released by Warner Brothers. The film starred Al Jolson and was a follow-up to his previous film, The Jazz Singer...
(1928) starring Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
, in which he played the part of Sonny Boy. The Singing Fool remained the most successful film until Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
(1939), produced by MGM. It was Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
' most successful film for more than ten years. The theme song "Sonny Boy
Sonny Boy (song)
"Sonny Boy" is a song written by Ray Henderson, Bud De Sylva, and Lew Brown. The hyper-sentimental tearjerker was featured in the 1928 talkie The Singing Fool. Sung by Al Jolson, the 1928 recording was a hit and stayed at #1 for 12 weeks in the charts and was a million seller...
" became the first film song to sell over a million copies.
Davey Lee also played the title role in the film Sonny Boy (1929), starring Betty Bronson
Betty Bronson
Betty Bronson was an American television and film actress who began her career during the silent film era. She was a famous actress in silent and sound films.-Film career:...
. He returned to play opposite Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
in Say It With Songs
Say It with Songs
Say It With Songs is a 1929 All-Talking musical drama motion picture which was released by Warner Bros.. The film starred Al Jolson and was a follow-up to his previous film, The Singing Fool .-Production:...
(1929).
His other films were Frozen River
Frozen River
Frozen River is a 2008 American drama film written and directed by Courtney Hunt. The screenplay focuses on two working-class women who smuggle illegal immigrants in the trunk of a car from Canada to the United States in order to make ends meet...
(1929), in which he played opposite a dog Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin was the name given to a dog adopted from a WWI battlefield that went on to star in twenty-three Hollywood films. The name was subsequently given to several related German Shepherd dogs featured in fictional stories on film, radio and television.-Origins:The first of the line Rin Tin...
, Skin Deep (1929) as the son of John Bowers
John Bowers
John Bowers was an American stage and silent film actor who starred in ninety-four films including short subjects.-Biography:...
, and The Squealer (1930) as the son of Jack Holt
Jack Holt (actor)
Jack Holt was an American motion picture actor. He was a leading man of silent and sound films, and was known for his many roles in Westerns.-Early life:...
. This was Lee's last film.
Brother of another child actor, Frankie Lee
Frankie Lee
Frankie Lee , was an American child actor. He appeared in 56 films between 1916 and 1925.He was born in Utah, USA and died in Los Angeles, California.-External links:...
(1911-1970), Davey was taken out of films by his mother so that he could have a normal childhood.
After suffering a stroke, he was admitted to Windsor Gardens Healthcare Centre in Van Nuys, California, and died from natural causes in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on June 17, 2008.
In 1986, Davey was brought over to the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End to participate in the unveiling of a memorial bronze bust of Al Jolson, to commemorate the official centenary of his birth. This theatre was chosen because, to the best of knowledge, it was the only UK stage which Jolson ever stood on, although he did not perform, he merely appeared to promote his film. The evening was presented by UK impresario David Lee, a Jolson devotee who had, many years before, chosen David Lee as his stage name without knowing of the connection to Jolson. The show featured tributes to Jolson from Clive Baldwin, David Jacobs and, of course, Davey himself.