A Holiday Salute to Danny Kaye

A dessert reception will follow the program.

Actor, singer, dancer, gourmet chef, symphony conductor, trailblazing humanitarian—Danny Kaye was a true renaissance man, and remains one of the most enduring and inspiring entertainment icons. On the occasion of the launch of a year-long celebration marking the centennial of his birth, and the recent DVD release of Christmas with Danny Kaye, a special collection of classic holiday-themed episodes of his Emmy-winning variety series The Danny Kaye Show (CBS, 1963–67), the Paley Center presents a memory-filled salute featuring rare clips and a panel of friends, his daughter, colleagues, and admirers in conversation.

Singular among show business headliners, Danny Kaye was an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. Perhaps best known for film performances in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Hans Christian Andersen, The Court Jester, and White Christmas, Kaye was equally as popular on Broadway, in productions including Lady in the Dark, and for his CBS television specials and his acclaimed variety hour. His one-man stage show thrilled audiences in Las Vegas, New York, and London. In addition to being UNICEF'S first Goodwill Ambassador, Kaye received countless accolades during his lifetime including Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, the French Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Danny Kaye Centennial celebration honors not only his commitment as an entertainer, but also his tireless humanitarian work.