Danny Kaye
ActingAbout Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; Yiddish: דוד־דניאל קאַמינסקי; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer, and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire novelty songs. Kaye starred in 23 films, notably 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). His films were popular, especially for his performances of patter songs and favorites such as "Inchworm" and "The Ugly Duckling". He was the first ambassador-at-large of UNICEF in 1954 and received the French Legion of Honour in 1986 for his years of work with the organization. Description above from the Wikipedia article Danny Kaye, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Danny Kaye Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Danny Kaye reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Danny Kaye's work falls within the Comedy genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 54% of Danny Kaye's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Showbiz Goes to War, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Danny Kaye Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Danny Kaye's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Danny Kaye has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | À la recherche de... Pierre Richard | Self - Actor (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Bing Crosby: Rediscovered | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Edith Head: The Paramount Years | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | 'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney | Phil Davis (archive footage) (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas | Phil Davis (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Sports on the Silver Screen | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | That's Dancing! | From 'White Christmas' (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Showbiz Goes to War | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Skokie | Max Feldman | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | An Evening with Danny Kaye and the New York Philharmonic | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Musical Comedy Tonight II | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Peter Pan | Captain Hook / Mr. Darling | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Pinocchio | Boris Stroganoff / Geppetto | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Songs for After a War | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Self / Marmaduke (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Here Comes Peter Cottontail | Seymour S. Sassafras / Colonel Wellington B. Bunny / Antoine (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Madwoman of Chaillot | The Ragpicker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Sound of Laughter | Nikolai Nikolayevich | Flop | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Man from the Diners' Club | Ernest Klenk | Flop | Similar → |
| 1961 | On the Double | Pfc. Ernie Williams | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Lifetime of Comedy | (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Five Pennies | Red Nichols | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The All-Star Christmas Show | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Me and the Colonel | S.L. Jacobowsky | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Merry Andrew | Andrew Larabee | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Court Jester | Hubert Hawkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | White Christmas | Phil Davis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Knock on Wood | Jerry Morgan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Hans Christian Andersen | Hans Christian Andersen | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | On the Riviera | Jack Martin / Henri Duran | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Moments in Music | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Inspector General | Georgi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Breakdowns of 1949 | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Task Force | Officer at the Dance (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | It's a Great Feeling | Danny Kaye (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | A Song Is Born | Hobart Frisbee | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Walter Mitty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn | Burleigh Sullivan | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Wonder Man | Edwin Dingle / Buzzy Bellew | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | I Am an American | Self (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Up in Arms | Danny Weems | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Night Shift | Danny Kaye | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Getting an Eyeful | Nikolai Nikolaevich | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Dime a Dance | Eddie | Flop | Similar → |
Danny Kaye - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Danny Kaye?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Danny Kaye is "Showbiz Goes to War" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Danny Kaye acted in?
Danny Kaye has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Danny Kaye?
Other notable films include "Sports on the Silver Screen", "Getting an Eyeful", and "Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration".