Historical/Biographical Note

Evelyn Davis (1906-1982) was born and educated in New York City where she lived throughout her life. Before embarking on an acting career, Davis was a teacher, and later she 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: 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.