Davy Kaye, MBE, born David Kodeish, (25 March 1916 — 3 February 1998), was a British actor and entertainer.
In his student days, he appeared on stage at school. His professional debut came in 1935 at the Mile End Empire. He had tried to enlist in the army during World War II, but was turned down due to being 4'11". He instead spent the war years entertaining the troops and on BBC radio.
When the war ended, Kaye toured in revues, notably playing Benny Southstreet in the original 1953 London production of Guys and Dolls. In 1954, he got a deal to present a new show each month at the Embassy Club in London, which he did every month until 1968. The '60s saw him begin to appear in films, including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Carry On at Your Convenience, Carry On Cowboy, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Crooks in Cloisters, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, and The Wrong Arm of the Law.
Despite earning a reputation for being difficult to work with, he was rarely out of work and was awarded an MBE in 1995. His children, Kaplan and Melody Kaye, also worked as entertainers.
He died at the age of 81.
Not to be confused with David Kaye.
Works on TV Tropes he appeared in:
Film- The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) — Trainer King
- Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) — Jean Pascal
- Carry On Cowboy (1965) — Josh Moses
- The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) — Davey Collins
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) — Admiral
- Carry On at Your Convenience (1971) — Benny
- It Takes a Thief, episode "The Three Virgins of Rome" (1969) — Roxell
- Sapphire and Steel, 6-episode story "Assignment Five" (1981) — Lord Mullrine
- You Rang, M'Lord?, episode "Royal Flush" (1990) — King Boris of Dalmatia
