Luther Davis


Luther Berryhill Davis was an American playwright and screenwriter. Over a span of 45 years, Davis worked extensively in theater, television and film, but is probably best remembered for his Tony Award winning book for the 1953 musical Kismet and the screenplay for the 1955 film adaptation.

Early life and education

Davis was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1934 and received a bachelor of arts from Yale College in 1938. He served in the United States Army Air Forces until 1945, rising to the rank of major. While in the army air forces, he served in Asia and Europe.

Career

In collaboration with Charles Lederer, Robert Wright, and George Forrest, Luther Davis wrote Kismet, Timbuktu!, and two different treatments of Vicki Baum’s novel Grand Hotel.
He received two Tony Awards in 1954 for Kismet as Best Author and as co-author of the book contributed to the Best Musical win. He was nominated again in 1978, for Most Innovative Production of a Revival, as producer of Timbuktu!, and in 1990 as author of the Best Book for Grand Hotel, The Musical.
He wrote fifteen movies, many television specials and co-produced Stephen MacDonald’s Off-Broadway play, Not About Heroes.
He won two Mystery Writers of America Edgar Awards and was nominated many times by the Writers Guild of America and the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Davis worked frequently in television, especially in the 1960s and early 1970s, with credits on shows ranging from The Addams Family to Columbo. Davis also created two short-lived series: the 1966 comedy The Double Life of Henry Phyfe starring Red Buttons, and the 1970 espionage drama The Silent Force. Davis occasionally used the pen name Paul Tuckahoe on his television work, especially if it had been rewritten by others.
He was the father of two daughters and was married to soap opera actress Jennifer Bassey, his companion since 1978, from 2004 until his death.

Credits

Stage plays

  • Kiss Them for Me
  • New Faces of 1952
  • Kismet
  • At The Grand - closed prior to a planned Broadway run
  • Timbuktu! - a reworked version of Kismet
  • Grand Hotel - a reworked version of ''At The Grand''

    Screenplays

  • The Hucksters
  • B.F.'s Daughter
  • Black Hand
  • A Lion Is in the Streets
  • New Faces
  • Kismet
  • The Eternal Sea
  • The Gift of Love
  • Holiday for Lovers
  • Le Meraviglie Di Aladino
  • Lady in a Cage
  • Daughter of the Mind
  • The Old Man Who Cried Wolf
  • Across 110th Street
NOTE: The film version of Kiss Them for Me was based on Davis' stage play, but Davis had no part in writing the screenplay, which was by Julius J. Epstein.

Television series

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
  • Bourbon Street Beat
  • Startime
  • Westinghouse Playhouse
  • Bus Stop
  • Target: The Corruptors
  • 87th Precinct
  • The Lloyd Bridges Show
  • Combat!
  • Kraft Suspense Theatre
  • The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
  • Run For Your Life
  • The Double Life of Henry Phyfe
  • The Addams Family
  • Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre
  • Ironside
  • It Takes A Thief
  • The Name of the Game
  • The Silent Force
  • Cade's County
  • Baretta
  • ''Columbo''