Davey Lee

Davey Lee (actually David Lea, * December 29, 1924 or January 5, 1925 in Hollywood, † June 17, 2008 in Los Angeles ) was an American child actor.

Life

Davy Lee was a younger brother of the child stars Frankie Lee. He was known among other things, by the song Sonny Boy in the interpretation of Al Jolson: His first role in the film The Singing Fool, in which he played Jolson's three year old son. The nickname " Sonny Boy ," which he thus acquired, remained associated with him for the rest of his life. The song Sonny Boy is often regarded as the first Millionenhit; the success of the film The Singing Fool surpassed only Gone with the Wind.

With Edward Everett Horton and Betty Bronson Davey Lee was then for the now lost film Sonny Boy, a marital drama, facing the camera. After that he appeared in Frozen River, the first Rin -Tin -Tin movie. He acted himself a bite of the animal movie stars.

Again, with Al Jolson turned Lee in 1929 as "Little Pal " the film Say It With Songs. In the same year also recordings with Davey Lee were produced, which came under the title of Sonny Boy 's Bear Story on the market. The Bear Story, a monologue with little singing and orchestral accompaniment, sold very well.

Also in 1929, Davey Lee was seen in the movie Skin Deep and took on more plates. Copies of I've Lost My Dog and Davey and His Tog Tatters, which were produced at Brunswick, however, seem to have not survived. He had in 1930 in The Squealer His last film role.

At the age of six years ended Davey Lee, who earned 1930 3000 U.S. dollars a week, his film career. Perhaps this process health reasons played a role; perhaps his mother had also planned a lucrative vaudeville career for her son, but then did not take place. For later years, a photo with Al Jolson, Davey Lee is known that as a young man of about 24 years, again on his knees Jolson's shows him as once in a scene from his childhood. About further contacts between Jolson and Lee after his time as a child star, however, is not known. Lee still occurred later in plays on and appeared at events of the International Al Jolson Society, but otherwise led a life beyond the public. After suffering a stroke, he lived for several years in a nursing home.