# Danny Gans > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Danny_Gans > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Danny_Gans.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Gans > Source revision: 1356019296 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American singer (1956–2009)}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Danny Gans | image = Danny Gans.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birth_date = October 25, 1956 | birth_place = [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|05|1|1956|10|25}} | death_place = [Henderson, Nevada](/source/Henderson%2C_Nevada), U.S. | medium = [Stand-up comedy](/source/Stand-up_comedy), [theater](/source/theater) | active = 1984–2009 | genre = [Impressions](/source/Impressionist_(entertainment)) | subject = | website = {{url|http://www.dannygans.com}} }} '''Danny Davies Gans''' (October 25, 1956 – May 1, 2009){{cite news|title=Danny Gans, Impressionist, Dies at 52|first=William|last=Grimes|date=May 2, 2009|accessdate=May 2, 2009|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/arts/02gans.html}} was an American [singer](/source/Singing), [comedian](/source/comedian) and [vocal impressionist](/source/Impressionist_(entertainment)).{{Cite web|last= |first= |date=2009-05-02|title=Danny Gans dies at 52; Las Vegas entertainer|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-danny-gans2-2009may02-story.html|access-date=2020-11-24|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} ==Career== Gans was a performer on the [Las Vegas Strip](/source/Las_Vegas_Strip) and the surrounding area, where he was billed as "The Man of Many Voices." He had been named [Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year](/source/Las_Vegas_Entertainer_of_the_Year) and his production had been awarded Show of the Year for 10 straight years from 1998 to 2008.{{cite web | title=Danny Gans On His Own Mortality And Legacy | url=https://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2009/05/danny-gans-on-his-own-mortality-and.html | publisher= | date= May 2009| accessdate=2009-05-07}} Prior to entering show business, Gans was a professional baseball player. He was drafted by the [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox) after being named an [All-America](/source/All-America) at [California Polytechnic State University](/source/California_Polytechnic_State_University) in [San Luis Obispo](/source/San_Luis_Obispo%2C_California) where he was a Physical Education major. It was at Cal Poly that he met his wife, Julie.{{cite news|title=Danny Gans Has Faith, Fame|first=Scott|last=Roark|date=Fall 2008|accessdate=2009-05-03|work=[Cal Poly Magazine](/source/Cal_Poly_Magazine)|url=http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/magazine/Fall-08/Gans.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928084659/http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/magazine/Fall-08/Gans.html|archive-date=2011-09-28|url-status=dead}} Later, he held a small role as a third baseman in the romantic comedy ''[Bull Durham](/source/Bull_Durham)'' (1988). After an injury ended his sporting career—a player's spikes tore his [Achilles tendon](/source/Achilles_tendon) while he was [fielding](/source/Baseball_positions) a [ground ball](/source/ground_ball)—Gans turned to the entertainment industry. Gans began his career on the road, performing mostly at private corporate functions. In 1992, he played [Dean Martin](/source/Dean_Martin) in the CBS miniseries ''[Sinatra](/source/Sinatra_(miniseries))''. In 1995, he moved to [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) to perform a one-man show but later decided to move to [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas) to reduce time away from his family, who lived in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). Gans started his Las Vegas stay at the [Stratosphere Hotel](/source/The_Strat) in 1996.{{cite web|title=Biography |url=http://www.dannygans.com/biography.htm |accessdate=2009-05-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516084051/http://www.dannygans.com/biography.htm |archivedate=May 16, 2008 }} His show there was successful and he moved over to the [Rio](/source/Rio_All_Suite_Hotel_and_Casino) in 1998. In 2000, Gans' show moved again, this time to [The Mirage](/source/The_Mirage) where the Danny Gans Theatre was built for him. In February 2009, Gans changed venues again and performed at [Encore Las Vegas](/source/Encore_Las_Vegas), the sister property to [Wynn Las Vegas](/source/Wynn_Las_Vegas). The marquee on Las Vegas Strip bearing his image at one time held the record as the largest freestanding marquee in the world. His first record album, produced by [Michael Omartian](/source/Michael_Omartian), was cross-marketed in both the [pop](/source/pop_music) and [Christian music](/source/Christian_music) genres and, although Gans never charted, it sold in both mainstream and Christian music outlets.{{Cite web|last=Katsilometes|first=John|date=2009-05-02|title=Danny Gans: A star of our own|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/02/star-our-own/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=Las Vegas Sun|language=en}} At the time of his death, he was grossing $18 million a year. He was also known for his [vintage car](/source/vintage_car) collection. ==Death== Gans died on May 1, 2009, at his home in [Henderson, Nevada](/source/Henderson%2C_Nevada),{{cite news |first= Dan|last= Barry|title=Vegas's Man of Many Voices Falls Silent |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/21land.html?scp=5&sq=danny%20gans&st=cse|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) |date=May 20, 2009 |accessdate=2009-05-21 }} shortly after his wife called paramedics saying he was having difficulty breathing.{{cite news|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/11/report-raises-questions-pain-specialists/|title=Danny Gans report raises questions from pain specialists|first=Marshall|last=Allen|date=2009-06-11|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|accessdate=2009-11-11}}{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Marshall|date=2009-06-25|title=Police release incident report, 911 call in Danny Gans death - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/25/police-release-incident-report-danny-gans-death/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=lasvegassun.com|language=en}} The cause of death was a drug toxicity caused by the combination of [hydromorphone](/source/hydromorphone) (an [opiate](/source/opiate), commonly marketed under the name Dilaudid) and a pre-existing heart condition.{{cite news|title=Drug toxicity cited in death of Las Vegas' Danny Gans|first=Ashley|last=Powers|date=2009-06-09|accessdate=2009-06-09|work=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-danny-gans10-2009jun10,0,1947789.story|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612021240/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-danny-gans10-2009jun10%2C0%2C1947789.story|archivedate=2009-06-12}} It was determined that his death was caused by an adverse drug reaction, and was not drug abuse-related.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktla.com/news/ktla-danny-gans,0,4784941.story|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120907081129/http://www.ktla.com/news/ktla-danny-gans,0,4784941.story|archive-date=7 September 2012|title=Coroner: Danny Gans Died From Toxic Drug Reaction|work=ktla.com|access-date=26 November 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/09/coroner-danny-gans-died-f_n_213353.html |title=Coroner: Danny Gans Died From Drug Reaction |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2009-06-09 |accessdate=2011-08-03}} Gans had three children, Amy, Andrew and Emily. He is interred at [Forest Lawn Memorial Park](/source/Forest_Lawn_Memorial_Park_(Glendale)) in [Glendale, California](/source/Glendale%2C_California).{{Cite web|url = https://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/entertainment/celebrity/wynn-clooney-exchange-barbs-again|title = Wynn, Clooney exchange barbs, again, Gans Moved to Forest Lawn|last = Clark|first=Norm|website = Las Vegas Review-Journal|date = 4 May 2014|access-date = 2016-03-09}} ==Film and television== Gans had been noted many times for his role in ''Bull Durham'', although his role in the movie was ultimately downsized. He used this role as an addition to his resume, even going on [Roy Firestone](/source/Roy_Firestone)'s show and promoting the role while holding a picture of himself from the movie to prove that he was, in fact, in it. Gans played Roger in the television series ''[Silk Stalkings](/source/Silk_Stalkings)'' for 12 episodes (1991–92), played Scott Babylon in the sitcom ''[Duet](/source/Duet_(TV_series))'' (1987–89), and reprised his role in the spin-off ''[Open House](/source/Open_House_(1989_TV_series))'' (1989–90). In the ''[Roseanne](/source/Roseanne_(TV_series))'' episode "Vegas, Vegas" (1991), he played a Wayne Newton impersonator.{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2009-05-01|title=Las Vegas singer Danny Gans dies|url=https://variety.com/2009/legit/markets-festivals/las-vegas-singer-danny-gans-dies-1118003082/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}} He had an uncredited cameo as himself in the sci-fi adventure movie ''[Race to Witch Mountain](/source/Race_to_Witch_Mountain)'' (2009).{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Gans was mentioned several times, but did not appear, in an episode of the sitcom ''[Gary Unmarried](/source/Gary_Unmarried)'' (which aired shortly after his death, on May 6, 2009). When aired, the episode was accompanied by an "In Memory Of" end-credit dedicated to Gans. In the 2025 film ''Voices: the Danny Gans Story'', his son Andrew tells the story of his father through interviews and performances.{{Cite web |last=Molloy |first=Tim |date=2026-04-10 |title=In Voices: The Danny Gans Story, a Son Understands His Iconic Father - MovieMaker Magazine |url=https://www.moviemaker.com/voices-the-danny-gans-story-andrew-davies-gans/ |access-date=2026-04-11 |website=www.moviemaker.com |language=en-US}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} {{baseballstats|brm=gans--001dan}} * {{IMDb name|0304523}} * [https://latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-danny-gans2-2009may02,0,529059.story ''Los Angeles Times'' report of Gans' death] {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Gans, Danny}} Category:1956 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Accidental deaths in Nevada Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:American male television actors Category:American performers of Christian music Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Category:Cal Poly Mustangs baseball players Category:Drug-related deaths in Nevada Category:Singers from Los Angeles Category:People from Henderson, Nevada Category:California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, alumni Category:Comedians from Los Angeles Category:20th-century American comedians Category:20th-century American male actors Category:20th-century American male singers Category:Las Vegas shows --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Danny Gans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Gans) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Gans?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.