Gail Davis

MAIN

Recommend (0)

•

Comments (0)

BIRTHDAY

January 01, 1925

Little Rock, AR

DIED

March 15, 1997

RECENT CREDITS

Flying Leathernecks (FILM) Aug. 28, 1951

Operation Pacific (FILM) Jan. 27, 1951

They Live by Night (FILM) Nov. 5, 1949

View all Gail Davis Credits

BIOGRAPHY

Expand Full Bio

Even as an infant, Gail Davis was "playing" characters younger than herself; she won the Most Beautiful Baby in Arkansas contest at the ripe old age of two. While a student at Texas University, Davis performed in a camp show, where she caught the eye of visiting celebrity Gene Autry. Placed under contract by Autry, she co-starred in 15 of his films and twice as many episodes of his various TV series, often cast as a pre-teen tomboy. From 1952 to 1956, she was starred on the Autry-produced TVer Annie Oakley. Even when production ceased on this series, Davis remained under contract to Autry, performing in his traveling rodeo as a rider, roper, and trick shooter. During this period, she was forbidden to cut off her trademarked Annie Oakley pigtails; it wasn't until 1959 that she was able to let down her hair, so to speak, as a guest star on The Perry Como Show. After a few more TV appearances, Gail Davis retired from acting; she later became a partner in a company that managed other celebrities.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Collapse Full Bio