Clifton Davis
A multifaceted performer who shifted from writing R&B hits and starring on sitcoms to a life dedicated to ministry.
Born 1945 (age 81)·American actor, musician and minister·Birthday: October 4·The Silent Generation
Biography
Clifton Davis first captured public attention not on screen, but through songwriting, penning the Jackson 5's smooth hit 'Never Can Say Goodbye.' This early success signaled a career built on versatile talent. He soon became a familiar television face in the 1970s, most notably as the earnest Reverend Reuben Gregory on the sitcom 'Amen,' a role that intriguingly foreshadowed his future path. His acting career spanned Broadway—earning a Tony nomination for 'Two Gentlemen of Verona'—and recurring roles on shows like 'That's My Mama.' Yet in the 1990s, Davis made a profound personal shift, answering a call to ministry. He was ordained as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, balancing his entertainment work with preaching and spiritual leadership. This dual identity defines him: a man who moved from the glitter of show business to the gravity of the pulpit, using his charisma and communication skills in both arenas with equal conviction.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Clifton was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clifton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Clifton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 70
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 80
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 81 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote the classic soul ballad 'Never Can Say Goodbye,' a major hit for the Jackson 5 and many other artists.
- Starred as Reverend Reuben Gregory on the long-running NBC sitcom 'Amen' from 1986 to 1991.
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' in 1972.
- Was ordained as a Seventh-day Adventist minister, leading congregations while maintaining an entertainment career.
- Portrayed recurring character Oscar in the popular television series 'The Wayans Bros.' in the late 1990s.
Did You Know?
He was once engaged to actress and singer Toni Tennille, of Captain & Tennille fame.
Davis studied theology at Oakwood University and Andrews University to prepare for his ministry.
He appeared as a contestant on the game show 'The $25,000 Pyramid' in the 1970s.
His middle name is Duncan.
He performed in a national tour of the musical 'Ragtime' in the role of Booker T. Washington.
“I wrote 'Never Can Say Goodbye' for the Jackson 5.”
