“Danny Kaye Has Led Charmed Life”
The Morning Record – Sep. 28, 1967
By: John Gale (Associated Press Writer)
COPENHAGEN (AP) – It’s been nearly 30 years since Danny Kaye arrived on Broadway, but time treated him gently.
Public acclaim and a larger-
In Copenhagen to give a lift to the capital’s 800th anniversary celebrations, Kaye owned up to a restlessness that has kept him moving round the globe since making his last TV show in April.
“The restlessness built up during the four years I was doing the show,” he said. “I just had to be in one place in California for months at a time.”
“When I finished, I played in Vegas but cut that short, went to Israel for a month, went home for five days and then to the South Pacific for 16 days.”
Kaye was asked what, if anything, worried him about show business these days.
“Success,” he said, “that comes too quickly and by the same token brings about it’s own demise just as quickly.
“Longevity is not nearly as prevalent these days as it was years ago when you had to go out and really work hard. People now hit the top almost immediately. When they slide, they hit the bottom. There’s no question of coming down a rung, regrouping, and getting up there again.
“For my money, what it takes is talent, desire and experience in that order. You have got to have it.”
For a man in his sixth decade, Kaye is showing pretty strongly on longevity.
“The word ‘entertaining’ explains just what I do,” he said. “I’m not really a singer, dancer or actor. Entertaining comprises all the things I do.
“You are basically born with a talent. A lot of the rest depends on what kind of person you are because talent is not something you take out of a box in the morning and use when you go on stage.
“If you grow and develop as a human being, then your talent develops along with you. Sure, the years go by but you quite unconsciously begin to pace yourself a bit.
“I’ve always remained fairly fit, probably weigh the same today as 20 years ago. I drink very little, eat when I’m hungry.”
Kaye looked at the half-
“Eating habits are important too. Sometimes, I get up in the morning and eat a steak. Sometimes, it’s just coffee.”
Back home in Beverly Hills, the entertainer has what he called a whole Chinese kitchen and likes giving dinner parties for six or eight guests. Other things he enjoys are flying (he holds a commercial pilot’s license, jet rated) and taking out his daughter Dena, still in school at Stanford.
The man whose career has prospered on making people laugh does not believe he has a more sensitive funny bone than the average person.
“The same things that amuse me would probably amuse you.”