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Tom Davis Obituary
Davis' wife, Mimi Raleigh, said he died Thursday of throat and neck cancer at his home in the Hudson Valley, north of New York City. He was diagnosed in 2009.
Davis is best known as the thinner, taller partner in Franken and Davis, the off-kilter comedy duo who performed in the early years of the show. They also were among the first writers hired for the new show in 1975 and helped create memorable work such as the "Coneheads" skit with Dan Aykroyd and what evolved into the "Nick the Lounge Singer" skit starring Bill Murray performing lounge-lizard versions of songs including the "Star Wars" theme.
Raleigh said Davis and Franken "were two of the first writers hired - with one salary."
As performe rs, Davis was the quiet guy, overshadowed by the flashier Franken, who is now a Democratic senator from Minnesota. Davis, in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press, said, "If we were Sonny and Cher, he would be Cher."
Franken said he spoke with Davis's mother Thursday, and she recalled fondly all the laughter that would come from the basement when the two first got started in comedy.
"I visited Tom two weeks ago, and though he was deathly ill, we did a lot of laughing," Franken said. "He was a great friend, a good man, and so funny."
Dudley Riggs, founder of a comedy theater and improv in Minneapolis where Franken and Davis got their start in the 1970s before heading to "SNL," said Davis would always find "an oblique way" to tell a joke and had "a knack to be able to surprise."
Screenwriter Pat Proft called Davis and Franken a "perfect comedy team."
"Last I saw Tom he was happy," Proft said in an email. "He wrote his book. We talked. Had a wo nderful time. I'm sorry for his wife. His family. For Al. For all of us who know him. A very sad day."
Davis met Franken at a suburban prep school in Minnesota, where their first gig was making announcements at morning chapel. They hit it big with "SNL" and stayed there until 1980, then returned a few years later. Davis left the show in 1994, feeling frozen out. Still, he told the AP he would always treasure his time on the show.
"It's my family. It's my extended, dysfunctional family, and I love them," Davis said.
"SNL" creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels said "no one saw things the way that Tom did."
"He was funny, he was original and he was always there to help no matter the hour," he said. "And I always trusted his laugh. I can still kinda hear it."
In the 2009 interview with AP, Davis recalled spending his childhood watching "The Mickey Mouse Club" on television while wearing Mouseketeer Ears. He was the older of two brothers. Thei r father worked for 3M and their mother was the 1950 Queen of the Lakes of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, an annual summer festival.
In his memoir, "Thirty-Nine Years of Short-Term Memory Loss: The Early Days of SNL From Someone Who Was There," Davis also detailed friendships with counterculture legends Jerry Garcia and Timothy Leary, his own drug use and his travel as a young hippie to India in the 1970s.
Davis kept up his quirky sense of humor to the end, writing an essay on his experiences with cancer and the coming end of his life.
"I wake up in the morning, delighted to be waking up, read, write, feed the birds, watch sports on TV, accepting the fact that in the foreseeable future I will be a dead person," Davis wrote. "I want to remind you that dead people are people too."
Veteran "SNL" writer Jim Downey said Davis had a sense of humor different from everyone else, seeming to come out of nowhere.
"He was a loyal friend, a generous and support ive collaborator, and utterly unthreatened by the success or talent of those around him," Downey said. "His old pals have known for some time that this day was coming, but still it's hard to accept that he's now no longer out there, somewhere, thinking those crazy thoughts that no one else would think."
___
AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle contributed.
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Memories and Condolences
for Tom Davis
37 Entries
A New Life
Disco Seven
November 17, 2017
Never knew him. But I thought he was funny as all get out. Sorry he left us, I just found out. RIP
Ms Jamie
February 22, 2015
So very sorry to hear of your passing Tom... What a great guy & such a gracious host! Will never forget seeing SNL and the weekend we spent with you, Danny Aykroyd his wife Donna at your place Valentine's Weekend...So many laughs <3 My condolences to your family
August 20, 2012
Of the times you gave me the opportunity to help paint a script of yours on SNL, I can't think of a time that I didn't laugh until my ribs hurt. I was sorry you left us then and sorrier that you have left us now. -Bill Taylor.
John Hobbs
August 4, 2012
Met Tom at the Icehouse, in Pasadena a long time ago . what a wonderful guy . My heartfelt condolences . John Hobbs AKA Biddlin Foster
Stephanie Prudden
July 30, 2012
To the family of Tom Davis I knew in high school and always enjoyed the humor he and Al brought to the parties. I got to keep up with his Snl from his mother Jean who worked at our family boutique in the mid 70s . Our mothers were aquatennial queens a few years apart . Jean was so proud of his humor and accomplishments, I remember her first trip to NYC to see the show. Talk about a proud mom!!! My deepest sympathies to your family. God bless
sarah
July 29, 2012
tom you are one in a zillion and thankyou for all the times you made me laugh and think.
July 24, 2012
We knew Tom casually and are very sad to learn of his death. He brought us many laughs and smiles and we are grateful for his life.
JLS
July 23, 2012
Mimi, he fought the good fight his way, It was simply a pleasure to care for him, sorry I never got through to him on the phone, I am sure he has settled in nicely on his final journey, Love Rita Gurry
ER
July 23, 2012
So funny; so thank you.
Tami B
July 23, 2012
I really enjoyed his work! God Bless the family and friends at this time of sorrow. It really doesnt matter if you know its soon, it still hits like a ton of boulders when it happens.
July 22, 2012
To the the family of Tom Davis - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
John Weible
July 22, 2012
God Bless
RUTHI
July 22, 2012
Tom was an extraordinary man to EVERYONE....rich/poor, famous/unknown...he had a gentle way of always including everyone and making all feel important/special. And if lucky enough to be loved by him the world was a better place!! RIP dear man......Thanks for making my life much more fun
Mike W. Barr
July 22, 2012
Franken & Davis: "The comedy team that weighs the same." Classic stuff. Godspeed.
Vanessa Lee
July 22, 2012
I will love the skits forever and always thanks for making me and my family laugh may you rip
Darlene Finelli
July 22, 2012
Such a great writer, straight man and comedy team player. I found it so funny when he pleaded the audience to laugh at Al's one liner joke,due to his bandaged head and memory loss "He only took tips", it was so funny. I love the tone of his voice. I will buy his book. When a serious movie star dies it is sad,but when a comedian dies it is so moving as I associate them with laughs and great times. Thank you so much for the laughter you gave us. My sincere sentiments are shed on those friends who will miss him and his family who loved him.
Kimtraila Williams
July 21, 2012
To Mr. Davis Family,
May the comfort of God help you during this difficult time.
God Bless,
Kimtraila Williams
Steve & Kristin
July 21, 2012
Saturday Night Laughs in the mid-1970s. M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore and All in the Family made us chuckle. SNL made us laugh out loud. Thanks to Tom, best wishes to his family and friends.
bruce douglas
July 21, 2012
Thank you for giving us so many hours of SNL laughter. Those early SNL classics are forever in our hearts and souls.
July 21, 2012
RIP Thanks for the laughs, SNL and "Hans and Frans"."You pumped me up" You'll not be forgotten. Condolences to the family.
July 20, 2012
Please accept my condolences during this time of sadness. May your faith in God strengthen you as you meditate on His words at Isaiah 65:17, 22-24.
The Christensen Family
July 20, 2012
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends or Tom. Thank you Tom for all the years of laughter.
Rest in Peace
July 20, 2012
Thanks for the laughs! Peace to your family and friends.
Leona
July 20, 2012
Almost 30 years ago he asked me,” what qualities do you find attractive?" The answer which rattled out of my naive mouth was a long list including a great sense of humor, good looks, ambition, modesty, artistic passion and intelligence. His answer was shorter and much more thoughtful. "Kindness", he said. This is what I will remember most when I think of Tom Davis. My sincere condolences to his family.
July 20, 2012
Our deepest sympathy to your family...may the God of comfort your family during this difficult time and you rest assured we have the hope of seeing Tom again as promised at John 4:28,29...our heartfelt condolences
Aaron Stroud
July 20, 2012
Thanks for the laughs Tom. Say hi to Jerry for us.
Jane Dowling
July 20, 2012
Thank you for the multitude of laughs...God bless you and your loved ones ~ R.I.P.
Thomas Davis
July 20, 2012
RIP & Thanks for the Laughs
Maryellen
July 20, 2012
Sincere condolences to the family of Tom Davis. Thanks for the memories and laughs! R.I.P. Tom Davis!!
Jeremy Meador
July 19, 2012
As a comedian, Tom Davis was a hero of mine. His talent was beyond measure. While I never had the honor meeting Mr. Davis in person, I was influenced by his writing and I am saddened to hear of his passing. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the friends and family and say thank you, Tom, for the laughs.
Kathleen Johnson/McCutcheon
July 19, 2012
The best cousin anyone could ever ask for! Made the whole family laugh, cry and sometimes wonder what the hell??
Rico Anderson
July 19, 2012
RIP buddy. It was great to get to see you NYE 2010 and last year at Dave's party. We'll miss the good times. Glad you made it to some of our Lamont Cranston Band gigs. Love Ya. - Rico Anderson
Linda Ortega
July 19, 2012
Loved those skits and loved the earlier days of Saturday Night Live.
July 19, 2012
Thanks for all the laughs. Loved S. N. L. R.I.P.
Shorty Koppelman
July 19, 2012
The momories were priceless..all us Koppelman's loved you..RIP
travis nolan
July 19, 2012
two of the best skits ever. heaven will be a much funnier place.
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