Singer, Actress. She shall be remembered for her career on television and for headlining in Las Vegas top nightclubs. Born Catherine Louise Stephens, she moved to Cleveland at a young age and began performing as a singer and drummer. Kaye started appearing in the northeast and during a New Jersey engagement was noticed by Johnny Carson's sidekick Ed McMahon leading to jobs at more important venues. While at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas she filled-in for an indisposed Debbie Reynolds and became an instant star. Soon she was sharing the Vegas stage with 'Rat Pack' legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop and playing the major night spots of Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. Kaye became a frequent guest on Carson's "Tonight" show, was a regular celebrity panelist on such game shows as "Hollywood Squares", "The Match Game" and "Password", and appeared on the silver screen a few times, earning a Golden Globe nomination for 1964's "The New Interns". Seen on Broadway in "Mame", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Gypsy", and other works, she toured Viet Nam with Bob Hope and was seen on the small screen in "ChiPs" and "Police Woman". From 1974 to 1979 Kaye had the role of Jeri Clayton on NBC's "Days of Our Lives" but her life gradually unraveled and she became an alcoholic; she finally sought help in 1985, was converted to Christianity, and was to spend her remaining years performing Christian and patriotic songs. Kaye had a South Florida ministry and raised money to build St. Vincent's Catholic Church in her hometown of Margate where a city park carries her name. She died of the complications of a long battle with breast cancer leaving a number of videos documenting her art.
Singer, Actress. She shall be remembered for her career on television and for headlining in Las Vegas top nightclubs. Born Catherine Louise Stephens, she moved to Cleveland at a young age and began performing as a singer and drummer. Kaye started appearing in the northeast and during a New Jersey engagement was noticed by Johnny Carson's sidekick Ed McMahon leading to jobs at more important venues. While at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas she filled-in for an indisposed Debbie Reynolds and became an instant star. Soon she was sharing the Vegas stage with 'Rat Pack' legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop and playing the major night spots of Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. Kaye became a frequent guest on Carson's "Tonight" show, was a regular celebrity panelist on such game shows as "Hollywood Squares", "The Match Game" and "Password", and appeared on the silver screen a few times, earning a Golden Globe nomination for 1964's "The New Interns". Seen on Broadway in "Mame", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Gypsy", and other works, she toured Viet Nam with Bob Hope and was seen on the small screen in "ChiPs" and "Police Woman". From 1974 to 1979 Kaye had the role of Jeri Clayton on NBC's "Days of Our Lives" but her life gradually unraveled and she became an alcoholic; she finally sought help in 1985, was converted to Christianity, and was to spend her remaining years performing Christian and patriotic songs. Kaye had a South Florida ministry and raised money to build St. Vincent's Catholic Church in her hometown of Margate where a city park carries her name. She died of the complications of a long battle with breast cancer leaving a number of videos documenting her art.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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