- Singer, comedian, vocal impressionist Danny Gans shows sold out night after night in Las Vegas for years.
In the “Showbiz Capital of the World” Las Vegas has the biggest names in the entire entertainment world performing every night, and against that incredible competition Danny Gans won the Entertainer of the Year Award 12 times in a row! Danny died at the height of his fame. Now, his son: Andrew is looking at his father’s life in a new documentary, and by amazing coincidence I met Andrew right before the movie premier in the lobby outside the theater, at The iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood!
As I was in the lobby I was looking at all the movie promotions for Dances With Films festival, I was already thinking of watching the 5 PM World Premiere of “Voices: The Danny Gans Story” since in the past I had seen his concert in Las Vegas 4 times, and I had met him in person. Then this guy comes up to me and asked me “what movie are you thinking of seeing,” so I said “I am thinking of seeing the Danny Gans movie” and he said “great I like to invite you to it” and by amazing coincidence he was the Director of the movie: Andrew Gans- and the son of Danny Gans, so that made it an easy decision- YES! I would love to watch your movie!
In the below photo I am on the left of the photo with the son of Danny Gans- the Director of the movie: Andrew Gans, on the second day of the Dances With Films Festival, at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, for the World Movie Premiere of “Voices: The Danny Gans Story” : I was fortunate enough back in the late 1990’s to be invited by the BWR PR company to fly into Las Vegas to do a news story on the Danny Gans show at the Rio Suites Hotel & Casino. I was blown away by his concert, and was so impressed with his singing impersonations of so many legendary singers, that were all 100% right on- sounding exactly like the real singing legends! One of the greatest impressionists of all time: Rich Little, once had a voice vocal meter recording of him to compare him to the legendary Actor: Jimmy Stewart, and Rich matched up perfectly to Jimmy Stewart’s voice! I am sure if Danny ever did the same test with any of the singing superstars that he did during his show- it would also match up perfectly!
I would see Danny’s show 3 more times in Las Vegas, and always loved his concert, do a great news story on it, and would recommend his show to everyone!
My favorite show of Danny’s was a big fundraiser for charity: the Lilie Claire Foundation, that was held at the Mirage Hotel & Casino right on the Las Vegas Strip, at Danny’s own theater: The Danny Gans Theater, that was a star-studded event!
During this new documentary film, it brought back great memories of how good he was, and how lucky I was to both meet in person, and see in concert all of the great singers that Danny did during his amazing concerts!
In my lifetime with my TV show that I produce, and for my gambling that I do at Casinos, I have been invited to see shows, concerts, and attend big events in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Las Vegas, and all over the USA, and sometimes overseas: so these thousands of events all mesh together, and kind off dissolve- so it’s sometimes hard to remember all these events, so this film brought back memories of how specially talented Danny Gans was.
What impressed me the most about this great film, was how many legendary singers, comedians, and celebrities from all walks of life said that Danny Gans was the greatest entertainer of all time! And out of all those people- the most impressive of all was the late legendary talk show host, and interviewer: Larry King – on the left of the photo with Entertainment Today TV Producer: Steve Taylor: who said the same thing about Danny! Larry King was an American radio and television personality, author, and Emmy Award-winning talk show host. He was known for his conversational interviewing style and trademark suspenders and glasses. He hosted Larry King Live on CNN for 25 years, from 1985 to 2010. In his very long career Larry has done over 50,000 interviews with history making world leaders, and people from all walks of life, and celebrities and entertainers from all fields. Larry King on the left of the photo with Entertainment Today TV Show Host: Margie Rey:
Larry King conducted an estimated 50,000 interviews throughout his 60-year career, according to BBC and People.com. This impressive number includes interviews with a wide range of individuals, from US presidents and political leaders to celebrities, athletes, and other news-makers. So for Larry King to say that Danny Gans is the greatest entertainer of all time- that really means a lot!
We had interviewed Larry King many times before on our show, as you can see in the below photo- Larry King on the left of the photo being interviewed by Entertainment Today TV News Reporter: Melanie Murphy: In fact Larry King actually CO-HOSTED our show a few times, and we will always remember him for that!
They call Danny “The Man of Many Voices” but I think it would be more appropriate to call Danny the man of 100 Voices, or even 1000 voices!
So I urge you to see this amazing film as soon as you can. I promise you that you will be entertained, and will love this film.
Now a little more about this film, and about the life of Danny Gans:
In the world of Las Vegas entertainment, few names shine as brightly as Danny Gans. Known as “The Man of Many Voices,” Gans captivated audiences for over a decade with his uncanny impressions, heartfelt musical performances, and a work ethic rivaled by few. Now, over a decade after his untimely passing, his legacy is being honored through a deeply personal and revealing new documentary, “Voices: The Danny Gans Story,” produced and directed by his son, Andrew Gans.
The documentary, which premiered June 20 at the Dances With Films Festival at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, is more than a retrospective—it’s a heartfelt journey through grief, admiration, and discovery. “I wanted to do something that would bring attention to how talented and incredible he was,” said Andrew Gans in a Vegas Revealed exclusive interview. “It started as a film to honor my dad, but it evolved into a story that includes my own journey as a filmmaker, a son, and now, a father.”
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Andrew Davies Gans
PRODUCERS: Andrew Davies Gans & Clare Tucker.
This 102 minute film is a captivating exploration of a son’s journey to uncover the truth behind his father’s extraordinary life. Andrew Gans delves deep into the inspiring and improbable journey of his father, legendary Las Vegas entertainer, Danny Gans, and the circumstances surrounding his untimely passing. As Andrew navigates a path of self-discovery, growth, and acceptance, his story unfolds against the compelling backdrop of his father’s underdog triumphs. It’s a story about the echoes of a voice that continues to inspire, reverberating through the life of the son he left behind.
Andrew began working on the documentary around the 10th anniversary of Danny’s passing. Motivated by a desire to preserve and reintroduce his father’s legacy to new audiences, he embarked on a four-year journey that would change his life. “It’s been a trans-formative experience,” he reflected. “During the making of the film, I became a father myself. That changed everything—how I understood him, how I viewed his sacrifices, and what he meant not just to me, but to millions.”
The film features never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews with Vegas icons like Donny Osmond, Terry Fator, the late Louie Anderson, and legendary columnist Norm Clarke. Their recollections paint a portrait of a man whose talent was matched only by his humility. “To hear his peers talk so highly of him now that I’m an adult, having been in the industry myself for ten years—it was very special,” Andrew shared.
A former professional baseball player turned entertainer, Danny brought an athlete’s discipline to his craft. That relentless pursuit of perfection ultimately took its toll. “He wasn’t the kind of guy who would go out for drinks after a show,” Andrew said. “He was rehearsing, watching his diet, working out—he was the fittest and hardest-working guy you’d meet.”
That perfectionism, rooted in both his sports background and the values instilled by his own father, helped fuel a legendary career. But it also left little room for rest. “He just didn’t know when to stop,” Andrew confessed. “And I think that’s part of why he left us too soon.”
At its heart, Voices is more than a showbiz documentary. It’s a universal story of family, ambition, and legacy. Andrew hopes the film will resonate with people from all walks of life. “Whether you’re an entertainer or a lawyer burning the midnight oil, I hope people walk away from this thinking about what’s truly important,” he said. “Sometimes you need to take a step back and reevaluate your work-life balance.”
The documentary also explores grief through an honest and vulnerable lens. “Grief can feel incredibly isolating,” Andrew explained. “But by putting my journey on camera, I hope people see that they’re not alone—that you can continue to grow your relationship with someone even after they’re gone.”
A Generational Legacy:
In a surprising twist of fate, the Gans family legacy of turning adversity into artistry spans three generations. “My grandfather was a professional baseball player who got injured and turned to entertainment. My dad followed the same path. And then it happened to me,” Andrew shared. “A shoulder injury ended my baseball career, and it led me to filmmaking. It’s uncanny.”
Despite not growing up making films, Andrew found his voice through storytelling, first as an actor, then as a producer, and now as a director. “I think my time in front of the camera has helped me understand actors and the emotional weight of telling stories. I feel like I’ve found my purpose through this project.”
The film’s world premiere on June 20 at the Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles was open to the public, and Andrew hopes to eventually bring it to Las Vegas—possibly even to his father’s old Encore Theater.
“If someone watches this and walks away knowing who he was, or remembering why they loved him, then I’ve done my job,” Andrew said. “Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. And Danny Gans is arguably the greatest entertainer it’s ever seen.”He was a performer on the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding area, where he was billed as “The Man of Many Voices.” He had been named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year, and his production had been awarded Show of the Year for 10 straight years, from 1998 to 2008, with 12 total wins!
Prior to entering show business, Gans was a professional baseball player. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox after being named an All-America at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where he was a Physical Education major. It was at Cal Poly that he met his wife, Julie.
Later, he held a small role as a third baseman in the romantic comedy Bull Durham (1988). After an injury ended his sporting career—a player’s spikes tore his Achilles tendon while he was fielding a ground ball—Gans turned to the entertainment industry. Gans began his career on the road, performing mostly at private corporate functions. In 1992, he played Dean Martin in the CBS miniseries Sinatra. In 1995, he moved to Broadway to perform a one-man show, but later decided to move to Las Vegas to reduce time away from his family, who lived in Los Angeles.
Gans started his Las Vegas stay at the Stratosphere Hotel in 1996. His show there was successful, and he moved over to the Rio in 1998. In 2000, Gans’ show moved again, this time to The Mirage, where the Danny Gans Theatre was built for him. In February 2009, Gans changed venues again and performed at Encore Las Vegas, the sister property to Wynn Las Vegas. The marquee on Las Vegas Strip bearing his image, at one time, held the record as the largest freestanding marquee in the world.
His first record album, produced by Michael Omartian, was cross-marketed in both the pop and Christian music genres and, although Gans never charted, it sold in both mainstream and Christian music outlets.
At the time of his death, he was grossing $18 million a year. He was also known for his vintage car collection.
So stay tuned for more from the next 9 days of the Dances With Films festival, and thanks for watching Entertainment & Sports Today TV and Entertainment Today on Time Warner/ Spectrum. To watch other shows go to: EntertainmentandSportsToday.com Celebrating 30 Years being Broadcast on TIME WARNER / Spectrum!