The Court Jester Star is the nickname given to Danny Kaye, an American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. He was born David Daniel Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York in 1913 and began his career as a stand-up comedian in vaudeville. He went on to become a major star in films such as The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), and White Christmas (1954). He also starred in the Broadway musical Lady in the Dark (1941) and the television special An Evening with Danny Kaye (1959). He was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 1955 for his humanitarian work.