The morning of May 1, Las Vegas residents awoke to tragic news:Entertainer Danny Gans had passed away just before dawn at his Henderson home. The Henderson Police Department announced that 911 dispatchers had received a call at 3:44 a.m. that a man was having trouble breathing. Paramedics arrived at Gans’ home at 3:51 a.m. and pronounced the performer dead at the scene.

The news came as a shock to family, friends and fans alike. Gans was known for being health-conscious, and though he had high blood pressure, son Andrew Gans told Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke that his father was taking medication to control the hypertension.

Gans’ initial autopsy proved inconclusive (indicating that the cause of death was not an obvious one, like a heart attack or a brain aneurysm), and the Clark County Coroner’s office has not yet released the toxicology test results.

As news of Gans’ death spread through the entertainment world in the early days of May, several of his colleagues publicly mourned the loss of one of the Strip’s brightest stars.

“Danny Gans will not only be remembered as a Las Vegas entertainer, but as a man who loved his family, loved God and loved the city of Las Vegas,” his manager, Chip Lightman, said in a statement. “Danny has been my partner and dear friend for over 18 years. I will truly miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife of 28 years, Julie, and his three children, Amy, Andrew and Emily.”

Local celebrities like Terry Fator, Wayne Newton and Lance Burton sent condolences to Gans’ family, as did Nevada Senators John Ensign and Harry Reid.

A Full Life

Though Gans was only 52 when he died, he accomplished more in his short lifetime than most people could ever hope to achieve.

Gans grew up in Torrance, California, with dreams of being a professional baseball player. He attended Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California, and then transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he became an All-American and met his wife Julie. They married in 1981. After college, Gans played in the minor leagues, but an injury abruptly ended his baseball career.

Gans had always delighted friends and family members with his comedic abilities and impressions, but it wasn’t until after his injury that Gans began focusing on a career in entertainment. He toured the country, singing and developing impressions of famous entertainers. In 1995, Gans developed a one-man show called “Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices.”

Tired of being away from his wife and three children, Amy, Andrew and Emily, Gans decided to settle down. Las Vegas came calling, and Gans moved his show to the Stratosphere in 1996. He performed at the Strip hotel for seven months before signing with the Rio. He played there for three years.

Fan and friend Steve Wynn convinced Gans to headline a show at the Mirage, where he performed for 10 years. It was at the Mirage that Gans became a legend, performing impressions of artists like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley night after night.

Gans never pursued a mainstream singing or acting career, preferring instead to focus on his Las Vegas show and spend time with his wife and children. He even turned down a sitcom proposal from Aaron Spelling to avoid a long commute and time away from his family.

Recently, Gans had begun making plans for the next step in his career. Just before his death, he finished his autobiography and a new album, and was incorporating more contemporary impressions into his new gig at Wynn’s Encore resort.

Saying Goodbye

On May 21, more than 1,000 guests filled the Encore Theater to pay their last respects to Danny Gans. Steve and Elaine Wynn spoke at the memorial, as did Mayor Oscar Goodman, Donny Osmond, two of Gans’ pastors and his three children.

During the service, Goodman proclaimed May 21 Danny Gans Day, calling Gans “the quintessential entertainer, and to the city of Las Vegas he was a wonderful partner.”

Gans’ family, friends and colleagues have all spoken of the singer’s love for Las Vegas. The performer donated more than $2 million to charitable causes in Southern Nevada. His family requested that donations be made to Gans’ favorite charity, the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, in lieu of flowers. Gans hosted the annual Danny Gans Champion’s Run for Life to benefit the foundation.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, when Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond spoke at the memorial, he touched on the relationship Gans had with Las Vegas and with his fellow residents.

“He mingled with the average person,” Osmond said. “I was on a service elevator by myself when a janitor walked in. He had a mop in his hand. He was filthy from working and he was tired. He recognized me and, with tears in his eyes, the janitor said, ‘I’m going to miss Danny Gans.’ That meant more to me than any one of his colleagues saying they would miss Danny. He was able to reach everyone.”

What Happens Now

Las Vegas is still reeling from the loss of Danny Gans, and his empty theater at Encore is a constant reminder that someone who should still be here is gone.

Eventually, Wynn Resorts will have to fill the hole left by Gans’ passing. Until then, the company has booked Larry King for a one-night performance June 19, and Beyonce will be holding court from July 30 to August 2.

As for which entertainer will carry on in Gans’ grand tradition, the answer is unclear. Ventriloquist Terry Fator has drawn favorable comparisons to Gans due to his impersonation skills and his residence in Gans’ old theater at the Mirage. Fator had met Gans just once, years ago, but he told the Las Vegas Sun that he admired Gans’ career and hoped to be like him one day.

“I saw his show for the first time four or five years ago. I sat in this theater and thought, ‘I want to do that,’” Fator said. “He really was an incredible entertainer, one of the best I’ve ever seen. If his legacy lives through me, I’d be the most honored person you’ll ever know. I respected him as a person, as a family man and as a representative of Las Vegas.”

Las Vegas’ greatest entertainer may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Danny Gans.

By Caitlin McGarry

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