Las Vegas Weekly

May 1, 2009 · 8:25 AM

Longtime Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans dead at 52

By Las Vegas Weekly Staff

Encore's marquee remembered the property's headliner Danny Gans, who passed away early Friday morning in his sleep.

Photo: Justin M. Bowen

Encore Las Vegas headliner Danny Gans has passed away. He was 52.

Known as "The Man of Many Voices'' Gans reportedly died early this morning at home in his sleep. After stints at the Stratosphere, where he opened in 1996, and the Rio and eight years at the Mirage, where he reigned in his self-titled theater, Gans recently moved into the new Encore Theatre and resumed his long relationship with Steve Wynn.

Gans was a quick-change artist, using his supple voice, elastic face and body English to jump from character to character.

In his 90-minute-plus program, Gans delivered a buffet of impressions: Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin — in self-duet with Jerry Lewis, and the inevitable Elvis and George Burns.

Steve Wynn has released this statement in response to the news of Gans' death:

"Elaine and I and all of us in the Company are devastated at the loss of our brilliant, talented and loving friend. One of the most unique human beings and entertainers in the world has been taken from us in an unexpected moment. A profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless. The loss of Danny to his wife Julie, his children Amy, Andrew & Emily is at this moment impossible to comprehend. We will all try to go on with our lives without our dear friend. At this moment it seems almost impossible."

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