Singer, actress and frequent ‘Tonight Show’ guest Kaye Stevens dies at age 79 after losing battle with breast cancer (Video)

Singer and actress Kaye Stevens died Wednesday at the age of 79 after losing a battle with breast cancer and blood clots.

Stevens’ death was confirmed to the Sun Sentinel by close friend Gerry Schweitzer. She passed away at the Villages Hospital, north of Orlando, FL.

According to The Associated Press, she was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but was a longtime resident of South Florida. She performed with several members of the Rat Pack, including Sammy David Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

She performed solo gigs at famous venues like Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. During the Vietnam war, she performed before soldiers, traveling with comedian Bob Hope’s USO tours in the war zone. Johnny Carson frequently had her as a guest on The Tonight Show.

Aside from her lengthy singing career, Stevens made appearances in several films, including Jaws 3 and The New Interns. She also had cameo roles on television shows and had a regular part on Days of Our Lives from 1974 to 1979.

The AP reports that Stevens’ career really took off when Ed McMahon discovered her, which gave her the opportunity to perform on The Tonight Show. The big break for her came when actress Debbie Reynolds was sick and unable to perform her concert at the main room at The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. Stevens, who was performing at the lounge, was called to replace her at the last minute.

Later in life, she became active in the Christian community and sang at the October funeral for Broward County Sheriff Nick Navarro, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Schweitzer told the Sun Sentinel that Stevens is survived only by friends. She and her husband, deceased bandleader Tommy Amato, had no children.

In the following segment from Sammy Davis Jr.’s Hollywood Palace program, you can check out Stevens singing “I Want To Be Happy.”