Best recalled as the young tyke with the Buster Brown hairstyle who crawled onto Al Jolson's lap while the star sang the best-selling song "Sonny Boy" in the early talking film The Singing Fool (1928). Reunited with Jolson the very next year as the title role in Sonny Boy (1929/I). He later appeared at conventions of the International Al Jolson Society.
Brother of child actor Frankie Lee.
Following his older brother Frankie Lee into films and earning close to $30,000 per week by 1930 after a handful of films, Davey's mother insisted he "retire" from films at age 6 so he could have a normal childhood. In later years he performed in local theatre.
Served in the U.S. Army during WWII.