Sammy Davis Jr.
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1925-12-08
Day of Death
1990-05-16 (64 years old)
Place of Birth
Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Sammy Davis Jr.
Biography
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American entertainer.
Primarily a dancer and singer, Davis was a childhood vaudevillian who became known for his performances on Broadway and in Las Vegas, as a recording artist, television and film star, and as a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack".
At the age of three Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father and "uncle" as the Will Mastin Trio, toured nationally, and after military service, returned to the trio. Davis became an overnight sensation following a nightclub performance at Ciro's after the 1951 Academy Awards, with the trio, became a recording artist, and made his first film performances as an adult later that decade. In 1954, he lost his left eye in an automobile accident. Later the same year, he converted to Judaism. In 1960, he appeared in the first Rat Pack movie, Ocean's 11. After a starring role on Broadway in 1956's Mr Wonderful, Davis returned to the stage in 1964's Golden Boy, and in 1966 had his own TV variety show, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show. Davis's career slowed in the late sixties, but he had a hit record with "The Candy Man", in 1972, and became a star in Las Vegas.
As an African American, Davis was the victim of racism throughout his life, and was a large financial supporter of civil rights causes. Davis had a complex relationship with the African American community, and attracted criticism after physically embracing Richard Nixon in 1970. One day on a golf course with Jack Benny, he was asked what his handicap was. "Handicap?" he asked. "Talk about handicap — I'm a one-eyed Negro Jew." This was to become a signature comment, recounted in his autobiography, and in countless articles.
After reuniting with Sinatra and Dean Martin in 1987, Davis toured with them and Liza Minnelli internationally, before dying of throat cancer in 1990. He died in debt to the Internal Revenue Service, and his estate was the subject of legal battles.
Davis was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his television performances. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987, and in 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Known For
Acting
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
as Self (archive footage)
(2024)
BRATS
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2023)
(2023)
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
as Self (archive footage)
(2023)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
as Self (archive footage)
(2023)
(2022)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
This Is Joan Collins
as Archive Footage
(2021)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
(2017)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
(2017)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
(2017)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
as Self (archive footage)
(2016)
Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
as Self (archive footage)
(2015)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
Selma
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2012)
…Sings Musicals
as Self (archive footage)
(2012)
(2012)
Music According to Tom Jobim
as Self (archive footage)
(2008)
Let's Play, Boy
as himself (archive footage)
(2008)
The Wrecking Crew
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2007)
Elvis Through the Years
as Self (archive footage)
(2006)
The Ratpack
as Self
(2005)
(2004)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
(2004)
The Rat Pack
as Self
(2004)
The Legendary Nat King Cole
as Self
(2003)
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
as Self (archive footage)
(2002)
It's Black Entertainment
as Self (archive footage)
(2002)
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Ocean's 11 Story
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
(1999)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
(1996)
(1990)
(1990)
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
as Sideman
(1989)
Tap
as Little Mo
(1989)
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
as Self
(1989)
The Ultimate Event
as Self
(1989)
(1988)
Moon Over Parador
as Self
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1987)
(1987)
(1986)
(1985)
That's Dancing!
as Self - Host
(1985)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
(1985)
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
as Himself - Main Artist
(1984)
Cannonball Run II
as Fenderbaum
(1984)
(1983)
Koyaanisqatsi
as Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1983)
Smorgasbord
as Himself
(1982)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
(1982)
Heidi's Song
as Head Ratte (voice)
(1982)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
(1981)
The Cannonball Run
as Fenderbaum
(1981)
This Is Elvis
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1980)
Sammy and Bruce
as Self
(1979)
(1978)
(1978)
Sammy Stops the World
as Littlechap
(1977)
(1977)
(1976)
(1975)
Gone with the West
as Kid Dandy
(1975)
(1975)
Doris Day Today
as Self
(1974)
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
as Self - Presenter
(1974)
James Dean Remembered
as Self
(1973)
Save the Children
as Self
(1973)
Poor Devil
as Sammy
(1973)
Old Faithful
as Himself
(1973)
(1971)
The Trackers
as Ezekiel Smith
(1971)
Fight of the Century
as Self-(Audience Member)
(1970)
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
as Self
(1970)
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
as Self (archive footage)
(1970)
One More Time
as Charles Salt
(1969)
Sweet Charity
as Big Daddy
(1969)
The Pigeon
as Larry Miller
(1969)
(1968)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
(1968)
Salt & Pepper
as Charles Salt
(1967)
(1967)
Movin' with Nancy
as Self
(1967)
The Enemy
as Chris Christiansen
(1966)
A Man Called Adam
as Adam Johnson
(1966)
(1966)
The Strolling '20s
as Self
(1965)
Nightmare in the Sun
as Truck driver
(1965)
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
as Self
(1964)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Will Scarlet
(1963)
Johnny Cool
as Educated
(1963)
The Threepenny Opera
as Moritatensänger
(1963)
Bomb Disposal
as Self
(1963)
Jackpot at Tahoe
as Self
(1962)
Sergeants 3
as Jonah Williams
(1962)
Convicts 4
as Wino
(1961)
The Day of the Fox
as Beppo
(1960)
Ocean's Eleven
as Josh Howard
(1960)
Pepe
as Sammy Davis Jr.
(1960)
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
(1959)
Porgy and Bess
as Sportin' Life
(1958)
Anna Lucasta
as Danny
(1956)
Meet Me in Las Vegas
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
(1956)
Jazz Ball
as Self (archive footage)
(1955)
Six Bridges to Cross
as Uncredited
(1947)
Sweet and Low
as Self
(1933)
Seasoned Greetings
as Henry Johnson
(1933)
Rufus Jones for President
as Rufus Jones
Crew
(1971)
The Trackers
Producer
(1970)
One More Time
Executive Producer
(1968)
Salt & Pepper
Executive Producer
(1964)
The Disorderly Orderly
Theme Song Performance