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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sammy Davis, Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (48)
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2025
BRATS
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
as Self
2023
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
as Self
2023
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2022
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2022
This Is Joan Collins
as Archive Footage
2022
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
2021
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
2017
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
as Self (archive footage)
2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
2017
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
as Self (archive footage)
2015
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
as Self (archive footage)
2012
The Music According to Tom Jobim
as Self (archive footage)
2012
…Sings Musicals
as Self (archive footage)
2012
Let's Play, Boy
as himself (archive footage)
2008
The Wrecking Crew
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2008
Elvis Through the Years
as Self (archive footage)
2007
The Ratpack
as Self
2006
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
The Legendary Nat King Cole
as Self
2004
The Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
2004
Dean Martin: The One and Only
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
as Self (archive footage)
2003
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
as Self (archive footage)
2002
It's Black Entertainment
as Self (archive footage)
2002
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)
2001
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
1999
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
as Self (archive footage)
1992
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
as Sideman
1990
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
1990
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
as Self
1989
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
as Self
1989
Tap
as Little Mo
1989
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
as Self
1989
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
as Self
1988
Moon Over Parador
as Self
1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self
1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
as Self
1988
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
1987
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
as Self
1986
