Sammy Davis Jr.

Actor · 1925–1990 · Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

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 four 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.

Acted in 63

2010s

2017
Mansfield 66/67
Movie
2013
Loose Lips - Her Last Interview
Movie

2000s

2005
Pioneers of Primetime
Movie

1990s

1999
The Rat Pack
(archive footage) · 1 episode
1991
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
Movie
1990
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman

1980s

1989
Tap
Little Mo
63
1987
Uptown Comedy Express
Movie
1986
The Perils of P.K
Movie
1985
Alice in Wonderland
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam · 1 episode
Dancing in the Wings
The Spirit
Motown Returns to the Apollo
Movie
1984
The Cosby Show
Ray Palomino · 1 episode
73
Hunter
Benny Schafer · 1 episode
70
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
35
1982
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
1981
The Cannonball Run
Fenderbaum
48

1970s

1978
Fantasy Island
Mr. Bojangles, Edward Ross Sr. · 1 episode
66
Sammy Stops the World
Littlechap
1976
Charlie's Angels
Sammy Davis Jr. / Herbert Brubaker III · 1 episode
66
1975
Gone with the West
Kid Dandy
1974
Chico and the Man
TV · 4 Seasons · Comedy
66
1973
Old Faithful
Sammy Davis Jr.
Poor Devil
Sammy
1971
The Trackers
Ezekiel Smith
59
1970
One More Time
Charles Salt

1960s

1969
The Pigeon
Larry Miller
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Rodney River Jr. · 1 episode
70
Sweet Charity
Big Daddy
The Fall
Movie
1968
The Mod Squad
TV · 5 Seasons · Action · Adventure
67
Here's Lucy
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 episode
68
Salt & Pepper
Charles Salt
52
1967
The Enemy
Chris Christiansen
Omnibus
TV · 42 Seasons · Documentary
The Danny Thomas Hour
Chris Christiansen · 1 episode
1966
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
The Cheshire Cat
A Man Called Adam
Adam Johnson
1965
I Dream of Jeannie
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 episode
75
Nightmare in the Sun
Truck driver
1964
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Will
57
1963
Johnny Cool
Educated
58
Burke's Law
Cordwainer Bird · 1 episode
71
The Patty Duke Show
TV · 3 Seasons · Comedy
69
The Threepenny Opera
Moritatensänger
1962
Convicts 4
Wino
Sergeants 3
Jonah Williams
1961
Ben Casey
TV · 5 Seasons · Drama
68
Cain's Hundred
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 episode
1960
Pepe
Sammy Davis Jr.
Ocean's Eleven
Josh Howard
59

1950s

1959
Porgy and Bess
Sportin' Life
1958
Anna Lucasta
Danny
77 Sunset Strip
TV · 6 Seasons · Crime · Drama
76
The Rifleman
TV · 5 Seasons · Action · Adventure
80
1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Cpl. Smith · 1 episode
71
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
1955
Six Bridges to Cross
Uncredited
1953
General Electric Theater
Private Spider Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Pancho Villa III · 1 episode
1950
The Jack Benny Program
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 episode
83

1940s

1948
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
TV · 79 Seasons

1930s

1933
Seasoned Greetings
Henry Johnson
Rufus Jones for President
Rufus Jones

Sound 6

1960s

1968
Salt & Pepper
Theme Song Performance, Songs
52
1965
Licensed to Kill
Theme Song Performance
1964
The Disorderly Orderly
Theme Song Performance
1963
Johnny Cool
Songs
58

1950s

1958
Anna Lucasta
Theme Song Performance
1955
Six Bridges to Cross
Theme Song Performance

Produced 3

1970s

1971
The Trackers
Producer
59
1970
One More Time
Executive Producer

1960s

1968
Salt & Pepper
Executive Producer
52

Appearances109

2020s

2026
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Self (archive footage)
86
2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
69
2023
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Self (archive footage)
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Self
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Self (archive footage)
Commitment to Life
Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
79
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
This Is Joan Collins
Self (Archive Footage)
2021
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self (archive footage)
2020
Out of Shadows
Self (archive)
71