Sammy Davis Jr.
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
The Rifleman
The Carol Burnett Show
Self
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Cpl. Smith
The Jack Benny Program
Sammy Davis Jr.
Here's Lucy
Sammy Davis Jr.
The Cosby Show
Ray Palomino
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
I Dream of Jeannie
Sammy Davis Jr.
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest
Ben Casey
Cain's Hundred
Sammy Davis Jr.
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
Burke's Law
Cordwainer Bird
The Mod Squad
Chico and the Man
Batman
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Rodney River Jr.
Hunter
Benny Schafer
The Patty Duke Show
Fantasy Island
77 Sunset Strip
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
The Oscars
Self
Dinah!
Self
All in the Family
Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self
Sanford
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Singer
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
The Big Party
Self
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
The Emmy Awards
Self
The Sixties
Self (archive footage)
Playboy's Penthouse
self
Alice in Wonderland
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
The Rat Pack
Self
The Julie Andrews Hour
Self
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
Host
Sammy and Company
Himself
General Electric Theater
Private Spider Johnson
General Electric Theater
Jacob Johnson
General Electric Theater
Pancho Villa III
The Cannonball Run
Fenderbaum
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
Ocean's Eleven
Josh Howard
Selma
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Koyaanisqatsi
Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Johnny Cool
Educated
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Elvis Through the Years
Self (archive footage)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Will Scarlet
Gone with the West
Kid Dandy
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
Sweet Charity
Big Daddy
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
The Cheshire Cat
That's Dancing!
Self - Host
Pepe
Sammy Davis Jr.
Tap
Little Mo
Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
Self (archive footage)
The Ocean's 11 Story
Self (archive footage)
The Threepenny Opera
Moritatensänger
Dean Martin: El Rey del Cool
Self (archive footage)
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Self
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Let's Play, Boy
himself (archive footage)
Moon Over Parador
Self
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Singer (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Porgy and Bess
Sportin' Life
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
Salt & Pepper
Charles Salt
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Sergeants 3
Jonah Williams
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Trackers
Ezekiel Smith
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
Self
Save the Children
Self
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Self (archive footage)
Six Bridges to Cross
Uncredited
Smorgasbord
Himself
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
The Pigeon
Larry Miller
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
The Wrecking Crew
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
A Man Called Adam
Adam Johnson
One More Time
Charles Salt
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
James Dean: The First American Teenager
Self
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self
The Day of the Fox
Beppo
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
Convicts 4
Wino
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
Nightmare in the Sun
Truck driver
Poor Devil
Sammy
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
Self (archive footage)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Self (archive footage)
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
Fight of the Century
Self-(Audience Member)
Movin' with Nancy
Self
The Fall
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
Anna Lucasta
Danny
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
Self (archive footage)
Rufus Jones for President
Rufus Jones
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Self (archive footage)
This Is Joan Collins
Archive Footage
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Self
Jazz Ball
Self (archive footage)
Champs-Elysées
Self
James Dean Remembered
Self
The Enemy
Chris Christiansen
Music According to Tom Jobim
Self (archive footage)
The Perils of P.K
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
Self
The Strolling '20s
Self
Doris Day Today
Self
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
Himself - Main Artist
Uptown Comedy Express
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
Self
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
Self
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
Old Faithful
Self
The Ratpack
Self
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Self
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
Sammy Stops the World
Littlechap
Seasoned Greetings
Henry Johnson
The Rat Pack
Self
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Presenter
The Ultimate Event
Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Self
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Self
Bomb Disposal
Self
Sammy and Bruce
Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
Sweet and Low
Self
Jackpot at Tahoe
Self
Wogan
Self
Please Turn the Page
Self
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
Self