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
Great Performances
Self (archive footage)
Batman
Self (uncredited)
Here's Lucy
Sammy Davis Jr.
The Cosby Show
Ray Palomino
The Rifleman
The Oscars
Self
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest
The Carol Burnett Show
Self
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Cpl. Smith
I Dream of Jeannie
Sammy Davis Jr.
People's Choice Awards
Self - Presenter
Hunter
Benny Schafer
Fantasy Island
Mr. Bojangles
Fantasy Island
Edward Ross Sr.
Ben Casey
All in the Family
Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
Burke's Law
Cordwainer Bird
The Jack Benny Program
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sweet Charity
Big Daddy
77 Sunset Strip
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
Salt & Pepper
Charles Salt
Dinah!
Self
Cain's Hundred
Sammy Davis Jr.
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Rodney River Jr.
Johnny Cool
Educated
The Threepenny Opera
Moritatensänger
Poor Devil
Sammy
The Mod Squad
Sammy Stops the World
Littlechap
Drama 61-67
Beppo
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self
Ocean's Eleven
Josh Howard
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
James Dean Remembered
Self
The Patty Duke Show
Old Faithful
Sammy Davis Jr.
Smorgasbord
Himself
Tap
Little Mo
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
The Wrecking Crew
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Emmy Awards
Self
Chico and the Man
The Cannonball Run
Fenderbaum
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Will Scarlet
The Sixties
Self (archive footage)
Alice in Wonderland
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Singer
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
One More Time
Charles Salt
The Big Party
Self
The Julie Andrews Hour
Self
That's Dancing!
Self - Host
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Sanford
Self
Nightmare in the Sun
Truck driver
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
Seasoned Greetings
Henry Johnson
General Electric Theater
Private Spider Johnson
General Electric Theater
Jacob Johnson
General Electric Theater
Pancho Villa III
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
Self
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self (archive footage)
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
The Cheshire Cat
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Self
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
Moon Over Parador
Self
Pepe
Sammy Davis Jr.
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
The Trackers
Ezekiel Smith
A Man Called Adam
Adam Johnson
The Pigeon
Larry Miller
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Sergeants 3
Jonah Williams
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Singer (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
Sweet and Low
Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
This Is Joan Collins
Archive Footage
Playboy's Penthouse
self
Porgy and Bess
Sportin' Life
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
Self
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman
Convicts 4
Wino
Rufus Jones for President
Rufus Jones
Fight of the Century
Self-(Audience Member)
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Self
Six Bridges to Cross
Uncredited
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
Host
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
Magic Night
Self
The Perils of P.K
The Rat Pack
(archive footage)
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
Sammy and Company
Himself
Dean Martin: The One and Only
Self (archive footage)
Uptown Comedy Express
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Presenter
Gone with the West
Kid Dandy
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
Self (archive footage)
Let's Play, Boy
himself (archive footage)
The Day of the Fox
Beppo
Save the Children
Self
James Dean: The First American Teenager
Self
Anna Lucasta
Danny
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
The Enemy
Chris Christiansen
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
Cinderella at the Palace
Self
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Self (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime
The Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
Self (archive footage)
Movin' with Nancy
Self
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Self (archive footage)
The Fall
Jackpot at Tahoe
Self
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Self (archive footage)
The Strolling '20s
Self
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
Self
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
Self
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Self
The Ocean's 11 Story
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Through the Years
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
Himself - Main Artist
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Sammy and Bruce
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Doris Day Today
Self
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
Self
Jazz Ball
Self (archive footage)
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
Self
The Music According to Tom Jobim
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Self
Bomb Disposal
Self
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Self
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
Self (archive footage)
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
self
The Ratpack
Self
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
Champs-Elysées
Self
Wogan
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
Please Turn the Page
Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
Self