Sammy Davis Jr.
Acting
Born: December 8, 1925 · Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Died: May 16, 1990 (aged 64)
Highest Rated
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.
Known for
I Dream of Jeannie
1965
Koyaanisqatsi
1983
The Cannonball Run
1981
Batman
1966
The Cosby Show
1984
Ocean's Eleven
1960
Cannonball Run II
1984
Charlie's Angels
1976
All in the Family
1971
Fantasy Island
1978
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
1970
Hunter
1984
Photos (4)
Movies (39)
The Cannonball Run
Fenderbaum
Ocean's Eleven
Josh Howard
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Will
Johnny Cool
Educated
Sergeants 3
Jonah Williams
Tap
Little Mo
Sweet Charity
Big Daddy
Poor Devil
Sammy
The Threepenny Opera
Moritatensänger
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
Porgy and Bess
Sportin' Life
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Pepe
Sammy Davis Jr.
A Man Called Adam
Adam Johnson
Salt & Pepper
Charles Salt
Nightmare in the Sun
Truck driver
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
The Cheshire Cat
Mansfield 66/67
2017
Six Bridges to Cross
Uncredited
Loose Lips - Her Last Interview
2013
Gone with the West
Kid Dandy
Dancing in the Wings
The Spirit
One More Time
Charles Salt
The Pigeon
Larry Miller
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Convicts 4
Wino
The Trackers
Ezekiel Smith
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
1991
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman
The Perils of P.K
1986
Seasoned Greetings
Henry Johnson
The Fall
1969
Old Faithful
Sammy Davis Jr.
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
The Enemy
Chris Christiansen
Anna Lucasta
Danny
Sammy Stops the World
Littlechap
Rufus Jones for President
Rufus Jones
TV Shows (25)
The Rifleman
1 eps
Fantasy Island
Mr. Bojangles · 1 eps
Fantasy Island
Edward Ross Sr. · 1 eps
The Cosby Show
Ray Palomino · 1 eps
Charlie's Angels
Sammy Davis Jr. / Herbert Brubaker III · 1 eps
I Dream of Jeannie
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 eps
Hunter
Benny Schafer · 1 eps
Omnibus
1 eps
Ben Casey
1 eps
Burke's Law
Cordwainer Bird · 1 eps
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Cpl. Smith · 1 eps
Here's Lucy
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 eps
The Jack Benny Program
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 eps
77 Sunset Strip
1 eps
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Rodney River Jr. · 1 eps
The Patty Duke Show
1 eps
The Mod Squad
3 eps
Chico and the Man
1 eps
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1 eps
Cain's Hundred
Sammy Davis Jr. · 1 eps
Alice in Wonderland
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
Private Spider Johnson · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
Jacob Johnson · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
Pancho Villa III · 1 eps
The Rat Pack
(archive footage) · 1 eps
Self / Appearances (103)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host · 6 eps
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 17 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · 4 eps
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · 2 eps
Great Performances
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · 2 eps
Batman
Self (uncredited) · 1 eps
Wogan
Self · 1 eps
The Carol Burnett Show
Self · 2 eps
The Oscars
Self · 6 eps
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · 2 eps
All in the Family
Self · 1 eps
Champs-Elysées
Self · 1 eps
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · 1 eps
People's Choice Awards
Self - Presenter · 1 eps
What's My Line?
Self · 4 eps
Dinah!
Self · 4 eps
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · 9 eps
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest · 6 eps
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · 6 eps
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited) · 2 eps
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · 1 eps
The Flip Wilson Show
Self · 2 eps
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · 1 eps
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Singer · 1 eps
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Self (archive footage)
The Julie Andrews Hour
Self · 1 eps
The Sixties
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
Sanford
Self · 1 eps
Koyaanisqatsi
Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
The Emmy Awards
Self · 1 eps
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Commitment to Life
Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
That's Dancing!
Self - Host
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
Moon Over Parador
Self
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Singer (archive footage)
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
The Wrecking Crew
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self (archive footage)
This Is Joan Collins
Self (Archive Footage)
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Out of Shadows
Self (archive)
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Self (uncredited)
Smorgasbord
Himself
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Fight of the Century
Self-(Audience Member)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
Doris Day Today
Self
James Dean: The First American Teenager
Self
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
Self
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Self (archive footage)
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Self
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Presenter
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
Self (archive footage)
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
Self (archive footage)
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
Self
Cinderella at the Palace
Self
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
The Ocean's 11 Story
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
Movin' with Nancy
Self
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Self (archive footage)
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
Self (archive footage)
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
The Strolling '20s
Self
James Dean Remembered
Self
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
Himself - Main Artist
Magic Night
Self
Sweet and Low
Self
Save the Children
Self
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
Self
The Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Through the Years
Self (archive footage)
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
Self
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Self
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
The Music According to Tom Jobim
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Ball
Self (archive footage)
The Ratpack
Self
Dean Martin: The One and Only
Self (archive footage)
Let's Play, Boy
himself (archive footage)
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
Self
Jackpot at Tahoe
Self
Bomb Disposal
Self
