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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Cast
Ocean's Eleven
Josh Howard
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
Porgy and Bess
Sportin' Life
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
self
The Cannonball Run
Fenderbaum
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
One More Time
Charles Salt
Salt & Pepper
Charles Salt
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Self (archive footage)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self (archive footage)
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
Self
That's Dancing!
Self - Host
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
Self
Sergeants 3
Jonah Williams
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Will Scarlet
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
Self
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Self
The Wrecking Crew
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nightmare in the Sun
Truck driver
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
Rufus Jones for President
Rufus Jones
Seasoned Greetings
Henry Johnson
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
The Trackers
Ezekiel Smith
The Ocean's 11 Story
Self (archive footage)
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
Self
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
Unknown
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
Self (archive footage)
A Man Called Adam
Adam Johnson
The Threepenny Opera
Moritatensänger
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
Unknown
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
Self (archive footage)
Gone with the West
Kid Dandy
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Self (archive footage)
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
Self
This Is Joan Collins
Archive Footage
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
Uptown Comedy Express
Unknown
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
Let's Play, Boy
himself (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Self (archive footage)
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Self
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
The Cheshire Cat
BRATS
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Fight of the Century
Self-(Audience Member)
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
Unknown
The Music According to Tom Jobim
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Stops the World
Littlechap
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
James Dean: The First American Teenager
Self
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
Jazz Ball
Self (archive footage)
James Dean Remembered
Self
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
Self (archive footage)
The Enemy
Chris Christiansen
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Self (archive footage)
Old Faithful
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
Himself - Main Artist
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Self - Singer (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Presenter
Elvis Through the Years
Self (archive footage)
Six Bridges to Cross
Uncredited
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
Pioneers of Primetime
Unknown
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
Self (archive footage)
Cinderella at the Palace
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
Unknown
Dean Martin: The One and Only
Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
Self
