Sammy Davis Jr.

Known for ActingBorn 1925-12-08Died 1990-05-16Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

The Rat Pack

An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis

The Pigeon

Sweet and Low

The Perils of P.K

Rat Pack

Hanna-Barbera's 50th

People's Choice Awards

Sammy Stops the World

Bio’s Bahnhof

It's Black Entertainment

Frank Sinatra Spectacular

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration

This Is Bob Hope...

Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection

Dean Martin: King of Cool

Elvis: That's the Way It Is

Magic Night

Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin

Cinderella at the Palace

Happy Birthday, Las Vegas

Sammy and Company

James Dean Remembered

This Is Joan Collins

The Julie Andrews Hour

Koyaanisqatsi

The Sixties

Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley

Jazz Ball

All in the Family

I Dream of Jeannie

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood

The Emmy Awards

The Carol Burnett Show

The Wrecking Crew

V.I.P. Schaukel

Dancing in the Wings

The Jack Benny Program

James Dean: The First American Teenager

Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Sammy Davis Jr. Show

…Sings Musicals