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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Acted in
BRATS
2024
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023
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Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
2023
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Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
2023
as Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Joan Collins
2022
as Archive Footage
Dean Martin: King of Cool
2021
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
2017
as Self (archive footage)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Selma
2014
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
2012
as Self
Music According to Tom Jobim
2012
as Self (archive footage)
…Sings Musicals
2012
as Self (archive footage)
Let's Play, Boy
2008
as himself (archive footage)
The Wrecking Crew
2008
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Ratpack
2006
as Self
The Legendary Nat King Cole
2004
as Self
The Rat Pack
2004
as Self
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003
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The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
as Self (archive footage)
It's Black Entertainment
2002
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The Ocean's 11 Story
2001
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
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The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
The Rat Pack
1999
as Self
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1996
as Self
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990
as Sideman
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Self
Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Self
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
1989
as Self
The Ultimate Event
1989
as Self
Tap
1989
as Little Mo
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
1989
as Self
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
1988
Moon Over Parador
1988
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
1988
as Self
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
The Perils of P.K
1986
Alice in Wonderland
1985
as Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
Alice in Wonderland
1985
as Caterpillar / Father William
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
1985
as Himself - Main Artist
That's Dancing!
1985
as Self - Host
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
1984
as Self
The Cosby Show
1984
as Ray Palomino
Hunter
1984
as Benny Schafer
Cannonball Run II
1984
as Fenderbaum
Smorgasbord
1983
as Himself
Heidi's Song
1982
as Head Ratte (voice)
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
as Self (archive footage)
The Cannonball Run
1981
as Fenderbaum
This Is Elvis
1981
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sammy and Bruce
1980
as Self
Sanford
1980
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
1979
as Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
1978
as Self
Sammy Stops the World
1978
as Littlechap
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
1977
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
as Self
James Dean: The First American Teenager
1975
as Self
Gone with the West
1975
as Kid Dandy
Sammy and Company
1975
as Himself
Doris Day Today
1975
as Self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
as Self - Presenter
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Chico and the Man
1974
James Dean Remembered
1974
as Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
Save the Children
1973
as Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973
as Self
Poor Devil
1973
as Sammy
Old Faithful
1973
as Himself
The Julie Andrews Hour
1972
as Self
The Trackers
1971
as Ezekiel Smith
Fight of the Century
1971
as Self-(Audience Member)
All in the Family
1971
as Self
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
1970
as Self
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
One More Time
1970
as Charles Salt
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
as Self (archive footage)
The Pigeon
1969
as Larry Miller
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969
as Rodney River Jr.
Sweet Charity
1969
as Big Daddy
The Fall
1969
The Mod Squad
1968
Here's Lucy
1968
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Salt & Pepper
1968
as Charles Salt
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
1967
as Self
Movin' with Nancy
1967
as Self
The Enemy
1967
as Chris Christiansen
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1967
as Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
as Self
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
1966
as The Cheshire Cat
A Man Called Adam
1966
as Adam Johnson
The Strolling '20s
1966
as Self
Batman
1966
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
1966
as Host
I Dream of Jeannie
1965
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
1965
as Self
Nightmare in the Sun
1965
as Truck driver
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Will Scarlet
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
Johnny Cool
1963
as Educated
Burke's Law
1963
as Cordwainer Bird
The Patty Duke Show
1963
Jackpot at Tahoe
1963
as Himself
The Threepenny Opera
1963
as Moritatensänger
Convicts 4
1962
as Wino
Sergeants 3
1962
as Jonah Williams
Ben Casey
1961
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Sammy Davis Jr.
The Day of the Fox
1961
as Beppo
Pepe
1960
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Ocean's Eleven
1960
as Josh Howard
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Playboy's Penthouse
1959
as self
The Big Party
1959
as Self
Porgy and Bess
1959
as Sportin' Life
Anna Lucasta
1958
as Danny
77 Sunset Strip
1958
The Rifleman
1958
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Cpl. Smith
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Jazz Ball
1956
as Self (archive footage)
The Oscars
1953
as Self
General Electric Theater
1953
as Private Spider Johnson
General Electric Theater
1953
as Jacob Johnson
General Electric Theater
1953
as Pancho Villa III
The Jack Benny Program
1950
as Sammy Davis Jr.
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
The Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
Sweet and Low
1947
as Self
Seasoned Greetings
1933
as Henry Johnson
Rufus Jones for President
1933
as Rufus Jones
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
as self
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
as Self (archive footage)