Person
Sammy Davis Jr.
Harlem, 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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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2024
BRATS
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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2023
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2023
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
Movie Self
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2023
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2023
Commitment to Life
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2023
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Movie Self
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2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2022
Rat Pack
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2022
This Is Joan Collins
Movie Self (Archive Footage)
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2021
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2020
Out of Shadows
Movie Self (archive)
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2017
This Is Bob Hope...
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2017
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2017
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Movie Self (archive)
More credits
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2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
Movie Self - Singer (archive footage)
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2017
Mansfield 66/67
Movie
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2015
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2014
The Sixties
TV show Self (archive footage)
- 2013
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2012
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2012
The Music According to Tom Jobim
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2012
…Sings Musicals
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2008
Let's Play, Boy
Movie himself (archive footage)
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2008
The Wrecking Crew
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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2007
Elvis Through the Years
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2006
The Ratpack
Movie Self
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2005
Pioneers of Primetime
Movie
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2004
The Legendary Nat King Cole
Movie Self
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2004
Parkinson
TV show Self - Guest / Performer (archive footage)
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2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2004
Dean Martin: The One and Only
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2004
The Rat Pack
Movie Self (archive footage)
- 2004
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2003
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2002
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2002
It's Black Entertainment
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2001
The Ocean's 11 Story
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Movie Self (archive footage)
