Sammy Davis Jr.
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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.
Known for
Credits
The Cannonball Run (1981)
as Fenderbaum
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026)
as Self (archive footage)
Ocean's Eleven (1960)
as Josh Howard
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970)
as Self (archive footage)
Cannonball Run II (1984)
as Fenderbaum
Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
as Self (archive footage)
Johnny Cool (1963)
as Educated
Sweet Charity (1969)
as Big Daddy
BRATS (2024)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy (1968)
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Poor Devil (1973)
as Sammy
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
as Will Scarlet
That's Dancing! (1985)
as Self - Host
Moon Over Parador (1988)
as Self
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time (1992)
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Elvis (1981)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Heidi's Song (1982)
as Head Ratte (voice)
Night of 100 Stars (1982)
as Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Sergeants 3 (1962)
as Jonah Williams
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (1988)
as Self
Salt & Pepper (1968)
as Charles Salt
Commitment to Life (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Porgy and Bess (1959)
as Sportin' Life
Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
as Self (uncredited)
The Wrecking Crew (2008)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017)
as Self (archive)
Pepe (1960)
as Sammy Davis Jr.
A Man Called Adam (1966)
as Adam Johnson
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
The Pigeon (1969)
as Larry Miller
Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987)
as Self
This Is Bob Hope... (2017)
as Self (archive footage)
The Trackers (1971)
as Ezekiel Smith
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood (2017)
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Nightmare in the Sun (1965)
as Truck driver
Dean Martin: King of Cool (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
James Dean: The First American Teenager (1975)
as Self
Tap (1989)
as Little Mo
Convicts 4 (1962)
as Wino
The Threepenny Opera (1963)
as Moritatensänger
The Fall (1969)
Actor
Television: The First Fifty Years (1999)
as Self (archive footage)
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966)
as The Cheshire Cat
Frank Sinatra Spectacular (1965)
as Self
Magic Night (1980)
as Self
It's Black Entertainment (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
Hanna-Barbera's 50th (1989)
as Self
The Strolling '20s (1966)
as Self
Gone with the West (1975)
as Kid Dandy
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)
as Sideman
One More Time (1970)
as Charles Salt
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976)
as Self
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2025)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mansfield 66/67 (2017)
Actor
Smorgasbord (1983)
as Himself
Fight of the Century (1971)
as Self-(Audience Member)
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas (1977)
Actor
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years (1979)
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988)
as Self
Movin' with Nancy (1967)
as Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers (1985)
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me (2017)
as Self (archive footage)
Six Bridges to Cross (1955)
as Uncredited
Old Faithful (1973)
as Sammy Davis Jr.
James Dean Remembered (1974)
as Self
Anna Lucasta (1958)
as Danny
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982)
as Self (archive footage)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr. (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia (2023)
as Self
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast (1989)
as Self
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
The Day of the Fox (1961)
as Beppo
The Perils of P.K (1986)
Actor
All Star Party for Lucille Ball (1984)
as Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990)
as Self
The Rat Pack (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Dancing in the Wings (1985)
as The Spirit
The Enemy (1967)
as Chris Christiansen
The Music According to Tom Jobim (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1) (1991)
Actor
This Is Joan Collins (2022)
as Self (Archive Footage)
Doris Day Today (1975)
as Self
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas (2023)
as Self
Save the Children (1973)
as Self
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa (1968)
as Self
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986)
as Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
Elvis Through the Years (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
Dean Martin: The One and Only (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do (2015)
as Self (archive footage)
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event (1989)
as Self
Rufus Jones for President (1933)
as Rufus Jones
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards (1974)
as Self - Presenter
Uptown Comedy Express (1987)
Actor
Jazz Ball (1956)
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular (1976)
as Self
Cinderella at the Palace (1978)
as Self
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (1960)
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras (1967)
as Self
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (1978)
as Self
The Ocean's 11 Story (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
Seasoned Greetings (1933)
as Henry Johnson
The Legendary Nat King Cole (2004)
as Self
The Ratpack (2006)
as Self
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
…Sings Musicals (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits (—)
as Self (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime (2005)
Actor
Let's Play, Boy (2008)
as himself (archive footage)
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis (1988)
as Self
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977)
Actor
Sammy Stops the World (1978)
as Littlechap
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective) (1973)
as Self
Sammy and Bruce (1980)
as Self
Bomb Disposal (1963)
as Self
Sweet and Low (1947)
as Self
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat (2004)
Actor
Jackpot at Tahoe (1963)
as Self
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany (1985)
as Himself - Main Artist
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live (—)
as self