Cast
Sammy Davis Jr.
Acting
Cast
Sammy Davis Jr.
Known for
Acting
Born
1925-12-08
From
Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Died
1990-05-16
Also known as Sammy Davis, Samuel George Davis Jr., Samuel George Davis
Biography
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.
★6.4
MOVIE1960
Ocean's Eleven
as Josh Howard
★6.2
MOVIE1981
The Cannonball Run
as Fenderbaum
★8.3
MOVIE2026
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
as Self (archive footage)
★5.4
MOVIE1984
Cannonball Run II
as Fenderbaum
★5.3
MOVIE1963
Johnny Cool
as Educated
★5.8
MOVIE1963
The Threepenny Opera
as Moritatensänger
★6.7
MOVIE1968
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
★6.2
MOVIE1964
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Will Scarlet
★7.6
MOVIE2021
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
★5.9
MOVIE1973
Poor Devil
as Sammy
★7.9
MOVIE1983
Koyaanisqatsi
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE2023
Commitment to Life
as Self (archive footage)
★5.8
MOVIE1982
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
★4.8
MOVIE2017
Mansfield 66/67
★6.6
MOVIE1989
Tap
as Little Mo
★3.0
MOVIE1965
Nightmare in the Sun
as Truck driver
★6.9
MOVIE1969
Sweet Charity
as Big Daddy
★7.3
MOVIE2008
The Wrecking Crew
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
★6.0
MOVIE2024
BRATS
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
★5.8
MOVIE1971
The Trackers
as Ezekiel Smith
MOVIE1967
The Enemy
as Chris Christiansen
★7.7
MOVIE2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
★6.5
MOVIE1975
Doris Day Today
as Self
★6.5
MOVIE1966
A Man Called Adam
as Adam Johnson
★8.0
MOVIE1974
James Dean Remembered
as Self
★6.9
MOVIE1985
That's Dancing!
as Self - Host
★4.5
MOVIE1956
Meet Me in Las Vegas
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
★6.3
MOVIE1960
Pepe
as Sammy Davis Jr.
MOVIE2005
Pioneers of Primetime
★10.0
MOVIE1947
Sweet and Low
as Self
★6.3
MOVIE1982
Heidi's Song
as Head Ratte (voice)
★9.1
MOVIE1989
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
as Self
★8.0
MOVIE2017
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
★5.2
MOVIE1989
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
as Self
★10.0
MOVIE1988
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
as Self
★4.5
MOVIE2017
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive)
★5.9
MOVIE1988
Moon Over Parador
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE1987
Uptown Comedy Express
★6.0
MOVIE1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
MOVIE1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
★3.0
MOVIE1975
Gone with the West
as Kid Dandy
★5.2
MOVIE1966
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
as The Cheshire Cat
★7.0
MOVIE1981
This Is Elvis
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
★7.5
MOVIE1985
Dancing in the Wings
as The Spirit
★7.3
MOVIE2017
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
★5.8
MOVIE1962
Sergeants 3
as Jonah Williams
★7.3
MOVIE1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
as Self (archive footage)
★6.0
MOVIE1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
★8.7
MOVIE2002
It's Black Entertainment
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1991
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
MOVIE1980
Sammy and Bruce
as Self
★6.3
MOVIE1959
Porgy and Bess
as Sportin' Life
★5.1
MOVIE1962
Convicts 4
as Wino
★7.5
MOVIE1975
James Dean: The First American Teenager
as Self
MOVIE1977
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
★5.2
MOVIE1992
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
as Self (archive footage)
★8.1
MOVIE1970
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
as Self (uncredited)
★8.0
MOVIE1977
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
★6.5
MOVIE1973
Save the Children
as Self
★7.3
MOVIE1976
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
as Self
MOVIE1985
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
as Himself - Main Artist
★6.6
MOVIE1990
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
as Sideman
★6.5
MOVIE2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1971
Fight of the Century
as Self-(Audience Member)
★8.7
MOVIE1990
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
★9.0
MOVIE2022
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
★6.2
MOVIE1955
Six Bridges to Cross
as Uncredited
★6.0
MOVIE1986
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
as Self
MOVIE1968
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
as Self
★5.3
MOVIE1968
Salt & Pepper
as Charles Salt
★5.0
MOVIE1970
One More Time
as Charles Salt
★2.0
MOVIE1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
★9.0
MOVIE1965
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
as Self
MOVIE1973
Old Faithful
as Sammy Davis Jr.
★7.5
MOVIE2022
This Is Joan Collins
as Self (Archive Footage)
★6.0
MOVIE1983
Smorgasbord
as Himself
★8.0
MOVIE1978
Cinderella at the Palace
as Self
★6.9
MOVIE2017
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
as Self (archive footage)
★9.0
MOVIE1978
Sammy Stops the World
as Littlechap
★7.6
MOVIE1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
as Self
MOVIE1966
The Strolling '20s
as Self
★9.5
MOVIE1986
The Perils of P.K
MOVIE2023
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE2015
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
as Self (archive footage)
★5.3
MOVIE2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
★10.0
MOVIE1969
The Pigeon
as Larry Miller
MOVIE2007
Elvis Through the Years
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1974
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
as Self - Presenter
★6.8
MOVIE2001
The Ocean's 11 Story
as Self (archive footage)
★8.0
MOVIE1980
Magic Night
as Self
MOVIE2012
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1976
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE1967
Movin' with Nancy
as Self
★7.7
MOVIE2023
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
as Self
★5.2
MOVIE2002
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
as Self (archive footage)
★6.0
MOVIE1984
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
as Self
★5.3
MOVIE2008
Let's Play, Boy
as himself (archive footage)
★7.0
MOVIE2012
The Music According to Tom Jobim
as Self (archive footage)
★7.8
MOVIE2003
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
as Self (archive footage)
★6.0
MOVIE1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE2023
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1961
The Day of the Fox
as Beppo
MOVIE1963
Jackpot at Tahoe
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE2012
…Sings Musicals
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
★8.0
MOVIE1960
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
★7.2
MOVIE1969
The Fall
★6.2
MOVIE1958
Anna Lucasta
as Danny
MOVIE2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE2004
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
★2.0
MOVIE2023
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
as Self
MOVIE2006
The Ratpack
as Self
MOVIE2004
The Legendary Nat King Cole
as Self
MOVIETBA
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE2004
Dean Martin: The One and Only
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE1963
Bomb Disposal
as Self
MOVIE2004
The Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
★8.0
MOVIE1956
Jazz Ball
as Self (archive footage)
★6.0
MOVIE1933
Seasoned Greetings
as Henry Johnson
MOVIE1979
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
as Self
★8.0
MOVIE1978
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
as Self
★7.0
MOVIE1933
Rufus Jones for President
as Rufus Jones
MOVIE1967
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
as Self
MOVIE1973
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
as Self
MOVIETBA
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
as self
MOVIE1989
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
as Self