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