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Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr.

Actor · 1925 – 1990 · 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 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.

Series24

  • TV7.5
  • TV7.0

    What's My Line?

    1950 · 29 votes

  • TV5.8

    The Mike Douglas Show

    1961 · 11 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Merv Griffin Show

    1962 · 12 votes

  • TV6.1

    Great Performances

    1971 · 25 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Dick Cavett Show

    1968 · 22 votes

  • TV7.1

    The Rifleman

    1958 · 54 votes

  • TV7.0

    The Cosby Show

    1984 · 514 votes

  • TV6.8

    Champs-Elysées

    1982 · 9 votes

  • TV5.3

    Wogan

    1982 · 7 votes

  • TV7.1

    Hunter

    1984 · 102 votes

  • TV7.3

    Batman

    1966 · 617 votes

  • TV7.5
  • TV7.8

    I Dream of Jeannie

    1965 · 842 votes

  • TV6.7

    Charlie's Angels

    1976 · 241 votes

  • TV5.9

    Ben Casey

    1961 · 15 votes

  • TV7.7

    The Carol Burnett Show

    1967 · 74 votes

  • TV6.2
  • TV7.0

    The Oscars

    1953 · 84 votes

  • TV7.2

    Omnibus

    1967 · 9 votes

  • TV6.3

    Burke's Law

    1963 · 12 votes

  • TV6.5

    Fantasy Island

    1978 · 130 votes

  • TV7.0

    Dinah!

    1974 · 4 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    1948 · 23 votes

Movies23

  • Movie6.2

    The Cannonball Run

    1981 · 728 votes

  • Movie8.2
  • Movie6.7
  • Movie5.4

    Cannonball Run II

    1984 · 360 votes

  • Movie6.4

    Ocean's Eleven

    1960 · 422 votes

  • Movie7.9

    Koyaanisqatsi

    1983 · 800 votes

  • Movie6.2

    Robin and the 7 Hoods

    1964 · 76 votes

  • Movie5.3

    Johnny Cool

    1963 · 23 votes

  • Movie6.0
  • Movie6.6

    Tap

    1989 · 30 votes

  • Movie6.9

    Sweet Charity

    1969 · 94 votes

  • Movie7.7
  • Movie7.4
  • Movie5.8

    Night of 100 Stars

    1982 · 5 votes

  • Movie6.1

    BRATS

    2024 · 59 votes

  • Movie6.3

    Six Bridges to Cross

    1955 · 22 votes

  • Movie5.9

    Poor Devil

    1973 · 9 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie4.5

    Meet Me in Las Vegas

    1956 · 13 votes

  • Movie6.8

    The Movie Orgy

    1968 · 19 votes

  • Movie6.5

    A Man Called Adam

    1966 · 17 votes

  • Movie7.3
  • Movie5.8

    Moon Over Parador

    1988 · 90 votes