Sammy Davis Jr.
Date of birth: 1925-12-08
Place of birth: Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Sammy Davis, Samuel George Davis Jr., Samuel George Davis, The Will Maston Trio, Will Maston Trio
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 three 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sammy Davis, Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Movie Credits
Ocean's Eleven
1960-08-10
Danny Ocean and his gang attempt to rob the five biggest casinos in Las Vegas in one night.
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985-01-01
William Shatner, Liz Taylor and many more stars blow lines, lose their pants and more in this hilari
Porgy and Bess
1959-06-24
In the early 1900s, the fictional Catfish Row section of Charleston, South Carolina serves as home t
The Movie Orgy
1968-01-01
Clips from assorted television programs, B-movies, commercials, music performances, newsreels, bloop
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
2023-01-13
This special explores the history of Black entertainers in Las Vegas and celebrating those who are n
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
The Cannonball Run
1981-06-19
A cross-country road race is based on an actual event, the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memor
Cannonball Run II
1984-06-29
When a wealthy sheikh puts up $1 million in prize money for a cross-country car race, there is one p
One More Time
1970-05-01
London nightclub buddies Salt and Pepper link Pepper's dead twin to diamond smugglers.
Salt & Pepper
1968-07-03
After discovering the body of a murdered female agent in their trendy Soho, London nightclub, groovy
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
2023-03-05
Kim Novak never dreamed on being a star, but she became one. Most famous for her enigmatic performan
Dean Martin: King of Cool
2021-11-14
Dean Martin had a laid-back charm that made him successful in everything from big-screen comedies to
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
1967-12-21
Dean is joined by Frank Sinatra and their respective families for the Christmas show. Dean and Frank
That's Dancing!
1985-01-18
A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie ca
Sweet Charity
1969-02-25
Taxi dancer Charity continues to have faith in the human race despite apparently endless disappointm
Tap
1989-02-12
Max Washington has just been released from prison after serving time for burglary. He returns to his
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
1970-11-11
On July 31, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Elvis Presley staged a triumphant return to the concert stag
Sergeants 3
1962-02-10
Mike, Chip, and Larry are three lusty, brawling U. S. Cavalry sergeants stationed in Indian Territor
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964-06-24
Set in Prohibition era Chicago, bootlegger Robbo and his cronies refuse to pay the greedy Guy Gisbor
Pepe
1960-12-21
Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno is a hired hand, Pepe, employed on a ranch. A boozing Hollywood director b
Johnny Cool
1963-10-02
A deported gangster trains an Italian convict to take over his operations in the U.S.
Convicts 4
1962-09-15
After his death sentence is commuted to life in prison, John Resko is transferred from Sing-Sing to
Heidi's Song
1982-11-19
Orphan Heidi lives with her grandpa in Swiss Alps. She brings joy to all there. However, her aunt ta
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
1984-12-09
A tribute to Lucille ball, with an humanitarian award for her quest to end juvenile diabetes.
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
1989-05-20
Over 30 songs including:Detroit/With A Song In My Heart/The Candy Man/What Kind Of Fool Am I/Bad/Mus
The Legendary Nat King Cole
2004-10-05
The life and career of one of America's leading cultural figures, told through video clips and rare
The Wrecking Crew
2008-03-11
A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew." a ba
Nightmare in the Sun
1965-03-06
A hitchhiker sleeps with a rancher's wife and is hunted by the sheriff for her murder.
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988-05-16
Stars celebrate Bob Hope's 50 years with NBC.
Rufus Jones for President
1933-09-09
A fantasy satire on politics in which a little boy dreams that he becomes President of the U.S. and
Seasoned Greetings
1933-09-23
The owner of an unsuccessful greeting cards store decides to sell 'talking' greeting cards in the fo
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982-01-01
A collection of bloopers and outtakes from an enormous selection of Hollywood classic productions sp
Anna Lucasta
1958-11-01
The estranged family of a reformed prostitute calls her back home to get her married to an affluent
Save the Children
1973-05-13
A concert film highlighted by performances from Marvin Gaye, Jerry Butler, and Roberta Flack.
The Trackers
1971-12-15
A rancher comes home and finds that his son has been murdered and his daughter kidnapped by a bandit
The Pigeon
1969-11-04
A private eye is hired to protect a young woman who has a black book on a crime syndicate.
The Ocean's 11 Story
2001-11-22
Vintage newsreels and interviews help re-create the magic of "The Summit," a memorable period in 196
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
1988-01-02
This 53-minute television special retraces Michael Jackson’s rise from child prodigy with the Jackso
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
1988-11-05
TV movie starring Sammy Davis Jr and Jerry Lewis.
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003-12-30
Collection of songs performed at the "Frank Sinatra Spectacular," a 1965 benefit by the various memb
A Man Called Adam
1966-03-16
A famous jazz trumpeter finds himself unable to cope with the problems of everyday life.
The Threepenny Opera
1963-02-28
The Gangster Macheath secretly marries the daughter of beggar king Peachum. When Peachum finds out,
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977-10-23
Hosted by Don Meredith & Cindy Williams with Eddy Arnold, David Brenner, Foster Brooks, Charo, Norm
This Is Elvis
1981-04-03
Though several actors portray Elvis Presley at different stages of his life, this documentary is com
The Rat Pack
2004-01-01
A collection of songs performed by Frank, Dean and Sammy - both solo and together
Smorgasbord
1983-04-13
Warren Nefron is a hopeless klutz who has some of the worst luck in the world: when he tries to end
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002-03-31
"The Television Years" examines the events that took place in the years between 1956 and 1960, in wh
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970-03-24
Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, the documentary follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. f
Gone with the West
1975-09-01
After being framed, a cowboy is sent to jail. After his time is served, he leaves with vengeance in
Rat Pack
2022-01-11
In the 1950s, a small group of artists monopolized the attention of the cameras and the public. Fran
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Some marvelous late-fifties memories of the one and only Nat King Cole. Singing (and occasionally pl
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
1978-08-22
This Is Joan Collins
2022-01-01
A feature-length documentary on the life of one of the last surviving actresses from the golden age
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976-11-28
CBS honors Lucille Ball with this celebration of her three CBS series: I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show an
Uptown Comedy Express
1987-05-09
TV Special with a variety of comedians.
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990-12-14
In this sentimental holiday tale, a young boy is taken away from his loving, adoptive household when
Sweet and Low
1947-03-28
Part of the Paramount Musical Parade shorts (production number FF6-1)
Sammy and Bruce
1980-09-21
TV Variety Special hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Sammy Davis Jr.
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
1989-01-01
The famed baseball player and manager gets the gagged filled joke treatment.
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990-02-04
Celebrating Sammy Davis Jr 's 60th anniversary in show business, including musical,comic and dancing
Let's Play, Boy
2008-05-25
The history of Playboy magazine as told by Hugh Hefner.
Moon Over Parador
1988-09-09
Little known actor, Jack Noah, is working on location in the dictatorship of Parador at the time the
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022-09-08
Never-before-heard personal recordings and archival footage tell the story of Louis Armstrong's life
…Sings Musicals
2012-01-15
BBC archive performances from musicals, including Ella Fitzgerald singing Mack the Knife, Captain Se
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023-12-20
A deep dive into the short yet impactful life of the trailblazing Latino comic whose son also went o
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
1989-07-17
The special is hosted by Tony Danza and Annie Potts celebrating 50 years of William Hanna and Joseph
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
2023-11-04
With his mafia wiseguy links and access to entertainment industry star power, Frank Sinatra helped J
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999-01-01
Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclus
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
1966-03-30
A loose adaptation and parody of the Lewis Carroll tale by Hanna-Barbera Productions. A modern-day t
BRATS
2024-06-07
In the 1980s, Andrew McCarthy was part of a young generation of actors who were set to take over Hol
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956-03-09
Chuck Rodwell is a gambling cowboy who discovers that he's lucky at the roulette wheel if he holds h
Poor Devil
1973-02-14
A young, down-on-his-luck resident of hell is given a chance to redeem himself by signing up a down-
The Fall
1969-01-15
"The Fall" depicts certain scenes in New York City between October 1967 and March 1968, shot by the
Fight of the Century
1971-03-08
Legendary boxing match between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in Madison Square Garden on March 8, 197
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
1977-01-01
Surrounded by his children, his wife Ethel, and Sammy Davis, Jr., RFK visits schoolchildren around t
The Music According to Tom Jobim
2012-05-20
Half a century ago, Brazilian composer and musician Antonio Carlos "Tom" Jobim (1927-1994) introduce
The Strolling '20s
1966-02-04
Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier travel down memory lane to see what life was like back in the 192
Sammy Stops the World
1978-01-01
A man who sells coffee for a living gets his boss's daughter pregnant. This changes his life and eve
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
2017-09-11
A star-studded roster of interviewees (including Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal) pay
Movin' with Nancy
1967-12-11
Billed as the "full-hour musical spectacular that won Nancy Sinatra the coveted Hollywood Star of To
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004-01-01
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the m
James Dean: The First American Teenager
1975-09-30
Stacy Keach narrates this documentary that chronicles the abbreviated life and career of iconic broo
This Is Bob Hope...
2017-12-29
During his career, Bob Hope was the only performer to achieve top-rated success in every form of mas
Jazz Ball
1956-01-01
A made-for-TV musical revue, compiled from soundies and film and TV performances by jazz greats from
Doris Day Today
1975-01-01
America's sweetheart Doris Day offers songs and sketches with some of her famous friends in this sma
James Dean Remembered
1974-01-01
Peter Lawford hosts this documentary taking a look at the life and films of James Dean.
The Ratpack
2006-01-01
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960-05-12
Two of entertainment history's biggest stars were united in this special 1960 television broadcast.
The Day of the Fox
1961-09-06
"In Jan Carew’s explosive drama, Sammy Davis Jr gives a memorable performance as a proud but disillu
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
2012-11-26
A collection of live performances of the rat pack
The Enemy
1967-11-20
During the Battle of the Bulge, word goes out to watch for German soldiers dressed as GIs. That's wh
It's Black Entertainment
2002-02-08
A star-studded tribute (from the creators of That's Entertainment) to the contributions of Afro-Amer
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015-11-06
A retrospective of Chita Rivera's film, television and stage career, including interviews with Dick
The Perils of P.K
1986-06-06
P.K., a former movie star now reduced to working as a stripper in a Las Vegas nightclub, is desperat
Old Faithful
1973-03-12
A forest ranger is asked by his boss to attract a record-breaking crowd to Yellowstone National Park
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
1985-06-28
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973-02-22
A 1964-1973 Retrospective for homecoming POWs.
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001-02-22
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001-02-22
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
1979-12-13
Gala tribute to the Chairman of the Board.
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
1965-06-12
The Rat Pack -- Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin -- in their only joint television p
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017-03-19
The gripping story of legendary American actor John Travolta: his rise to stardom in the 1970s; his
Night of 100 Stars
1982-03-08
The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1996-07-04
Bob Hope celebrates America's bicentennial. Hope's opening monologue includes jokes about the Fourth
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974-11-20
It's the 1974 Las Vegas Entertainment Awards, featuring appearances by Marty Allen, Paul Anka, Ann-M
Jackpot at Tahoe
1963-09-16
Assignment Four documentary film made by KRON-TV which first aired on September 16th 1963. Narrated
Elvis Through the Years
2007-08-14
Documentary / Music/Musical - This gripping, highly entertaining documentary offers an unparalleled
Six Bridges to Cross
1955-01-21
Follow the evolution of a small time juvenile delinquent hood to a big time racketeer. Based on the
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987-05-18
A TV special on the 100th anniversary of the birth of film.
Bomb Disposal
1963-08-14
Short film from The Outcasts director Robert Wynne-Simmons featuring Sammy Davis Jr. in a cameo role
Pioneers of Primetime
2005-11-09
An in-depth look at the early days of television and its first stars.
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025-01-24
Rich with archival gems and Liza Minnelli’s own point of view, Bruce David Klein's luminous document
Magic Night
1980-05-01
This one hour TV special promoting the release of Can't Stop the Music featured the film's stars (Th
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
1992-01-01
Cinderella at the Palace
1978-11-02
From backstage magic to applause in the spotlight! Young talent Marlene Ricci shares the stage with
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986-11-30
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
2004-01-01
Legendary performer Sammy Davis Jr. is the subject of this affectionate documentary, which chronicle
Dean Martin: The One and Only
2004-01-01
He was a beloved American icon. Dean Martin, the coolest, the most debonair, the smoothest. This fil
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
1968-02-06