Table of Contents
Who Was Sammy Davis Jr.?
Sammy Davis Jr. was a trailblazing entertainment icon who defied racial barriers to achieve legendary status as a comedian, actor, dancer, and singer. A central figure in the Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Davis made notable contributions to film with roles in classics such as Ocean’s 11 and Sergeants 3. His staunch opposition to racial segregation in clubs led to the desegregation of several prominent venues in Miami Beach and Las Vegas. Renowned for his dynamic performances, Davis earned a Tony nomination and achieved chart-topping success with recordings like “I’ve Gotta Be Me” and the No. 1 hit “The Candy Man.” He passed away from throat cancer on May 16, 1990.
Childhood on the Road
Samuel George Davis Jr. was born on December 8, 1925, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Initially raised by his paternal grandmother, Davis’s life took a significant turn when his parents separated when he was just three years old. He then went to live with his father, who was working as an entertainer in a dance troupe. As his father and adopted uncle embarked on tour, Davis was brought along, and he soon began performing with them. This collaboration eventually evolved into the Will Mastin Trio.
Due to the group’s itinerant lifestyle, Davis did not receive a formal education. However, his father occasionally arranged for tutors while they were traveling. During their tours in the 1930s, Davis developed into an accomplished dancer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and comedian, quickly becoming the star of the show. His early film debut came in 1933 with a dance performance in the short film Rufus Jones for President.
In 1943, amidst the turmoil of World War II, Davis’s burgeoning career was disrupted when he was drafted into the Army. During his service, he encountered severe racial prejudice, a harsh reality starkly different from the protective environment his father had shielded him from. Davis faced relentless harassment and physical abuse from white soldiers, including an assault that resulted in a broken nose. Despite these challenges, he eventually found a degree of refuge in an entertainment regiment, where performing offered him a measure of safety and the opportunity to win over even the most antagonistic audience members.
Rising Star
Following World War II, Sammy Davis Jr. revitalized his show business career with remarkable vigor. He continued to captivate audiences as the leading performer with the Will Mastin Trio while simultaneously forging a solo path, performing in nightclubs and recording music. Davis’s career experienced a significant surge in 1947 when the trio opened for Frank Sinatra at the Capitol Theatre in New York. This collaboration marked the beginning of a lasting friendship and professional partnership with Sinatra.
In the subsequent years, Davis undertook a tour with Mickey Rooney and gained the attention of Decca Records, which signed him to a recording contract in 1954. However, his promising trajectory faced a major setback later that year. While en route to Los Angeles for a soundtrack recording, Davis was involved in a severe car accident that resulted in the loss of an eye. He would use a glass eye for the remainder of his life. During his recovery, Davis engaged in profound personal reflection and converted to Judaism, drawn by parallels between the struggles faced by African Americans and Jewish communities.
Despite this adversity, Davis’s career continued its upward trajectory. In 1955, he released two acclaimed and commercially successful albums, Starring Sammy Davis Jr. and Sammy Davis Jr. Sings Just for Lovers. These successes led to prominent performances in Las Vegas and New York, as well as notable appearances in films and television, including Anna Lucasta (1958) with Eartha Kitt, Porgy and Bess (1959) with Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier, and The Frank Sinatra Show (1958). Additionally, Davis made his Broadway debut in 1956 with the hit musical Mr. Wonderful, showcasing his talents alongside his family and the renowned dancer Chita Rivera.
The Rat Pack and Beyond
By 1960, Sammy Davis Jr. had achieved star status independently, but he was also a key member of the legendary Rat Pack, alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. This ensemble of prominent entertainers dominated the Las Vegas and Los Angeles nightclub scenes with their charismatic performances and lavish lifestyles. Davis appeared alongside his Rat Pack colleagues in several notable films, including Ocean’s 11 (1960), Sergeants 3 (1962), and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964).
Davis’s career extended beyond his Rat Pack affiliations. He played the titular role in A Man Called Adam (1966), sharing the screen with Louis Armstrong, and delivered a memorable performance as the charismatic guru Big Daddy in Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity (1969), featuring Shirley MacLaine.
In addition to his film work, Davis maintained a prolific recording career. He released a series of albums on Decca and Reprise, the latter of which was launched by Sinatra. Davis’s musical talents earned him a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year with the song “What Kind of Fool Am I?,” which also reached the Top 20 on the Billboard pop charts. His stage work continued to garner acclaim, highlighted by a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 1964 musical Golden Boy.
In 1966, Davis hosted his own variety series, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, though it was short-lived. He returned to television as the host of the syndicated talk show Sammy and Company from 1975 to 1977.
Social Activism
Despite his public persona as a charismatic playboy, Sammy Davis Jr. channeled his personal experiences with racial discrimination into significant political activism. During the 1960s, Davis leveraged his prominence to support the Civil Rights Movement, notably participating in the historic 1963 March on Washington. He also made a bold stand against segregation by refusing to perform at racially exclusive nightclubs, contributing to the desegregation efforts in Las Vegas and Miami Beach. Moreover, Davis defied societal norms and legal barriers by marrying Swedish actress May Britt at a time when interracial marriages were prohibited in 31 states. His union with Britt was so controversial that President John F. Kennedy reportedly requested that the couple refrain from attending his inauguration to avoid provoking backlash from white Southern constituents.
To the End
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the multitalented Sammy Davis Jr. maintained a prolific career. He continued to release albums, achieving his first #1 chart hit with the 1972 single “Candy Man.” Davis also ventured into film, appearing in notable movies such as 1981’s The Cannonball Run, alongside Burt Reynolds and Roger Moore, and 1989’s Tap, with Gregory Hines. His television presence was equally remarkable; he was a guest on a wide array of shows, including The Tonight Show, The Carol Burnett Show, All in the Family, and The Jeffersons, as well as soap operas like General Hospital and One Life to Live. In the summer of 1978, Davis made a return to Broadway in Stop the World – I Want to Get Off, although some critics viewed his performance as overly theatrical.
Despite his continued success, Davis’s health began to decline. A heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with a throat tumor in 1989. That year, he gave his final performance at Harrah’s casino in Lake Tahoe. Following this, Davis underwent radiation therapy, and while the disease initially appeared to be in remission, it unfortunately returned. On May 16, 1990, Sammy Davis Jr. passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 64. Prior to his death, he was honored by a television tribute in February, celebrating his remarkable contributions to entertainment.
Personal Life and Biographies
During the 1950s, Sammy Davis Jr. was significantly involved with acclaimed actress Kim Novak, but their relationship was marred by the racial tensions of the time. Davis married three times over the course of his life. His first marriage was a brief union with singer Loray White. His second marriage, to actress Britt in 1960, produced a biological daughter and two adopted sons before their divorce at the end of the decade. In 1970, Davis married dancer Altovise Gore, who remained his spouse until his death; together, they adopted another son.
Davis’s early life was marked by considerable hardship, which contributed to his struggles with addiction later in life. After his separation from Britt, he faced severe issues with alcohol and drug abuse and experienced significant financial losses due to gambling.
Davis chronicled his life in his 1965 autobiography, Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis Jr., and again in Why Me? published in 1980. A further autobiographical account, Sammy, was released posthumously in 2000. In 2003, Wil Haygood’s comprehensive biography, In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis Jr., offered an in-depth look at his life and career.