Sammy Davis Jr.
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting184
movieEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026
Self (archive footage)
movieLiza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieBRATS
2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieGone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieKim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieCommitment to Life
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieRat Pack
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieThis Is Joan Collins
2022
Self (Archive Footage)
movieDean Martin: King of Cool
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieThis Is Bob Hope...
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieSammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
Self (archive)
movieJohn Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017
Self - Singer (archive footage)
movieChita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Sixties
2014
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
2012
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Music According to Tom Jobim
2012
Self (archive footage)
movie…Sings Musicals
2012
Self (archive footage)
movieLet's Play, Boy
2008
himself (archive footage)
movieThe Wrecking Crew
2008
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieElvis Through the Years
2007
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Rat Pack
2004
Self (archive footage)
movieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
Self (archive footage)
movieDean Martin: The One and Only
2004
Self (archive footage)
movieLive and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
Self (archive footage)
movieIt's Black Entertainment
2002
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Ocean's 11 Story
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Rat Pack
1999
(archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
Self (archive footage)
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
1992
Self (archive footage)
movieTap
1989
Little Mo
tvAlice in Wonderland
1985
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
movieDancing in the Wings
1985
The Spirit
movieSammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
1985
Himself - Main Artist
movieThat's Dancing!
1985
Self - Host
movieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Cosby Show
1984
Ray Palomino
tvHunter
1984
Benny Schafer
movieCannonball Run II
1984
Fenderbaum
movieKoyaanisqatsi
1983
Self (archive footage)
movieSmorgasbord
1983
Himself
movieHeidi's Song
1982
Head Ratte (voice)
tvWogan
1982
Self
movieOops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Cannonball Run
1981
Fenderbaum
movieThis Is Elvis
1981
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvSanford
1980
Self
tvFantasy Island
1978
Mr. Bojangles / Edward Ross Sr.
movieSammy Stops the World
1978
Littlechap
tvCharlie's Angels
1976
Sammy Davis Jr. / Herbert Brubaker III
movieGone with the West
1975
Kid Dandy
tvPeople's Choice Awards
1975
Self - Presenter
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
Self - Presenter
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieOld Faithful
1973
Sammy Davis Jr.
moviePoor Devil
1973
Sammy
movieThe Trackers
1971
Ezekiel Smith
movieFight of the Century
1971
Self-(Audience Member)
tvGreat Performances
1971
Self (archive footage)
movieElvis: That's the Way It Is
1970
Self (uncredited)
movieOne More Time
1970
Charles Salt
movieKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Pigeon
1969
Larry Miller
tvThe Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969
Rodney River Jr.
movieSweet Charity
1969
Big Daddy
tvHere's Lucy
1968
Sammy Davis Jr.
movieSalt & Pepper
1968
Charles Salt
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
Self - Guest
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Self / Self (uncredited)
movieThe Movie Orgy
1968
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Enemy
1967
Chris Christiansen
movieAlice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
1966
The Cheshire Cat
movieA Man Called Adam
1966
Adam Johnson
tvBatman
1966
Self (uncredited)
tvI Dream of Jeannie
1965
Sammy Davis Jr.
movieNightmare in the Sun
1965
Truck driver
movieRobin and the 7 Hoods
1964
Will Scarlet
tvThe Hollywood Palace
1964
Self - Singer
movieJohnny Cool
1963
Educated
tvBurke's Law
1963
Cordwainer Bird
movieThe Threepenny Opera
1963
Moritatensänger
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Self - Guest Host / Self / Self (archive footage)
movieSergeants 3
1962
Jonah Williams
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
Self - Co-Host / Self
tvCain's Hundred
1961
Sammy Davis Jr.
moviePepe
1960
Sammy Davis Jr.
movieOcean's Eleven
1960
Josh Howard
movieFrank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960
Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
moviePorgy and Bess
1959
Sportin' Life
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Cpl. Smith
tvThe Steve Allen Show
1956
Self - Guest
movieMeet Me in Las Vegas
1956
Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
movieJazz Ball
1956
Self (archive footage)
movieSix Bridges to Cross
1955
Uncredited
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Private Spider Johnson / Jacob Johnson / Pancho Villa III
tvThe Jack Benny Program
1950
Sammy Davis Jr.
movieSeasoned Greetings
1933
Henry Johnson
movieRufus Jones for President
1933
Rufus Jones
movieNat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Self (archive footage)
Production3
movieThe Trackers
1971
Producer
movieOne More Time
1970
Executive Producer
movieSalt & Pepper
1968
Executive Producer
Sound2
movieLicensed to Kill
1965
Theme Song Performance
movieThe Disorderly Orderly
1964
Theme Song Performance