Acting · Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA · Born December 8, 1925
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.
MovieEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLiza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025
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MovieBRATS
2024
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MovieGone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023
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MovieKennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
2023
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MovieKim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
2023
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MovieCommitment to Life
2023
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MovieSoul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
2023
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MovieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
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MovieRat Pack
2022
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MovieThis Is Joan Collins
2022
as Self (Archive Footage)
MovieDean Martin: King of Cool
2021
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MovieThis Is Bob Hope...
2017
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MovieSammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
2017
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MovieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
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MovieJohn Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
MovieMansfield 66/67
2017
MovieChita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015
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TVThe Sixties
2014
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MovieThe Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
2012
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MovieThe Music According to Tom Jobim
2012
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Movie…Sings Musicals
2012
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MovieLet's Play, Boy
2008
as himself (archive footage)
MovieThe Wrecking Crew
2008
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MovieElvis Through the Years
2007
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MovieThe Ratpack
2006
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MoviePioneers of Primetime
2005
MovieThe Legendary Nat King Cole
2004
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MovieThe Rat Pack
2004
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MovieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
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Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
2004
MovieDean Martin: The One and Only
2004
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MovieLive and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003
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MovieThe Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
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MovieIt's Black Entertainment
2002
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MovieThe Ocean's 11 Story
2001
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MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
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MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
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TVThe Rat Pack
1999
as (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
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Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
1992
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MovieThe Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
1991
MovieThe Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990
as Sideman
MovieSammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Self
MovieHanna-Barbera's 50th
1989
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MovieFrank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
1989
as Self
MovieTap
1989
as Little Mo
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
1989
as Self
MovieAn Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
1988
as Self
MovieMoon Over Parador
1988
as Self
MovieHappy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
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MovieMichael Jackson: The Legend Continues
1988
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MovieHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
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MovieUptown Comedy Express
1987
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986
as Self
MovieThe Perils of P.K
1986
TVAlice in Wonderland
1985
as Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
MovieDancing in the Wings
1985
as The Spirit
MovieSammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
1985
as Himself - Main Artist
MovieThat's Dancing!
1985
as Self - Host
MovieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
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All Star Party for Lucille Ball
1984
as Self
TVThe Cosby Show
1984
as Ray Palomino
TVHunter
1984
as Benny Schafer
MovieCannonball Run II
1984
as Fenderbaum
MovieKoyaanisqatsi
1983
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MovieSmorgasbord
1983
as Himself
MovieHeidi's Song
1982
as Head Ratte (voice)
TVWogan
1982
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MovieNight of 100 Stars
1982
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TVChamps-Elysées
1982
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MovieOops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
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MovieThe Cannonball Run
1981
as Fenderbaum
MovieThis Is Elvis
1981
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sammy and Bruce
1980
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MovieMagic Night
1980
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TVSanford
1980
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MovieFrank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
1979
as Self
TVThe Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
MovieCinderella at the Palace
1978
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MovieSteve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
1978
as Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
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TVFantasy Island
1978
as Mr. Bojangles
MovieSammy Stops the World
1978
as Littlechap
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
Please Turn the Page
1977
as Self
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
1977
MovieCBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
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TVCharlie's Angels
1976
as Sammy Davis Jr. / Herbert Brubaker III
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1976
as Self
MovieJames Dean: The First American Teenager
1975
as Self
MovieGone with the West
1975
as Kid Dandy
Sammy and Company
1975
as Himself
TVPeople's Choice Awards
1975
as Self - Presenter
MovieDoris Day Today
1975
as Self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
as Self - Presenter
TVDinah!
1974
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TVChico and the Man
1974
MovieJames Dean Remembered
1974
as Self
TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
MovieSave the Children
1973
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MovieOld Faithful
1973
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973
as Self
MoviePoor Devil
1973
as Sammy
TVThe Julie Andrews Hour
1972
as Self
MovieThe Trackers
1971
as Ezekiel Smith
V.I.P. Schaukel
1971
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MovieFight of the Century
1971
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TVGreat Performances
1971
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TVAll in the Family
1971
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MovieElvis: That's the Way It Is
1970
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TVThe Flip Wilson Show
1970
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MovieOne More Time
1970
as Charles Salt
MovieKing: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Pigeon
1969
as Larry Miller
TVThe Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969
as Rodney River Jr.
MovieSweet Charity
1969
as Big Daddy
MovieThe Fall
1969
TVThe Mod Squad
1968
TVHere's Lucy
1968
as Sammy Davis Jr.
MovieSalt & Pepper
1968
as Charles Salt
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
1968
as Self
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
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MovieThe Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
MovieChristmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
1967
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MovieMovin' with Nancy
1967
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MovieThe Enemy
1967
as Chris Christiansen
TVOmnibus
1967
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
as Self
MovieAlice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
1966
as The Cheshire Cat
MovieA Man Called Adam
1966
as Adam Johnson
MovieThe Strolling '20s
1966
as Self
TVBatman
1966
as Self (uncredited)
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
1966
as Host
TVI Dream of Jeannie
1965
as Sammy Davis Jr.
MovieFrank Sinatra Spectacular
1965
as Self
MovieNightmare in the Sun
1965
as Truck driver
MovieRobin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Will Scarlet
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
MovieJohnny Cool
1963
as Educated
TVBurke's Law
1963
as Cordwainer Bird
TVThe Patty Duke Show
1963
MovieJackpot at Tahoe
1963
as Self
MovieBomb Disposal
1963
as Self
MovieThe Threepenny Opera
1963
as Moritatensänger
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self - Guest Host
MovieConvicts 4
1962
as Wino
MovieSergeants 3
1962
as Jonah Williams
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
TVBen Casey
1961
TVCain's Hundred
1961
as Sammy Davis Jr.
The Day of the Fox
1961
as Beppo
Drama 61-67
1961
as Beppo
MoviePepe
1960
as Sammy Davis Jr.
MovieOcean's Eleven
1960
as Josh Howard
MovieFrank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Playboy's Penthouse
1959
as self
The Big Party
1959
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MoviePorgy and Bess
1959
as Sportin' Life
MovieAnna Lucasta
1958
as Danny
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
TVThe Rifleman
1958
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Cpl. Smith
TVThe Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
MovieMeet Me in Las Vegas
1956
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
MovieJazz Ball
1956
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSix Bridges to Cross
1955
as Uncredited
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Private Spider Johnson
TVThe Jack Benny Program
1950
as Sammy Davis Jr.
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
TVThe Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
TVMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MovieSweet and Low
1947
as Self
MovieSeasoned Greetings
1933
as Henry Johnson
MovieRufus Jones for President
1933
as Rufus Jones
MovieThe Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live
as self
MovieNat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
as Self (archive footage)
