1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Sammy Davis, Jr. Biography (1925-1990)

Born December 8 (one source says 12), 1925, in New York, NY; died of throat cancer, May 16, 1990, in Beverly Hills (one source says Los Angeles), CA; buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale; son of Sammy (a vaudeville entertainer) and Elvira (a vaudeville entertainer; maiden name, Sanchez) Davis; married Loray White (a singer), 1958 (divorced, 1959); married May Britt (an actress), November 13, 1960 (divorced, c. 1967); married Altovise Gore (an actress and dancer), May 11, 1970; children: (second marriage) Tracey, Mark (adopted), Jeff (adopted); (third marriage) Manny (adopted).

Favorite role: Joe Wellington in Golden Boy.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

singer, dancer, actor, comedian

Birth Details

December 8, 1925

New York, New York, United States

Death Details

May 16, 1990

Beverly Hills, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Stage Appearances
• (Broadway debut) Charley Welch, Mr. Wonderful, Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1956.
• (London debut) An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr., Prince of Wales Theatre, London, 1961.
• Joe Wellington, Golden Boy, Majestic Theatre, New York City, 1964,then Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL, and Palladium Theatre, London, both 1968.
• Sammy Davis ... That's All (one-man show), Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1966.
• Sammy on Broadway!, Uris Theatre, New York City, 1974.
• Littlechap, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, New York State Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1978.
• Made stage debut at age one in walk-on appearance in parents' vaudevilleact, Columbus, OH, 1928. Other stage appearances include professional debut in vaudeville with uncle and father as part of the Will Mastin Trio, 1930; benefit for Harlem-Dowling Children's Service, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1976; Salute to Selma; and Two Friends.
• Toured Europe in 1967; performed for soldiers stationed in South Vietnamin 1972. Toured the world in concert with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (whowas later replaced by Liza Minnelli), 1988-89.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• (Film debut) Rufus Jones for President, Warner Bros., 1929.
• Season's Greetings, Warner Bros., 1930.
• Fletcher Henderson, The Benny Goodman Story, Universal, 1956.
• Danny Johnson, Anna Lucasta, United Artists (UA), 1958.
• Sportin' Life, Porgy and Bess, Columbia, 1959.
• Josh Howard, Ocean's Eleven, Warner Bros., 1960.
• Pepe, Columbia, 1960.
• Wino, Convicts Four (also known as Reprieve), Allied Artists, 1962.
• Jonah Williams, Sergeants 3, UA, 1962.
• Ballad singer, Three Penny Opera, Embassy, 1963.
• "Educated," Johnny Cool, UA, 1963.
• Truckdriver, Nightmare in the Sun, Zodiac, 1964.
• Will, Robin and the Seven Hoods, Warner Bros., 1964.
• Adam Johnson, A Man Called Adam, Embassy, 1966.
• Detective Charlie Salt, Salt and Pepper, UA, 1968.
• Big Daddy, Sweet Charity, Universal, 1969.
• The Pigeons, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1970.
• Detective Charlie Salt, One More Time (also see below), UA, 1970.
• Cameo appearance, Diamonds Are Forever, UA, 1971.
• Save the Children (documentary; also known as Brothers and Sisters in Concert), Paramount, 1973.
• Littlechap, Sammy Stops the World (also known as Stop the World--I Want To Get Off), Special Events Entertainment, 1978.
• Little Moon & Jud McGraw, Prism Entertainment, 1978.
• Fenderbaum, The Cannonball Run, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.
• Voice of Head Ratte, Heidi's Song (animated), Paramount, 1982.
• Fenderbaum, Cannonball Run II, Warner Bros., 1983.
• Narrator, That's Dancing!, MGM/UA, 1985.
• The Perils of P. K., Joseph Green Pictures, 1986.
• Himself, Moon over Parador, Universal, 1988.
• Little Mo, Tap, Tri-Star, 1989.
• Also appeared in other films, including Cracking Up; appeared in an interview in the British documentary James Dean, the First American Teenager.
• Credits; Film Work
• Executive producer, One More Time, UA, 1970.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Host, The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show, NBC, 1966.
• Host, The NBC Follies (also see below), NBC, 1973.
• Host, Sammy and Company, syndicated, 1975-77.
• Chip Warren, One Life to Live, ABC, 1980, 1981, and 1983.
• Eddie Phillips, General Hospital, ABC, 1982.
• Also starred in GE Presents Sammy, NBC, mid-1970s.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Zeke Smith, The Trackers (also see below), ABC, 1971.
• Caterpillar and "Father William," Alice in Wonderland (musical adaptation of tale by Lewis Carroll), CBS, 1985.
• Sideman (last role) The Kid Who Loved Christmas, syndicated, 1990.
• Also appeared in Cinderella at the Palace, 1978.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• Holiday in Las Vegas, NBC, 1957.
• The Frank Sinatra Timex Show, ABC, 1960.
• The Best on Record, NBC, 1965.
• Host, The Sammy Davis, Jr. Special (also see below), NBC, 1965.
• The Swinging World of Sammy Davis, Jr., syndicated, 1965.
• Voice, Alice in Wonderland, or What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in aPlace Like This? (animated), ABC, 1966.
• The Danny Thomas Special, NBC, 1967.
• Movin' with Nancy (also known as The Nancy Sinatra Show), NBC, 1967.
• Romp, ABC, 1968.
• Host, The Sammy Davis, Jr. Special, syndicated, 1969.
• Frank Sinatra, Jr. with Family and Friends, CBS, 1969.
• Rowan and Martin Bite the Hand That Feeds Them, NBC, 1970.
• Host (with Juliet Prowse, Jerry Lewis, and Charlie Callas), The Klowns, ABC, 1970.
• The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1971.
• Cameo appearance, City vs. Country, ABC, 1971.
• Burt Bacharach!, ABC, 1972.
• Opening Night: U.S.A., CBS, 1972.
• Duke Ellington ... We Love You Madly, CBS, 1973.
• Host, A Show Business Salute to Milton Berle, NBC, 1973.
• The Flip Wilson Special, NBC, 1975.
• Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star-Spangled Spectacular, NBC, 1976.
• America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music, CBS, 1976.
• Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Spectacular from Lake Tahoe, NBC, 1977.
• Bob Hope's All-Star Tribute to the Palace Theatre, NBC, 1978.
• Steve and Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin, NBC, 1978.
• Happy Birthday Bob, NBC, 1978.
• The Bob Hope Special, NBC, 1979.
• Las Vegas: Palace of Stars, CBS, 1979.
• Ringmaster, Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1979.
• Team member, Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 3, CBS, 1979.
• Sinatra--The First 40 Years, NBC, 1980.
• Bob Hope for President, NBC, 1980.
• Night of 100 Stars, ABC, 1981.
• Bob Hope Presents a Celebration with Stars of Comedy and Music, NBC, 1981.
• Bob Hope's 30th Anniversary Television Special, NBC, 1981.
• Voice, The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera Arena Show (animated),NBC, 1981.
• Texaco Star Theater: Opening Night, NBC, 1982.
• The Magic of Dance, PBS, 1982.
• Motown Returns to the Apollo, NBC, 1985.
• Elvis: The Echo Will Never Die, syndicated, 1986.
• All Star Party for Clint Eastwood, CBS, 1986.
• Bob Hope's High-Flying Birthday, NBC, 1986.
• The Twelfth Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1986.
• Las Vegas: An All Star 75th Anniversary, ABC, 1987.
• Honoree, The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1987.
• Happy Birthday, Hollywood!, ABC, 1987.
• Emmanuel Lewis: My Very Own Show (also known as Any Kid Can), ABC, 1987.
• Caesar's 20th Birthday Celebration, Showtime, 1987.
• The 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1987.
• Co-host, Jerry Lewis' Labor Day Telethon, syndicated, 1987.
• Happy Birthday, Bob--Fifty Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC, 1988.
• A ... Whole Lotta Fun, NBC, 1988.
• Michael Jackson (also known as Motown on Showtime), Showtime, 1988.
• Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party, NBC, 1989.
• Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event, Showtime, 1989.
• The Songwriters Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary ... The Magic of Music, CBS, 1989.
• The R.A.C.E. (also known as Racism), NBC, 1989.
• Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration, TNT, 1989.
• Elvis: Heart & Soul--Untold Stories, TNN, 1989.
• The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast, syndicated, 1989.
• The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1989.
• The 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1989.
• The 16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1989.
• Grand marshall, The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1989.
• Sammy Davis, Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 1990.
• America's Dance Honors, ABC, 1990.
• The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990.
• Grand marshall, Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, TBS, 1990.
• Other appearances include Dora Hall Specials, syndicated, mid-1970s, and All-Star Party for Lucille Ball, 1984. Also starred in five British television specials, between 1960 and 1964.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• The Steve Allen Show, NBC, c. 1956.
• What Are the Odds?, ABC, 1958.
• "Auf Wiedersehen," General Electric Theater, CBS, 1958.
• The Big Party, CBS, 1959.
• Host, Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1960.
• "Memory in White," General Electric Theater, CBS, 1961.
• Lawman, ABC, 1961.
• Hennessey, CBS, 1962.
• Frontier Circus, CBS, 1962.
• "The Legend," Dick Powell Theatre, NBC, 1962.
• Ben Casey, ABC, 1963.
• The Jerry Lewis Show, ABC, 1963.
• The Patty Duke Show, ABC, 1965.
• Wild, Wild West, CBS, 1966.
• I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1967.
• The Mod Squad, ABC, 1969 and 1970.
• Evening at Pops, PBS, 1970 and 1988.
• Name of the Game, NBC, 1970.
• "Sammy's Visit," All in the Family, CBS, 1971.
• The ABC Comedy Hour, ABC, 1972.
• "An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jerry Lewis," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988.
• Boxing trainer, Hunter, NBC, 1989.
• Ray Palomino, The Cosby Show, NBC, 1989.
• Made television debut in 1950. Also appeared with the Will Mastin Trio inToast of the Town (later titled The Ed Sullivan Show), CBS, and Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC, both during early 1950s; appeared in othershows, including The Lucy Show, Zane Grey Theater, 77 Sunset Strip, The Danny Thomas Show, and Burke's Law, all during 1960s; and in TheJackie Gleason Show and The Eddie Cantor Show. Appeared occasionally as a stand-in host for The Tonight Show, NBC. Appeared as a gueston numerous talk and variety shows. Made singing appearance on daytime dramaLove of Life.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Pilots
• Larry Miller, The Pigeon, ABC, 1969.
• Three's Company, ABC, 1953.
• Host, The NBC Follies, NBC, 1973.
• Disciple Sammy, Poor Devil, NBC, 1973.
• The Real Trivial Pursuit, ABC, 1985.
• Credits; Television Work
• Producer, The Sammy Davis, Jr. Special, NBC, 1965.
• Executive producer (with Aaron Spelling), The Trackers (movie), ABC, 1971.
• Recordings; Albums
• Starring Sammy Davis, Jr., Decca, 1955.
• Just for Lovers, Decca, 1955.
• What Kind of Fool Am I and Other Show Stoppers, Reprise, 1962.
• Sammy Davis, Jr., at the Cocoanut grove, Reprise, 1963.
• As Long As She Needs Me, Reprise, 1963.
• Forget-Me-Nots, Decca, 1964.
• Sammy Davis, Jr. Salutes the Stars of the London Palladium, Reprise, 1964.
• The Shelter of Your Arms, Reprise, 1964.
• If I Ruled the World, Reprise, 1965.
• (With Count Basie)Our Shining Hour, Verve, 1965.
• Nat Cole Song Book, Reprise, 1965.
• Sammy's Back on Broadway, Reprise, 1965.
• Try a Little Tenderness, Decca, 1965.
• The Best of Sammy Davis, Jr., Decca, 1966.
• The Sounds of '66, Reprise, 1966.
• Laurinda Amelia Plays, Sammy Davis Sings, Reprise, 1966.
• That's All, Reprise, 1967.
• Dr. Doolittle, Reprise, 1967.
• I've Gotta Be Me, Reprise, 1969.
• Lonely Is the Name, Reprise, 1969.
• Goin's Great, Reprise, 1969.
• Sammy Davis, Jr. Steps Out, Reprise, 1970.
• Let There Be Love, Harmony, 1970.
• What Kind of Fool Am I, Harmony, 1971.
• Now, MGM, 1972.
• Portrait of Sammy Davis, Jr., MGM, 1978.
• The Great Sammy Davis, Jr., Columbia, 1988.
• Also recorded other albus, including Sammy Davis, Jr. at Town Hall, Porgy and Bess, and Mr. Entertainment, all Decca; Hey There! It'sSammy Davis, Jr. at His Dynamite Greatest, MCA; and Sammy Davis, Jr.Belts the Best of Broadway, Reprise.
• Recordings; Singles
• "Hey, There," Decca, 1954.
• "Something's Gotta Give," Decca, 1955.
• "Love Me of Leave Me," Decca, 1955.
• "That Old Black Magic," Decca, 1955.
• "I'll Know," Decca, 1955.
• "Five," Decca, 1956.
• "Earthbound," Decca, 1956.
• "New York's My Home," Decca, 1956.
• "What Kind of Fool Am I," Reprise, 1962.
• (With Frank Sinatra) "Me and My Shadow," Reprise, 1962.
• (With Dean Martin) "Sam's Song," Reprise, 1962.
• "As Long As She Needs Me," Reprise, 1963.
• "The Shelter of Your Arms," Reprise, 1963.
• "Don't Blame the Children," Reprise, 1967.
• "Lonely Is the Name," Reprise, 1968.
• "I've Gotta Be Me," Reprise, 1968.
• "Candy Man," MGM, 1972.
• "The People Tree," MGM, 1972.
• Also recorded numerous other songs, including "Birth of the Blues," "TheLady Is a Tramp," and "The Way You Look Tonight."
• Credits; Autobiographies
• (With Burt Broyar and Jane Broyar) Yes I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis, Jr., Farrar, Straus, 1965.
• Hollywood in a Suitcase, Morrow, 1980.
• (With Broyar and Broyar) Why Me?: The Sammy Davis, Jr. Story, Farrar, Straus, 1989.
• Credits; Other
• Composer of numerous songs, including "I Like the Way You Dance." Author,with Spelling, of original story idea for The Trackers, teleplay by Gerald Gaiser, ABC, 1971.

Further Reference

Books

• Contemporary Authors, Volume 108, Gale, 1983, pp. 119-24.
• Contemporary Musicians, Volume 4, Gale, 1991, pp. 74-77.

Periodicals

• Daily News (Los Angeles), February 5, 1989, p. 19.
• New York Times, May 17, 1990.
• People, May 28, 1990.
• Variety, May 23, 1990, pp. 86, 89.