Sammy Davis Jr.
Born December 08, 1925 (Age: 100)
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Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
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 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.
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.
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Filmography
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 100
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025
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as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Age: 99
The Ratpack
2006
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as Self
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Age: 80
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
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as
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Age: 79
The Legendary Nat King Cole
2004
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as Self
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Age: 78
The Rat Pack
2004
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 78
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 78
Dean Martin: The One and Only
2004
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 78
No Image
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
2004
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as
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Age: 78
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 76
It's Black Entertainment
2002
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 76
No Image
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
1992
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 66
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
1991
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as
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Age: 65
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990
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as Sideman
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Age: 65
No Image
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
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as Self
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Age: 64
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
1989
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as Self
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Age: 63
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
1989
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as Self
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Age: 63
Tap
1989
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as Little Mo
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Age: 63
No Image
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
1989
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as Self
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Age: 63
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
1988
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as Self
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Age: 62
Moon Over Parador
1988
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as Self
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Age: 62
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
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as Self
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Age: 62
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
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as Self
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Age: 61
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
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as
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Age: 61
That's Dancing!
1985
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as Self - Host
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Age: 59
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 59
Cannonball Run II
1984
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as Fenderbaum
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Age: 58
Koyaanisqatsi
1983
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 57
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 56
The Cannonball Run
1981
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as Fenderbaum
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Age: 55
This Is Elvis
1981
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as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Age: 55
No Image
Sammy and Bruce
1980
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as Self
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Age: 54
Magic Night
1980
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as Self
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Age: 54
Cinderella at the Palace
1978
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as Self
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Age: 52
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
1978
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as Self
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Age: 52
Sammy Stops the World
1978
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as Littlechap
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Age: 52
No Image
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
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as
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Age: 51
No Image
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
1977
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as
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Age: 51
No Image
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1976
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as Self
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Age: 50
No Image
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
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as Self - Presenter
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Age: 48
James Dean Remembered
1974
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as Self
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Age: 48
Save the Children
1973
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as Self
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Age: 47
Old Faithful
1973
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as Sammy Davis Jr.
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Age: 47
No Image
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973
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as Self
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Age: 47
Poor Devil
1973
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as Sammy
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Age: 47
Fight of the Century
1971
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as Self-(Audience Member)
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Age: 45
The Pigeon
1969
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as Larry Miller
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Age: 43
Sweet Charity
1969
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as Big Daddy
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Age: 43
The Fall
1969
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as
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Age: 43
No Image
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa
1968
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as Self
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Age: 42
Nightmare in the Sun
1965
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as Truck driver
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Age: 39
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
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as Will Scarlet
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Age: 38
Johnny Cool
1963
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as Educated
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Age: 37
Jackpot at Tahoe
1963
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as Self
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Age: 37
Bomb Disposal
1963
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as Self
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Age: 37
The Threepenny Opera
1963
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as Moritatensänger
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Age: 37
Convicts 4
1962
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as Wino
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Age: 36
Sergeants 3
1962
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as Jonah Williams
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Age: 36
No Image
The Day of the Fox
1961
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as Beppo
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Age: 35
Pepe
1960
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as Sammy Davis Jr.
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Age: 35
Ocean's Eleven
1960
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as Josh Howard
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Age: 34
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960
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as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
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Age: 34
Porgy and Bess
1959
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as Sportin' Life
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Age: 33
Anna Lucasta
1958
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as Danny
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Age: 32
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
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as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
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Age: 30
Jazz Ball
1956
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 30
Six Bridges to Cross
1955
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as Uncredited
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Age: 29