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Sammy Davis Jr. Biography

(1925–1990)

Related Works

Films
1959 Porgy and Bess
1964 Robin and the Seven Hoods

1968 Sweet Charity
1980 Taps
Albums
1955 Starring Sammy Davis Jr
1955 Just For Lovers
1956 Mr Wonderful (soundtrack)
1956 Here's Looking At You
1950s Boy Meets Girl (with Carmen McRae)
1957 Sammy Swings
1957 It's all Over But The Swingin'
1958 Mood To Be Wooed
1958 I Got A Right To Swing
1958 All The Way And Then Some
1959 Sammy Davis Jr At Town Hall
1959 Porgy And Bess
1960 Sammy Awards
1962 What Kind Of Fool Am I And Other Show-Stoppers
1963 Sammy Davis Jr At The Cocoanut Grove
1963 Johnny Cool (soundtrack)
1963 As Long As She Needs Me
1964 Sammy Davis Jr Salutes The Stars Of The London Palladium
1964 The Shelter Of Your Arms
1964 Golden Boy (soundtrack)
1965 Our Shining Hour (with Count Basie)
1965 Sammy's Back On Broadway
1966 A Man Called Adam (soundtrack)
1969 I've Gotta Be Me
1972 Sammy Davis Jr Now
1972 Portrait of Sammy Davis Jr
1976 It's A Musical World
1977 The Song And Dance Man
1983 Sammy Davis Jr In Person 1977
1984 Closest Of Friends
Compilations
1982 The Best Of Sammy Davis Jr
1989 Collection
1989 The Great Sammy Davis Jr
1990 Sammy Davis Jr Capitol Collectors Series

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Related People

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Related Sites

The Sammy Davis Jr. Association

Singer, actor, and dancer. Born December 8, 1925 in New York City. After his parents split up when he was three, Davis lived with his father and soon began a career tap-dancing in vaudeville. He, his father and Will Mastin performed as the Will Mastin Trio until Davis left to serve in the United States Army during World War II. During his time in the service, he overcame racial prejudice by joining the entertainment unit.

Uupon returning home, Davis resumed his showbiz career, with solo performing and recording success in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1956 he starred on Broadway in Mr Wonderful, and in 1964 in Golden Boy. His refusal to appear in any clubs that practiced racial segregation led to the integration of several venues in Miami Beach and Las Vegas.

Davis' films include Porgy and Bess (1959), Robin and the Seven Hoods with fellow Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (1964), Sweet Charity (1968), and Taps (1980). He continued to entertain and record until the early 1980s.

Davis married Swedish-born actress May Britt in 1960, when interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 states. The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons and divorced in 1968. Davis was married to dancer Altovise Gore from 1970 until his death in 1990.