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Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr.

Actor · Producer
64 years (Dec 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990)Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Known for
  1. 1960 Josh Howardin Ocean's Eleven
  2. 1964 Willin Robin and the 7 Hoods
  3. 1981 Fenderbaumin The Cannonball Run
Whatever else has changed around him, Sammy Davis Jr. has remained a working actor who has outlasted trends, studios and formats. 46 appearances between the two screens is the plain arithmetic of it. 'The Cannonball Run' sits at the front of the filmography, where he plays Fenderbaum. 'Ocean's Eleven' rounds out the better-known part of the filmography. By genre, comedy dominates the list.
Known for
  1. 1960 Josh Howardin Ocean's Eleven
  2. 1964 Willin Robin and the 7 Hoods
  3. 1981 Fenderbaumin The Cannonball Run
Whatever else has changed around him, Sammy Davis Jr. has remained a working actor who has outlasted trends, studios and formats. 46 appearances between the two screens is the plain arithmetic of it. 'The Cannonball Run' sits at the front of the filmography, where he plays Fenderbaum. 'Ocean's Eleven' rounds out the better-known part of the filmography. By genre, comedy dominates the list.
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Full Filmography
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
Sideman
★ 6.6
1990
Tap
Little Mo
★ 6.6
1989
Hunter
Benny Schafer
★ 7.1
1988Season 5
The Cosby Show
Ray Palomino
★ 7.0
1988Season 5
Alice in Wonderland
Caterpillar / Father WIlliam · 1 episode
★ 6.7
1985–
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany
Himself - Main Artist
1985
Cannonball Run II
Fenderbaum
★ 5.4
1984
Fantasy Island
Mr. Bojangles
★ 6.5
1983Season 7
Heidi's Song
Head Ratte (voice)
★ 6.3
1982
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sammy Davis Jr. still alive?
Sammy Davis Jr. passed away on May 16, 1990 at age 64.
What are the most famous roles of Sammy Davis Jr.?
Sammy Davis Jr. is best known for roles in The Cannonball Run, Ocean's Eleven, Cannonball Run II.
How many movies has Sammy Davis Jr. been in?
Over a 57-year career (since 1933), Sammy Davis Jr. has appeared in 25 movies and 14 TV shows.
What was Sammy Davis Jr.'s first movie?
The career of Sammy Davis Jr. began with Rufus Jones for President (1933).
What is Sammy Davis Jr.'s most recent movie or series?
Sammy Davis Jr.'s most recent release is The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1), which premiered on February 17, 1991.
What TV shows has Sammy Davis Jr. appeared in?
On television, Sammy Davis Jr. has appeared in I Dream of Jeannie, Batman, The Cosby Show, Charlie's Angels.
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Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr.
1925-12-08 · Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

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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Known for
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