This page will contain images about Sammy Davis, Jr., as they become available.Sammy Davis, Jr.Sammy Davis, Jr. photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1956Sammy Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 - May 16, 1990) was an American "all-around" entertainer. He danced, sang, played vibraphone, trumpet, and drums, did impressions, and acted. BiographyHe was born in Harlem, New York City to Elvera Sanchez, a Puerto Rican, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an Afro-American, who were vaudeville dancers. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. As a child he learned how to dance from his father, Sammy Davis, Sr. and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. Davis joined the act as a young child and they became the Will Mastin Trio. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing. Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Snubs were explained as jealousy, for instance, but during World War II, Davis served in the United States Army, where he was first confronted by strong racial prejudice. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color anymore. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open." While in the service, however, he joined an entertainment unit, and found that the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking," he said. After he was discharged, he rejoined the dance act and began to achieve success. He suffered a setback in 1954, when an automobile accident resulted in the loss of an eye. Later that year, he converted to Judaism, and the next year he released his second album. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful. In 1959 he became a charter member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra. After he achieved success he refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. In 1960, Davis caused controversy when he married white Swedish-born actress May Britt. At that time interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 US states out of 50, and only in 1967 those laws were abolished by the US Supreme Court. The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons. They divorced in 1968. That year Sammy Davis, Jr. started dating Altovise Gore, a dancer in one of his shows. They were wed in 1970 by Rev. Jesse Jackson. They remained married until Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death in 1990. In either the late 1960s or early 1970s, Davis joined Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. In Japan, Davis appeared in television commercials for coffee. In his autobiography, Davis describes his swinger lifestyle which included alcohol, cocaine, and women. He also chronicles his financial difficulties. He died in Beverly Hills, California on May 16, 1990 of complications from throat cancer, a result of his many years of smoking. Davis is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Filmography
Autobiographies
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He also chronicles his financial difficulties. Dredg (officially spelled 'dredg' with a lowercase "d") is a progressive alternative band from Los Gatos, California. In his autobiography, Davis describes his swinger lifestyle which included alcohol, cocaine, and women. El Cielo, 2002. In Japan, Davis appeared in television commercials for coffee. Leitmotif, 1999 and 2001. In either the late 1960s or early 1970s, Davis joined Anton LaVey's Church of Satan. They remained married until Sammy Davis, Jr.'s death in 1990. Jesse Jackson. They were wed in 1970 by Rev. started dating Altovise Gore, a dancer in one of his shows. That year Sammy Davis, Jr. They divorced in 1968. The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons. At that time interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 US states out of 50, and only in 1967 those laws were abolished by the US Supreme Court. In 1960, Davis caused controversy when he married white Swedish-born actress May Britt. His demands eventually led to the integration of Miami Beach nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. After he achieved success he refused to work at venues which would practice racial segregation. In 1959 he became a charter member of the Rat Pack, which was led by his old friend Frank Sinatra. The next move in his growing career was to appear in the Broadway show Mr. Wonderful. Later that year, he converted to Judaism, and the next year he released his second album. He suffered a setback in 1954, when an automobile accident resulted in the loss of an eye. After he was discharged, he rejoined the dance act and began to achieve success. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking," he said. While in the service, however, he joined an entertainment unit, and found that the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open.". I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. It wasn't one color anymore. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. Snubs were explained as jealousy, for instance, but during World War II, Davis served in the United States Army, where he was first confronted by strong racial prejudice. Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing. Davis joined the act as a young child and they became the Will Mastin Trio. and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. As a child he learned how to dance from his father, Sammy Davis, Sr. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. When he was three years old, his parents split up. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. He was born in Harlem, New York City to Elvera Sanchez, a Puerto Rican, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an Afro-American, who were vaudeville dancers. He danced, sang, played vibraphone, trumpet, and drums, did impressions, and acted. Sammy Davis, Jr. (December 8, 1925 - May 16, 1990) was an American "all-around" entertainer. Sammy (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (2000) ISBN 0374293554 Consolidates the two previous books and includes additional material. Why Me? (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (1980) ISBN 0446360252. Yes I Can (with Burt and Jane Boyar) (1965) ISBN 0374522685. Tap (1989). Moon Over Parador (1988). Knights of the City (1986) (scenes deleted). The Perils of P.K. (1986). That's Dancing! (1985). Cannonball Run II (1984). Broadway Danny Rose (1984) (cameo). Cracking Up (1983). Heidi's Song (1982) (voice). The Cannonball Run (1981). Sammy Stops the World (1978). Gone with the West (1975). Save the Children (1973) (documentary). Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) (documentary). One More Time (1970). Sweet Charity (1969). Salt and Pepper (1968). A Man Called Adam (1966). Nightmare in the Sun (1965). Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). Johnny Cool (1963). Of Love and Desire (1963). Convicts 4 (1962). Sergeants 3 (1962). Three Penny Opera (1962). Pepe (1960) (cameo). Ocean's Eleven (1960). Porgy and Bess (1959). Anna Lucasta (1959). Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). Sweet and Low (1947). Rufus Jones for President (1933) (short subject). Seasoned Greetings (1933) (short subject). |