Sammy Davis Jr.
Known for Acting · 184 credits
- Born
- 1925-12-08
- Died
- 1990-05-16
- Place of birth
- Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Sammy Davis · Samuel George Davis Jr. · Samuel George Davis · The Will Maston Trio · Will Maston Trio
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.
Known For
TV Shows (58)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self - Guest Host / Self (archive footage)
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
The Rifleman
1958
Batman
1966
as Self (uncredited)
Charlie's Angels
1976
as Sammy Davis Jr. / Herbert Brubaker III
Great Performances
1971
as Self (archive footage)
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
The Cosby Show
1984
as Ray Palomino
Hunter
1984
as Benny Schafer
Champs-Elysées
1982
as Self
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Ben Casey
1961
Wogan
1982
as Self
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self
I Dream of Jeannie
1965
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Cpl. Smith
Fantasy Island
1978
as Mr. Bojangles / Edward Ross Sr.
Burke's Law
1963
as Cordwainer Bird
The Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Omnibus
1967
All in the Family
1971
as Self
77 Sunset Strip
1958
Here's Lucy
1968
as Sammy Davis Jr.
The Oscars
1953
as Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
People's Choice Awards
1975
as Self - Presenter
The Jack Benny Program
1950
as Sammy Davis Jr.
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self
The Mod Squad
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self / Self (uncredited)
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969
as Rodney River Jr.
Chico and the Man
1974
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Sammy Davis Jr.
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
The Patty Duke Show
1963
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
Drama 61-67
1961
as Beppo
V.I.P. Schaukel
1971
as Self
Please Turn the Page
1977
as Self
The Julie Andrews Hour
1972
as Self
The Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1948
Alice in Wonderland
1985
as Caterpillar / Father WIlliam
The Sixties
2014
as Self (archive footage)
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
as Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
as Self
General Electric Theater
1953
as Private Spider Johnson / Jacob Johnson / Pancho Villa III
The Big Party
1959
as Self
Sanford
1980
as Self
Playboy's Penthouse
1959
as self
The Rat Pack
1999
as (archive footage)
Sammy and Company
1975
as Himself
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
1966
as Host
Movies (126)
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
2026
as Self (archive footage)
The Cannonball Run
1981
as Fenderbaum
Ocean's Eleven
1960
as Josh Howard
Cannonball Run II
1984
as Fenderbaum
Koyaanisqatsi
1983
as Self (archive footage)
Sweet Charity
1969
as Big Daddy
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
as Will Scarlet
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
as Self
BRATS
2024
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood
2017
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
as Self (archive footage)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Sergeants 3
1962
as Jonah Williams
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Pepe
1960
as Sammy Davis Jr.
It's Black Entertainment
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Johnny Cool
1963
as Educated
Porgy and Bess
1959
as Sportin' Life
Moon Over Parador
1988
as Self
Elvis: That's the Way It Is
1970
as Self
The Wrecking Crew
2008
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Dancing!
1985
as Self - Host
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
1988
as Self
The Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
as Self (archive)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Tap
1989
as Little Mo
Nightmare in the Sun
1965
as Truck driver
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
1990
as Sideman
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Commitment to Life
2023
as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
1984
as Self
Gone with the West
1975
as Kid Dandy
Mansfield 66/67
2017
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
as Self
A Man Called Adam
1966
as Adam Johnson
Convicts 4
1962
as Wino
Smorgasbord
1983
as Himself
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
1989
as Self
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
2023
as Self
Poor Devil
1973
as Sammy
Salt & Pepper
1968
as Charles Salt
The Trackers
1971
as Ezekiel Smith
This Is Elvis
1981
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Pigeon
1969
as Larry Miller
One More Time
1970
as Charles Salt
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015
as Self (archive footage)
The Fall
1969
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
James Dean: The First American Teenager
1975
as Self
Magic Night
1980
as Self
The Threepenny Opera
1963
as Moritatensänger
Old Faithful
1973
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Heidi's Song
1982
as Head Ratte (voice)
This Is Joan Collins
2022
as Self (Archive Footage)
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
1992
as Self (archive footage)
Anna Lucasta
1958
as Danny
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
1979
as Self
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast
1989
as Self
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years
2002
as Self (archive footage)
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
as Self - Presenter
The Strolling '20s
1966
as Self
The Music According to Tom Jobim
2012
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras
1967
as Self
Bomb Disposal
1963
as Self
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley
1960
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
1966
as The Cheshire Cat
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia
2023
as Self
Fight of the Century
1971
as Self-(Audience Member)
The Ocean's 11 Story
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Movin' with Nancy
1967
as Self
Elvis Through the Years
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Six Bridges to Cross
1955
as Uncredited
Seasoned Greetings
1933
as Henry Johnson
Uptown Comedy Express
1987
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973
as Self
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Save the Children
1973
as Self
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel
2023
as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986
as Self
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
1965
as Self
Cinderella at the Palace
1978
as Self
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
as Self (archive footage)
The Perils of P.K
1986
James Dean Remembered
1974
as Self
Jazz Ball
1956
as Self (archive footage)
Doris Day Today
1975
as Self
Rufus Jones for President
1933
as Rufus Jones
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin
1978
as Self
The Enemy
1967
as Chris Christiansen
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964
1977
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits
2012
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Stops the World
1978
as Littlechap
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event
1989
as Self
Dancing in the Wings
1985
as The Spirit
The Legendary Nat King Cole
2004
as Self
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1976
as Self
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1)
1991
The Day of the Fox
1961
as Beppo
Let's Play, Boy
2008
as himself (archive footage)
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis
1988
as Self
The Rat Pack
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat
2004
Sweet and Low
1947
as Self
The Ratpack
2006
as Self
…Sings Musicals
2012
as Self (archive footage)
About Sammy Davis Jr.
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… With 184 credits spanning from 1933 to 2026, Sammy Davis Jr. has appeared in 126 films and 58 TV shows.
Fans searching for Sammy Davis Jr. movies, Sammy Davis Jr. filmography, or the latest projects starring Sammy Davis Jr. can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Sammy Davis Jr. Movies
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) — as Self (archive footage)
- The Cannonball Run (1981) — as Fenderbaum
- Ocean's Eleven (1960) — as Josh Howard
- Cannonball Run II (1984) — as Fenderbaum
- Koyaanisqatsi (1983) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Sammy Davis Jr. Films
Most Sammy Davis Jr. movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Sammy Davis Jr., check our movies catalogue and browse page.