Sammy Davis Jr.
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
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.
Known for
Credits
The Cannonball Run (1981)
as Fenderbaum
Cannonball Run II (1984)
as Fenderbaum
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026)
as Self (archive footage)
Ocean's Eleven (1960)
as Josh Howard
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas (2023)
as Self
Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
as Self (archive footage)
Sweet Charity (1969)
as Big Daddy
Johnny Cool (1963)
as Educated
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
as Will
The Movie Orgy (1968)
as Self (archive footage)
Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985)
Actor
Dean Martin: King of Cool (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Moon Over Parador (1988)
as Self
Night of 100 Stars (1982)
as Self
Six Bridges to Cross (1955)
as Uncredited
BRATS (2024)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Man Called Adam (1966)
as Adam Johnson
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
as Sammy Davis Jr. (voice) (uncredited)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
as Self (uncredited)
Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me (2017)
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970)
as Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988)
as Self
James Dean: The First American Teenager (1975)
as Self
Tap (1989)
as Little Mo
Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966)
as The Cheshire Cat
Hanna-Barbera's 50th (1989)
as Self
Poor Devil (1973)
as Sammy
The Threepenny Opera (1963)
as Moritatensänger
This Is Elvis (1981)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
It's Black Entertainment (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
John Travolta, le miraculé d'Hollywood (2017)
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
This Is Joan Collins (2022)
as Self (Archive Footage)
That's Dancing! (1985)
as Self - Host
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (1988)
as Self
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2025)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017)
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987)
as Self
This Is Bob Hope... (2017)
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years (1999)
as Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas (1977)
Actor
One More Time (1970)
as Charles Salt
The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)
as Sideman
Gone with the West (1975)
as Kid Dandy
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers (1985)
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982)
as Self (archive footage)
Commitment to Life (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986)
as Self
Nightmare in the Sun (1965)
as Truck driver
An Evening with Sammy Davis, Jr. & Jerry Lewis (1988)
as Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976)
as Self
Out of Shadows (2020)
as Self (archive)
Salt & Pepper (1968)
as Charles Salt
The Wrecking Crew (2008)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball (1984)
as Self
Fight of the Century (1971)
as Self-(Audience Member)
Dancing in the Wings (1985)
as The Spirit
Pepe (1960)
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Elvis Through the Years (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
Porgy and Bess (1959)
as Sportin' Life
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do (2015)
as Self (archive footage)
The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show (Vol. 1) (1991)
Actor
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards (1974)
as Self - Presenter
Heidi's Song (1982)
as Head Ratte (voice)
Dean Martin: The One and Only (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Sergeants 3 (1962)
as Jonah Williams
The Perils of P.K (1986)
Actor
Kim Novak: Hollywood's Golden Age Rebel (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990)
as Self
Smorgasbord (1983)
as Himself
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years (1979)
as Self
Save the Children (1973)
as Self
The Trackers (1971)
as Ezekiel Smith
The Definitive Elvis: The Television Years (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time (1992)
as Self (archive footage)
The Legendary Nat King Cole (2004)
as Self
Convicts 4 (1962)
as Wino
The Music According to Tom Jobim (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits (—)
as Self (archive footage)
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr. (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr. in Europa (1968)
as Self
Doris Day Today (1975)
as Self
Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event (1989)
as Self
Loose Lips - Her Last Interview (2013)
Actor
Cinderella at the Palace (1978)
as Self
Let's Play, Boy (2008)
as himself (archive footage)
Mansfield 66/67 (2017)
Actor
Pioneers of Primetime (2005)
Actor
Christmas with The Martins and The Sinatras (1967)
as Self
Kennedy, Sinatra and the Mafia (2023)
as Self
The Billy Martin Celebrity Roast (1989)
as Self
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (1978)
as Self
Movin' with Nancy (1967)
as Self
Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (1960)
as Self - Singer / Dancer / Impressionist
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular (1976)
as Self
The Enemy (1967)
as Chris Christiansen
Rufus Jones for President (1933)
as Rufus Jones
Sammy Davis Jr.: Live In Germany (1985)
as Himself - Main Artist
Frank Sinatra Spectacular (1965)
as Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective) (1973)
as Self
The Strolling '20s (1966)
as Self
Sammy Stops the World (1978)
as Littlechap
Jingle Bells: RFK - 1964 (1977)
Actor
James Dean Remembered (1974)
as Self
The Day of the Fox (1961)
as Beppo
The Ocean's 11 Story (2001)
as Self (archive footage)
The Pigeon (1969)
as Larry Miller
Anna Lucasta (1958)
as Danny
Sweet and Low (1947)
as Self
…Sings Musicals (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
Magic Night (1980)
as Self
Sammy Davis, Jr.: One Cool Cat (2004)
Actor
The Rat Pack - The Greatest Hits (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
Old Faithful (1973)
as Sammy Davis Jr.
Jazz Ball (1956)
as Self (archive footage)
The Fall (1969)
Actor
The Best Of Sammy David Jr. Live (—)
as self
Uptown Comedy Express (1987)
Actor
Sammy and Bruce (1980)
as Self
The Rat Pack (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Seasoned Greetings (1933)
as Henry Johnson
The Ratpack (2006)
as Self
Jackpot at Tahoe (1963)
as Self
Bomb Disposal (1963)
as Self