Sammy Davis Jr.
Biography
Sammy Davis Jr. was an American entertainer who worked as a singer, actor, comedian, and dancer. He began performing at two in vaudeville alongside his father and Will Mastin in the Will Mastin Trio. By seven he was appearing in short films like Rufus Jones for President. His career breakthrough came in 1951 after opening for Janis Paige at Ciro's, and in 1954 he broke a barrier by headlining a Las Vegas show, becoming the first Black entertainer to do so. He starred on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful (1956) and Golden Boy (1964), the latter earning him a Tony nomination. His films included Anna Lucasta (1958), Porgy and Bess (1959), Ocean's Eleven (1960), Cannonball Run (1981), and Tap (1989). As a recording artist, his hits included What Kind of Fool Am I? and The Candy Man. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987 and a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
64years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Beverly Hills
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Samuel George Davis (birth name)Also credited as Samuel George Davis Jr.
Movie Career
- Films
- 26
- Career span
- 71 years1955 to 2026
Genres
- Comedy42%, 11 films
- Drama35%, 9 films
- Documentary31%, 8 films
- Music27%, 7 films
- Crime23%, 6 films
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
First role
In 1933, filmmakers looking for child performers noticed Davis and he won the part of Rufus Jones in the short film Rufus Jones for President. Ethel Waters was his co-star.
Big break
On March 23, 1951, the Will Mastin Trio opened for Janis Paige at Ciro's in Los Angeles before the 23rd Academy Awards. Booked for twenty minutes, they played almost an hour after the crowd reacted enthusiastically to Davis's impressions, and Paige had the show's order changed.
About the name
In 1949, Davis signed with Capitol Records. Worried he would not succeed using his own name, he put out blues recordings as Shorty Muggins and Charlie Green, and they flopped.
Behind the award
In 1964, Davis returned to Broadway to star in the musical Golden Boy. The story involved an interracial romance and produced Broadway's first interracial kissing scene, and the show earned him a Tony Award nomination.
Sammy Davis Jr. movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Hal Needham directed two of these films. Dean Martin appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Dean Martin's page
Frank Sinatra's page
Bing Crosby's page
Dick Cavett's page
Johnny Carson's page
Jackie Chan's page
All films by Hal Needham
Also two films together31 more actors
- Burt ReynoldsCannonball Run II (1984) and The Cannonball Run (1981)
- Cary GrantEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Shirley MacLaineCannonball Run II (1984) and Sweet Charity (1969)
- Jack ElamCannonball Run II (1984) and The Cannonball Run (1981)
- Elvis PresleyEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Dom DeLuiseCannonball Run II (1984) and The Cannonball Run (1981)
- Angie DickinsonDean Martin: King of Cool (2021) and Ocean's Eleven (1960)
- Henry SilvaJohnny Cool (1963) and Ocean's Eleven (1960)
- Telly SavalasCannonball Run II (1984) and Johnny Cool (1963)
- Richard ConteOcean's Eleven (1960) and Pepe (1960)
- Peter LawfordSalt & Pepper (1968) and Ocean's Eleven (1960)
- Vanessa WilliamsIt's Black Entertainment (2002) and The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)
- Carol BurnettDean Martin: King of Cool (2021) and CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976)
- Hedda HopperAlice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966) and Pepe (1960)
- Milton BerleSmorgasbord (1983) and CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976)
- Ben VereenThe Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990) and Sweet Charity (1969)
- Zsa Zsa GaborAlice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966) and Pepe (1960)
- Dan DaileyThat's Dancing! (1985) and Pepe (1960)
- Jamie FarrCannonball Run II (1984) and The Cannonball Run (1981)
- Louis ArmstrongDean Martin: King of Cool (2021) and It's Black Entertainment (2002)
- Buddy LesterSmorgasbord (1983) and Ocean's Eleven (1960)
- Joey BishopJohnny Cool (1963) and Ocean's Eleven (1960)
- Suzzanne DouglasIt's Black Entertainment (2002) and Tap (1989)
- Dorothy DandridgeIt's Black Entertainment (2002) and Porgy and Bess (1959)
- Charlie HodgeEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Cissy HoustonEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Foster BrooksCannonball Run II (1984) and Smorgasbord (1983)
- Tom ParkerEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Glen D. HardinEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Hank HenryRobin and the 7 Hoods (1964) and Pepe (1960)
- James BurtonEPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) and Elvis - That's the Way It Is (1970)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Sammy Davis Jr.'s films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$202 million
9 of the 26 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 26 films: 9 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 4 never in cinemas; 9 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 4Never in cinemas
- 9Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$72M35.7% of the total
- 2$56M27.9% of the total
- 3$23M11.6% of the total
- 4$20M9.9% of the total
- 5$11M5.7% of the total
- 6$9.1M4.5% of the total
- 7$3.5M1.7% of the total
- 8$3.2M1.6% of the total
$2.8 millionfrom the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 1% of the total
Awards
Five awards and honors from 1968 to 2001, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 2001 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous) | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 1987 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1968 | Spingarn Medal | Won | |
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.