Sammy Davis, Jr. Artistfacts

December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990
Sammy Davis Jr. began performing professionally at just 3 years old as part of the Will Mastin Trio with his father and uncle. His debut film appearance came at age 7 in Rufus Jones for President (1933).
Sammy honed his dance skills under the tutelage of tap-dancing icon Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. He also developed skills in singing, dancing, comedy, and playing multiple instruments, including drums, piano, trumpet, and vibraphone.
In 1954, Davis lost his left eye in a car accident. Undeterred, he continued performing with his signature glass eye.
Davis faced immense backlash for his 1960 marriage to the Swedish actress May Britt; it was one of the first high-profile interracial marriages in the US. The couple married despite death threats and significant societal stigma. They had three children together before divorcing in 1968.
Davis received a Tony nomination for his starring role in the 1964 Broadway musical Golden Boy. The production also broke racial barriers, portraying an interracial romance.
His 1972 hit "The Candy Man" went to #1 in the US and became his signature song, but that didn't sit well with Davis, who didn't like the song and had to be cajoled into recording it. When Davis played nightclubs (especially in Las Vegas) it put him in the awkward position of performing a kids' song to a very adult audience. He would often crack some jokes while singing it.
As a core member of The Rat Pack, Davis brought energy and humor to the group's legendary performances, sharing the stage with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.
Davis was known for his spot-on celebrity impressions of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, and Jerry Lewis. He often weaved comedy and impersonations into his musical performances.
Davis earned and lost millions throughout his career, with extravagant spending and lax accounting that caused some problems. Despite earning $50 million at his peak, he owed $7 million in taxes by the end of his life.
A connoisseur of fine drinks, Davis favored Japanese whisky, especially Suntory, and even became one of its first American celebrity endorsers.
Despite his glamorous lifestyle, Davis enjoyed simple dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, ham hocks, greens, and fried chicken.
With little formal schooling because of his early career, Davis's education came from life on the road. His 1965 autobiography, Yes I Can, became a bestseller, but it was primarily written by his close friends, Burt and Jane Boyar. Davis acknowledged his limited involvement, stating, "I did not type a letter. I did not put one syllable on a piece of paper." (Source Trivial Biographies).

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