Sammy Davis Jr.
“A dazzling all-around entertainer who could sing, dance, and act with equal brilliance.”
On November 19, 1954, a near-fatal car accident cost Sammy Davis Jr. his left eye, and the wave of public sympathy and his courageous comeback elevated him from a known entertainer to a national celebrity. He returned to the stage wearing an eye patch within weeks.
Born in a Trunk
Samuel George Davis Jr. was born in Harlem in 1925 and began performing as a small child in his family's vaudeville act. By his teens he was a seasoned song-and-dance man.
Comeback and Stardom
A 1954 car crash cost him an eye but sparked a sympathetic public's embrace. He triumphed on Broadway in 'Mr. Wonderful' and joined Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, becoming a fixture in Las Vegas and on film.
Showman to the End
Davis topped the charts with 'The Candy Man' in 1972 and faced racial barriers throughout his career with defiant showmanship. He performed almost until his death from throat cancer in 1990.
Career Timeline
- 1925Born in Harlem, New York City
- 1933Performs in film as a child with his uncle
- 1954Car accident costs him his left eye
- 1956Stars on Broadway in 'Mr. Wonderful'
- 1959Joins the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra
- 1960Appears in Rat Pack film 'Ocean's 11'
- 1964Earns Tony nomination for 'Golden Boy'
- 1972'The Candy Man' hits No. 1 on the Hot 100
- 1989Final tour with Sinatra and Liza Minnelli
- 1990Dies of throat cancer in Beverly Hills
Biggest Hits
- He was a triple-threat entertainer who could sing, dance, and act, and was widely hailed as one of the greatest all-around performers in show business.
- After his 1954 accident he converted to Judaism, reflecting on the resilience he felt connected him to the Jewish people.
The Moment You Remember
He is remembered onstage in Las Vegas with the Rat Pack, trading songs and quips with Sinatra and Martin, a tuxedoed whirlwind who could do it all in a single evening.
Portrait: Jay Bernstein Public Relations · Public domain (publicity photo, 1972) · via Wikimedia Commons