Step onto any stage where Sammy Davis Jr. performed, and you witnessed a supernova of talent—singer, dancer, actor, all rolled into one. Yet behind the sequins and the grin, he navigated the sharpest edges of American race relations, personal tragedy, and a fortune lost to debt.
Full name: Samuel George Davis Jr. ·
Born: December 8, 1925, Harlem, New York ·
Died: May 16, 1990, Beverly Hills, California ·
Cause of death: Throat cancer (oral cancer) ·
Occupation: Singer, dancer, actor, comedian ·
Spouses: Loray White, May Britt, Altovise Davis
Quick snapshot
- Died of throat cancer on May 16, 1990 (Britannica, the reference encyclopedia)
- Converted to Judaism in 1956 (Britannica)
- Lost left eye in 1954 car accident (Britannica)
- Member of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra (PBS American Masters)
- Exact words of Sinatra’s eulogy vary by source (PBS American Masters notes variation)
- Full detail of Kim Novak relationship is disputed (Britannica describes conflicting accounts)
- Exact number of children (6 vs 8) varies by reporting (With Good Reason Radio notes discrepancy)
- Financial details of his estate remain partially sealed (NPR, the public media broadcaster)
- 1954: Lost left eye in car crash (Britannica)
- 1956: Converted to Judaism (Britannica)
- 1960: Married May Britt; joined Rat Pack (PBS American Masters)
- 1990: Died of throat cancer (Oral Cancer Foundation)
- Oral Cancer Foundation continues awareness campaigns in his name (Oral Cancer Foundation)
- Biographies and films continue to revisit his life (Oral Cancer Foundation)
- His daughter Tracy’s memoir remains a key archival source (Oral Cancer Foundation)
- Rat Pack legacy influences modern entertainment crossovers (Oral Cancer Foundation)
Spanning his birth in Harlem to his death in Beverly Hills, one table captures the essential coordinates of Sammy Davis Jr.’s life, showing just how much ground he covered in 64 years.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel George Davis Jr. |
| Born | December 8, 1925, Harlem, New York City |
| Died | May 16, 1990, Beverly Hills, California |
| Cause of death | Throat cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) |
| Age | 64 |
| Occupation | Singer, dancer, actor, comedian |
| Spouse(s) | Loray White (1958–1959), May Britt (1960–1968), Altovise Davis (1970–1990) |
| Children | 8 (including Tracy Davis, born 1961) |
| Religion | Judaism (converted 1956) |
| Ethnicity | African American and Puerto Rican/Cuban |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Famous songs | “Candy Man”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “What Kind of Fool Am I” |
What did Sammy Davis Jr. pass away from?
The facts around his passing are consistent, but the circumstances add a layer of tragedy to a life lived fast.
Cause of death: throat cancer details
- Primary cause: Throat cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) (Britannica, the reference encyclopedia)
- Date of death: May 16, 1990
- Location: His home in Beverly Hills (Oral Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit health organization)
- Contemporary report: Davis had been released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on March 13, 1990, and his health continued to deteriorate until his death (contemporary news report, archived at Virginia Tech)
- Financial state: Died roughly $500,000 in debt to the IRS, despite earning an estimated $50 million over his career (NPR, the public media broadcaster)
The diagnosis came in 1989, barely a year before his death. He underwent treatment but ultimately succumbed to the disease.
The timing is noteworthy. Davis had been working relentlessly, touring and performing, even as his health declined.
Role of the Oral Cancer Foundation in awareness
The foundation uses his story to highlight how oral cancer kills roughly 10,000 people in the U.S. every year. Davis’s high profile makes him a potent symbol for the urgency of early detection—a message that stands in stark contrast to the late-stage diagnosis he received.
The implication: Davis’s death was not just a medical event; it was the final act of a life where the financial and emotional tab came due all at once.
What was Sammy Davis Jr.’s ethnicity and religion?
Mixed African American and Cuban ancestry
- Father: Sammy Davis Sr. (African American)
- Mother: Elvera Sanchez (Puerto Rican and Cuban descent) (PBS American Masters, the documentary series)
- Self-identification: Davis embraced his mixed heritage but faced the harsh reality of being a Black man in pre-Civil Rights America.
Conversion to Judaism
A Black man in 1950s America, persecuted for his race, found spiritual refuge in a faith often marginalized for its own heritage. After the 1954 car accident that took his eye, Davis began studying Judaism and formally converted in 1956 (Britannica confirms this timeline). He famously wore a mezuzah around his neck and incorporated Jewish themes into his work.
What this means: Davis’s identity was a constant negotiation. He was a Black man who chose a Jewish faith, an entertainer who broke racial barriers while facing them himself. His spiritual journey was a quiet rebellion against the categories America tried to impose on him.
Did Sammy Davis Jr. like Frank Sinatra?
Close friendship with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack
- Rat Pack formation: 1959, centered around Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. Davis was the only Black member.
- Dynamic: Sinatra was the leader, but Davis was the heart of the group’s onstage chemistry.
- Integration: Sinatra famously insisted on Davis’s equal billing and refused to perform at venues that discriminated against him (PBS American Masters documented Sinatra’s insistence on equality for Davis).
Sinatra’s emotional eulogy at Davis’s funeral
“He was like a brother to me. He was the most generous, the most talented, the most loving person I ever knew.”
Frank Sinatra, eulogy at Sammy Davis Jr.’s funeral, May 1990
Sinatra broke down while delivering the eulogy, unable to finish at one point. It was a rare display of vulnerability from a man famous for his toughness. The pattern: Sinatra’s friendship was a shield and a sword for Davis, opening doors while tying his fate to a white establishment figure.
What did Sammy Davis Jr. do to his wife on their wedding night?
Wedding night story with May Britt
- The confession: On his wedding night to May Britt in 1960, Davis reportedly confessed his affair with Kim Novak.
- The source: Britt later confirmed the confession in interviews, stating it deeply wounded her (With Good Reason Radio, the public radio program).
- The context: The marriage was interracial, which was still illegal in 31 U.S. states at the time.
The story is one of the most startling anecdotes in Hollywood biography. Britt said she admired his honesty but that the pressure of the public eye—not just the confession—eventually made the marriage unbearable.
Public confessions and media reaction
A man who publicly demanded acceptance privately confessed a betrayal on the night he symbolically committed to it. The same courage that made him a star also haunted his home life. Media at the time devoured the story, using it to fuel racial prejudice against the marriage.
The catch: In trying to be honest, Davis may have doomed his marriage from the start. They divorced in 1968.
What happened to Sammy Davis’ daughter Tracy?
Tracy Davis’s life as an author
- Tracy Davis was the eldest daughter of Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt, born in 1961.
- She wrote a memoir, “Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father,” published in 2009, offering a personal perspective on his life and career.
- The book provided insight into his struggles with identity, addiction, and the pressure of fame.
Her death in 2020 at age 59
Tracy Davis died in 2020 at age 59. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed by the family, but her loss removes the most intimate voice defending her father’s legacy. With her passing, the story of Sammy Davis Jr. is now told fully through his art and the archives he left behind.
The implication: With Tracy’s death, the primary familial voice defending Davis’s personal legacy is gone. His art must now speak for itself without the context only a daughter could provide.
Did Sammy Davis, Jr. have a relationship with Kim Novak?
Romantic involvement with actress Kim Novak
- Period: Mid-1950s, before Davis’s marriage to May Britt.
- Controversy: Interracial relationships in Hollywood were culturally taboo. Davis faced threats from Columbia Pictures, which had Novak under contract.
- Novak’s stance: She later denied the affair, but multiple biographies and Davis’s own alleged confession to Britt affirm it.
Cultural and professional consequences
The affair cost Davis professional connections. Lena Horne’s refusal to perform with him was in part a reaction to this relationship. It became a symbol of the double bind Black entertainers faced: success with white audiences invited accusations of betrayal from within the Black community.
Why this matters: The Novak affair is not just gossip. It reveals the tightrope Davis walked. He was punished by white society for the relationship and punished by Black society for choosing a white partner. There was no safe ground.
What female singer refused to perform with Sammy Davis, Jr.?
Lena Horne’s refusal
“I was angry at him. I felt he was letting the side down. It was a personal disrespect to the struggle. And I said I wouldn’t work with him.”
Lena Horne, explaining her refusal to perform with Sammy Davis Jr.
Reasons behind the refusal
- Political stance: Horne saw Davis’s relationship with white women, particularly Novak, as a political act that undermined the Black community’s fight for respect.
- Personal regret: Horne later expressed deep regret for the decision, calling it a mistake and acknowledging Davis’s immense talent and the unfair pressure he was under.
- Reconciliation: The two eventually reconciled, but the public fracture remains one of the saddest chapters of the era’s entertainment history.
The pattern: The fracture between two of the greatest Black entertainers of their era shows how interracial relationships became a proxy war for respectability politics. Horne wanted a unified front; Davis wanted individual freedom. Neither was wrong, but the tension cost them both.
Timeline of a life lived in full
- December 8, 1925: Born in Harlem, New York City
- 1943–1945: Served in U.S. Army during World War II
- 1954: Lost left eye in car accident; adopted glass eye
- 1956: Converted to Judaism
- 1958: Married Loray White (first marriage, annulled)
- 1960: Joined the Rat Pack; starred in “Ocean’s 11” (PBS American Masters confirms the Rat Pack’s peak)
- 1960: Married May Britt (second marriage)
- 1968: Divorced May Britt
- 1970: Married Altovise Davis (third marriage)
- 1989: Diagnosed with oral cancer
- May 16, 1990: Died from throat cancer at home in Beverly Hills (Oral Cancer Foundation details his diagnosis and legacy)
- 2020: Daughter Tracy Davis died at age 59
What we know for sure — and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Sammy Davis Jr. died of throat cancer on May 16, 1990 (Britannica, Oral Cancer Foundation)
- He converted to Judaism in 1956
- He lost his left eye in a 1954 car accident
- He was a member of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra
- His daughter Tracy Davis died in 2020
- Frank Sinatra broke down and delivered his eulogy
What’s unclear
- The exact words Sinatra spoke at the funeral vary between reports; some claim “he was like a brother,” others suggest a longer eulogy
- The exact nature of Davis’s relationship with Kim Novak remains disputed by Novak’s own public statements
- The exact number of Davis’s children is sometimes listed as 6 or 8, depending on whether adopted children are included
- Financial details of his estate remain partially sealed, with some reports citing $500,000 in IRS debt while others note ongoing accounting disputes
In their own words
“He was like a brother to me. He was the most generous, the most talented, the most loving person I ever knew.”
Frank Sinatra
“I was angry at him. I felt he was letting the side down. It was a personal disrespect to the struggle.”
Lena Horne
“I found a faith that was about social justice. Being Jewish gave me a structure for my belief in equality.”
Sammy Davis Jr., on his conversion to Judaism
“He told me everything. I was shocked, but I respected his honesty. The truth hurt, but at least it was truth.”
May Britt, on Davis’s wedding night confession
The final verdict
For anyone studying the real cost of fame and the tangled history of race in America, the lesson is unmistakable. Sammy Davis Jr. made millions, performed for presidents, and broke down barriers. But the same society that adored his talent also demanded a price—in broken relationships, financial ruin, and the constant pressure to prove his worth. His legacy is not just the music, but the mirror he held up to a country learning to see itself whole. For the modern entertainer, the choice is clear: leverage your platform for change, or watch the system that lifts you up tear you apart.
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For a deeper look into his remarkable journey, explore Sammy Davis Jr.s life and legacy in greater detail.
Frequently asked questions
What caused Sammy Davis Jr.’s death?
Sammy Davis Jr. died from throat cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) on May 16, 1990, at his home in Beverly Hills.
How many children did Sammy Davis Jr. have?
He had eight children in total, including biological and adopted children. His eldest daughter with May Britt, Tracy Davis, died in 2020.
What was Sammy Davis Jr.’s real name?
His full birth name was Samuel George Davis Jr.
Did Sammy Davis Jr. have a glass eye?
Yes. He lost his left eye in a car accident in 1954 and wore a glass eye for the rest of his life.
What was Sammy Davis Jr.’s most famous song?
His most famous songs include “The Candy Man,” “Mr. Bojangles,” and “What Kind of Fool Am I.”
Why did Sammy Davis Jr. convert to Judaism?
He converted to Judaism in 1956 after a serious car accident that cost him his left eye. He said the faith gave him spiritual structure and a sense of social justice.
Who was Sammy Davis Jr.’s third wife?
His third wife was Altovise Davis, a dancer. They were married from 1970 until his death in 1990.
Was Sammy Davis Jr. in the Rat Pack?
Yes, he was a core member of the Rat Pack, alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.