Public Figure Profiles

Sammy Davis Jr.

Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director.

At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the Will Mastin Trio, which toured nationally, and his film career began in 1933. After military service, Davis returned to the trio and became an overnight sensation following a nightclub performance at Ciro's (in West Hollywood) after the 1951 Academy Awards. With the trio, he became a recording artist. In 1954, at the age of 29, he lost his left eye in a car accident. Several years later, he converted to Judaism, finding commonalities between the oppression experienced by African-American and Jewish communities.He had a starring role on Broadway in Mr. Wonderful with Chita Rivera (1956). In 1960, he appeared in the Rat Pack film Ocean's 11. He returned to the stage in 1964 in a musical adaptation of Clifford Odets' Golden Boy opposite Paula Wayne. Davis was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance.The show featured the first interracial kiss on Broadway. In 1966, he had his own TV variety show, titled The Sammy Davis Jr. Show. While Davis's career slowed in the late 1960s, his biggest hit, "The Candy Man", reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1972, and he became a star in Las Vegas, earning him the nickname "Mister Show Business".Davis's popularity helped break the race barrier of the segregated entertainment industry. He did however have a complex relationship with the black community and drew criticism after publicly supporting President Richard Nixon in 1972. 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 who's Jewish." This was to become a signature comment, recounted in his autobiography and in many articles.After reuniting with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in 1987, Davis toured with them and Liza Minnelli internationally, before his death in 1990. He died in debt to the Internal Revenue Service, and his estate was the subject of legal battles after the death of his wife. Davis was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his television performances. He was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987, and in 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sol turns thousands of years of human wisdom from the world’s spiritual traditions into a totally unique personality profile. To get your own profile, check compatibility with friends and much more, download the Sol App today.

Some of their strengths

Sammy Davis Jr. has many admirable traits.

Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Insightful, Imaginative, Generous, Kind, Passionate, and Curious.

Adventurous and Independent

According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Sammy Davis Jr. is someone who is an adventurous, independent, and energetic person, who is insightful, imaginative, generous, and honest. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.

Passionate and Intense

Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Sammy Davis Jr. well know them as someone who can be passionate, proud, and intense, like the sun or a blazing fire.

Truthful and Kind

According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Sammy Davis Jr. as someone who is honest, compassionate, imaginative, and instinctual.

A person who enjoys new challlenges, is a magnet for attracting other creative types, good at identifying opportunities, and who is good at forming loyal, lifelong friendships.

Justice-seeking and Insightful

Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Sammy Davis Jr. is someone who tends to be intolerant of unfairness in life, and who has an uncanny ability to reveal the truth in any situation.

They are also someone who is charismatic, compassionate, and understanding, and who is interested in expressing themselves through writing, public speaking, or teaching.

Optimistic and Quick-witted

According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Sammy Davis Jr. tends to be someone who is optimistic and spontaneous, and who has a clear and analytical mind. Who can be witty, with a happy-go-lucky- nature that makes others cheerful, and who possesses an adventurous zest for life.

Some of Sammy Davis Jr.'s challenges

While Sammy Davis Jr. has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.

For example, Sammy Davis Jr. can be Impulsive, Short-tempered, Careless, Difficult, Perfectionist, Unrealistic, and Indecisive.

Impulsive and Careless

One of Sammy Davis Jr.'s key challenges is that they are someone who can be impulsive and careless.

Sammy Davis Jr. must also exercise caution as they can have a hard time reconciling wants and needs.

Unrealistic and Indecisive

Sammy Davis Jr. is someone who can be unrealistic, indecisive, and lacking in confidence, who can be impulsive when it comes to making important decisions, have difficulty collaborating with others, can be argumentative and not willling to accept criticism, and who can be disappointed by the high expectations they place on others.

Irritable and Callous

Finally, Sammy Davis Jr. also can be short-tempered, childish, insensitive, and careless at times.

Find Your Inner Light

Download Sol, and discover science-backed spiritual practices, wisdom, and community, no matter what your beliefs or experience. Download now, and get glowing.

iosandroid
cards

Discover more Public Figures