Sammy Davis, Jr.
photo by Peter Fitzpatrick/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Samuel George Davis, Jr.
Date of Birth: December 8, 1925
Place of Birth: Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: May 16, 1990
Place of Death: Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*62.5% African-American
*37.5% Cuban/African-Cuban
Sammy Davis, Jr. was an American singer, dancer, actor, vaudevillian, comedian, film producer, and television director. His film roles included Rufus Jones for President, Ocean’s 11 (1960), Johnny Cool, and The Cannonball Run and its sequel. He hosted The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, and is known for his song “The Candy Man.” He was nicknamed “Mister Show Business.”
Sammy was the son of dancers Sammy Davis, Sr. and Elvera/Elvira Sanchez. His father was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to an African-American family. His mother was born in New York, and had Cuban, African-Cuban, and African-American ancestry. During his lifetime, Sammy had stated that his mother was Puerto Rican. He began his career with the Will Mastin Trio, along with his father and Will Mastin.
Sammy was married to entertainer Altovise Davis, until his death. He had three children with his former wife, Swedish-born actress May Britt; and a son with Altovise.
Sammy Davis, Jr. converted to Judaism, as a personal decision, in 1961. His then-wife May Britt also converted. He was a practicing Jew.
Sammy’s paternal grandfather was named Robert Davis.
Sammy’s paternal grandmother was named Elizabeth Taylor.
Sammy’s maternal grandfather was named Marco Sanchez. Marco was a Cuban immigrant.
Sammy’s maternal grandmother was Luisa Valentina Aguiar (the daughter of Enrique Aguiar and Ida Henderson). Luisa was born in New York. Enrique was a Cuban emigrant, who was born in Havana, the son of Juan De Deis Pastoria and Francisca Aguiar. Ida was born in Connecticut, and was African-American, the daughter of Tanton Henderson and Ellen Allen.
Sammy’s mother is listed as “Mulatto” on U.S. Censuses. She had at least some African ancestry both from her Cuban heritage, and from her African-American maternal grandmother.
Sources: Family history of Sammy Davis, Jr. – http://www.amazon.com
Genealogy of Sammy Davis, Jr. (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Sammy’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sammy’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Not, sure where you heard his maternal grandfather was Cuban. According to Wikipedia he is Spanish with no mentions of ties to Cuba or Latin America. Also have never heard that his maternal great grandmother is African American. Not saying you’re necessarily wrong on one or both of these two things, I just don’t see the evidence. But his family would likely know better than any of us.
The links to the census are litteraly in the article. His own grandmother said to the census taker that her children’s father was from Cuba and that her mother is from Connecticut. As you say, “his family would likely know better than any of us”.
“CORRECTION” He is CUBAN / AA. not pr
he was actually half cuban,who claimed to be half puerto rican,because of the anti cuban sentiment of the time.
I read that he was actually half Cuban and claimed his mother was Puerto Rican.
Hey, use to love to watch him with Flip Wilson.