Sammy Davis Jr. was a whirlwind. He didn't just walk onto a set; he basically inhaled the oxygen in the room and blew it back out as pure charisma. If you look at the sheer volume of Sammy Davis Jr. movies and TV shows, you start to realize the man wasn't just a singer who dabbled in acting. He was a pioneer who used the screen to break doors down, even if he had to smile through some pretty blatant typecasting to do it.
Most people think of the Rat Pack first. You know, the tuxedo-clad "Summit" at the Sands. But his filmography is way more jagged and interesting than just playing Frank Sinatra’s sidekick. Honestly, his best work often happened when he was away from the Clan, proving he could carry a heavy dramatic load or steal a scene from a legend like Sidney Poitier.
The Rat Pack Era: More Than Just Ocean’s 11
Look, Ocean’s 11 (1960) is the big one. It’s the ultimate "cool" movie. Sammy plays Josh Howard, a garbage truck driver who helps pull off the heist of five Vegas casinos. It’s a fun role, but if we’re being real, the movie was basically a vacation for those guys. They filmed during the day and played the Copa Room at night.
But then you have Sergeants 3 (1962) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). In Robin, Sammy is Will, and he gets that incredible "Bang! Bang!" musical number. It’s pure electricity. He’s nimble, he’s funny, and he’s clearly the most talented person in the frame, even with Dino and Frank standing right there.
Dramatic Chops and Breaking Barriers
If you want to see what he could actually do as an actor, you’ve gotta find a copy of Anna Lucasta (1958). He stars opposite Eartha Kitt. No tuxedos. No easy jokes. Just a raw, all-Black cast drama where he plays a sailor named Danny. It was a huge deal at the time for a Black performer to get that kind of dramatic spotlight.
💡 You might also like: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Then there’s Porgy and Bess (1959). Sammy played Sportin’ Life. He wanted this role. Badly. He actually recorded the songs for the soundtrack, unlike Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge, whose voices were dubbed. His "It Ain't Necessarily So" is arguably the definitive version of that character. He brought a slinky, dangerous energy to the role that most performers just couldn't touch.
Why Sammy Davis Jr. Movies and TV Shows Still Rule the Screen
Television was where Sammy became a household fixture. He was a "general practitioner" of entertainment. He did it all. He wasn't just a guest; he was an event.
- The All in the Family Moment: You’ve probably seen the clip. It’s 1972, and Sammy visits the Bunkers. The episode "Sammy's Visit" ends with him planting a kiss on Archie Bunker’s cheek. It was the "kiss heard 'round the world." It wasn't just funny—it was a massive cultural statement disguised as a sitcom gag.
- The Variety King: He hosted The Sammy Davis Jr. Show in 1966. It was short-lived—only 15 episodes—but it was historic. He was the first Black man to host a prime-time musical variety hour. He’d bring on everyone from Judy Garland to the Supremes.
- The Guest Star Hustle: He popped up everywhere. I Dream of Jeannie, The Patty Duke Show, The Cosby Show. He even did a stint on the soap opera General Hospital because he was a genuine fan of the show.
The Gritty Side: A Man Called Adam
One movie people often skip is A Man Called Adam (1966). Sammy produced it himself. He plays a jazz trumpeter (with his buddy Louis Armstrong appearing too) who is basically destroying his own life with anger and booze. It’s dark. It’s semi-autobiographical in its pain. It shows a side of Sammy that the "Candy Man" persona usually hid away.
The Later Years: Cannonball and Tap
By the 1980s, the roles changed. He became the elder statesman.
📖 Related: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
In The Cannonball Run (1981) and its sequel, he teamed up with Dean Martin one last time. They played two scammers dressed as priests driving a Ferrari. It’s ridiculous, high-octane 80s cheese, and it’s glorious. They were just having fun, and you can feel the genuine love between him and Dean.
His final film role was in Tap (1989), starring alongside Gregory Hines. It was a passing of the torch. Seeing Sammy, nearing the end of his life, show the younger generation how it’s done—with those feet that never seemed to slow down—is enough to give you chills.
Real Talk on the Legacy
Sammy faced a lot of heat. Some people thought he was too eager to please a white audience; others thought he was too radical. But when you watch Sammy Davis Jr. movies and TV shows, you don't see a man trying to fit in. You see a man demanding to be seen.
He was nominated for an Emmy for his guest spot on The Cosby Show just a year before he passed. He never stopped working. He couldn't.
👉 See also: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to truly understand his range, don't just stick to the hits. Here is how to curate your own Sammy marathon:
- Watch for the nuance: Start with Anna Lucasta to see his dramatic weight.
- Contrast the eras: Follow that with Robin and the 7 Hoods for the peak Rat Pack swagger.
- The TV Speciality: Find his 1973 special Sammy! on YouTube or archives. It’s a masterclass in one-man performance.
- The Finale: End with Tap. It’s the perfect bookend to a career that started in vaudeville when he was only four years old.
The best way to honor his work is to actually watch it—not just the clips of the kiss, but the whole performances where he really let himself go. He wasn't just an entertainer; he was a force of nature.