American pop culture has come to dominate the global consciousness and set the standard for entertainers everywhere, and it could be said that it all started with the Rat Pack. A group of men with talent, charm, and grit, the Rat Pack became active in the mid-1950s and stayed relevant for more than three decades. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. are the most recognizable members of the Rat Pack. In a surprising twist, Sammy Davis Jr. was also an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church. Read on to discover more interesting facts about Sammy Davis Jr.'s life.
An Entertainer Since Childhood
Born in 1925 in Harlem, New York, Sammy Davis Jr. became an entertainer in his early childhood. Dancing and singing were in his DNA because his father, Sammy Davis Sr., was a vaudeville performer before Davis Jr. was born, and his mother was a tap dancer. Since he was 4 years old, Davis Jr. had his sights set on becoming a star.
Davis Jr. danced and sang with his father and godfather as part of a vaudeville act, but by the time World War II broke out, he had to serve in the military and take a break from the spotlight. As a Black man in segregated America, Davis Jr. faced intense racism and violence at the hands of white soldiers. When he got out of the military, he was determined to use his talents as a singer, dancer, and comedian to rise above the racist underpinnings of American culture.
A Pioneer and Rebel
When Sammy Davis Jr. got his start on Broadway and in Hollywood, America was still segregated, and he became a pioneer in the entertainment industry as well as a bit of a rebel. Davis Jr. impressed people with his quick wit, impersonation skills, and singing and dancing abilities. He became fast friends with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, and they quickly formed the Rat Pack. Davis Jr. was the only Black member of the Rat Pack and faced discrimination when the group wanted to perform in segregated spaces.
Even though mainstream Americans were outspoken about their racism and support of segregation, they couldn't get enough of Sammy Davis Jr. With Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the other members of the Rat Pack supporting his right to perform, Davis Jr. earned a spot as an iconic figure in America's pop culture landscape. He had a television variety talk show and was nominated for Grammy awards and Emmy awards. He was a trailblazer, but he was also a bit of a controversial figure for supporting Richard Nixon as a presidential candidate. Davis Jr. and his wife were also the first Black people to be invited to spend a night at the White House when Nixon was president.
Davis Jr. didn't believe in blindly following others when it came to his political or religious beliefs. He may not always have been well-liked by his community, but he will always be remembered for his pioneering trail in Hollywood and on Broadway.
A Man of Faith
Sammy Davis Jr.'s family was Christian, but he eventually converted to Judaism and remained devout throughout his life. Davis Jr. spoke in interviews about how he felt that the oppression that Jewish people experienced and the oppression that Black people experienced in America were similar. With his unexpected religious background, it isn't hard to understand why he would want to become an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church.
Sammy Davis Jr. was a consummate entertainer, a pioneer, a man of faith, and an icon. From a vaudeville background to claiming a place on the silver screen, Davis Jr. refused to be kept down by prejudice and segregation. He was determined to share his talents with the world.
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What a Remarkable Life.