He had a starring role on Broadway in Mr. Several years later, he converted to Judaism, finding commonalities between the oppression experienced by African-American and Jewish communities. In 1954, at the age of 29, he lost his left eye in a car accident. With the trio, he became a recording artist. 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. and the Will Mastin Trio, which toured nationally, and his film career began in 1933. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, author, film producer and television director.Īt age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr.
