Sammy Davis Jr.
Awards & Honours
13
Awards Won
6
Honours
2
Rankings
3
Covers
3
Records
Sammy Davis Jr. was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987 for his lifetime contributions to American culture. He received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP for his civil rights work. Posthumously, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2017. These accolades reflect his dual legacy as a barrier-breaking entertainer and a symbol of resilience.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Kennedy Center Honors
Lifetime achievement award for contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Posthumous award for a lifetime of musical achievement.
Spingarn Medal
Awarded for outstanding achievement by an African American.
National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
Posthumous induction.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Star at 6251 Hollywood Blvd.
Las Vegas Walk of Stars
Star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
Rankings & Lists
100 Greatest Singers of All Time
Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists
Magazine Covers
TIME
1960-07-11
The Rat Pack
Ebony
1965-02-01
The New Sammy Davis Jr.
Jet
1955-03-10
Sammy Davis Jr. Tops Charts
Records & Feats
First black entertainer to headline a show in Las Vegas
In 1954, Davis became the first African American to headline a major show on the Las Vegas Strip.
First interracial kiss in a Broadway play
In the 1964 musical Golden Boy, Davis shared the first interracial kiss on Broadway.
First black man on the cover of TV Guide
Davis appeared on the cover of TV Guide in 1965, a first for an African American.