Sammy Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925Â — May 16, 1990)
Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. was the first African American to host the Academy Awards–in 1972 and 1975. A famous member of the Rat Pack, Davis starred in several movies including Ocean’s Eleven, Sergeants Three, and Robin and the Seven Hoods. Davis’s career also featured acclaimed performances in The Cosby Show, One Life to Live, and The Swinging World of Sammy Davis Jr. He was also an award-winning solo vocalist with hit songs The Candy Man and What Kind of Fool Am I?