Altovise Davis was an American entertainer, best known for being the third wife of the legendary showman Sammy Davis Jr. She was also a dancer and an actress, who appeared in several musical shows, TV series, and films. She had a long and loving marriage with Sammy, until he passed away from throat cancer in 1990. Nine years later, she adopted a son named Manny. However, her life was not without troubles, as she faced tax problems, legal battles, and health issues. She died of complications from a stroke on March 14, 2009, at the age of 65. Here is a brief overview of her life and death, and the legacy she left behind.
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Early Life and Career
Altovise Davis was born as Altovise Joanne Gore on August 30, 1943, in Charlotte, North Carolina, US. She was the only child of Altovise and John Gore. Her parents relocated to Brooklyn, New York when Altovise was quite young. She attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City for four years. After graduating from there in 1961, she forayed into showbiz as a Broadway dancer.
During the 1960s, Altovise Davis performed as a chorus-line dancer in several musical shows, staged in London and on Broadway in New York. She was a life member of The Actors Studio. Altovise reportedly met the American actor and Vaudeville Sammy Davis Jr. in the mid-1960s. At that time, she was performing in the chorus line of the Broadway musical High Spirits, while Sammy was playing the leading role in another Broadway musical called Golden Boy. They began a relationship in 1968 after Altovise began playing a part in the London production of Golden Boy, while Sammy reprised his role. Eventually, Sammy came up with a nightclub act, in which Altovise worked as the lead singer-dancer. She was also the lead dancer during Sammy’s American and European tours.
Marriage with Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis and Sammy Davis Jr. got married in a Philadelphia courthouse by the Rev. Jesse Jackson on May 11, 1970. They had a lavish wedding reception at the Plaza Hotel in New York, attended by many celebrities and friends. They were one of the most glamorous and popular couples in Hollywood, and often hosted parties at their Beverly Hills mansion. They also supported various charitable causes, especially for children and minorities. They adopted a son, Manny, in 1989.
Sammy Davis Jr. was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1989, and underwent several surgeries and treatments. He lost his voice and his ability to eat, and his health deteriorated rapidly. He died on May 16, 1990, five days after their 20th wedding anniversary. He was 64 years old. Altovise was devastated by his death, and said that he was her “whole life”.
Tax Problems and Legal Issues
After Sammy Davis Jr.’s death, Altovise Davis was left to raise a child alone, make good a raft of charitable bequests in her husband’s will and sort though his reported $7-million-US income tax debt. She sold their Beverly Hills mansion and auctioned jewelry and memorabilia. When the tax liability was settled in 1997, she set about restoring Sammy Davis Jr.’s legacy, organizing a musical touring show called Mr. Bojangles: The Ultimate Entertainer in 2006. Last year, she sued two former business associates for the rights to her husband’s life story and the management of his legacy. She claimed they tricked her into ceding some of the rights to his estate, and asked for unspecified monetary and punitive damages. The suit is still pending.
Death and Legacy
Altovise Davis suffered a stroke on March 13, 2009, and was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She died the next day, on March 14, 2009, at the age of 65. She is interred in an unmarked grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, next to her husband, Sammy Davis Jr. She is survived by her son, Manny, and her stepchildren, Tracey, Mark, and Jeff.
Altovise Davis was a talented and beautiful woman, who shared a deep bond with her husband, Sammy Davis Jr. She was also a generous and compassionate person, who supported many humanitarian causes. She was a devoted mother, who raised her son with love and care. She was a loyal friend, who maintained close relationships with many celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones. She was a graceful and elegant lady, who lived a life full of glamour and adventure. She was Altovise Davis, the widow of Sammy Davis Jr., who died of a stroke.
