Unclear or mixedHollywood & TV · 1950s–1970s
Sammy Davis Jr. FBI File: What's Actually in the Declassified Records
Short answer
Davis's file contains threats he received — particularly after marrying actress May Britt in 1960 — alongside reports on his political activities and associations.
File snapshot
- Name
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Known for
- Singer, dancer, actor, and member of the Rat Pack.
- File category
- Hollywood & TV
- Why they appear in records
- Davis appears in records as both a target of threats and a subject of background reporting.
- Years covered
- 1950s–1970s
- Source
- FBI Records: The Vault — Sammy Davis Jr.
Why there is a file
After his 1960 interracial marriage, Davis received heavy hate mail and threats, which the Bureau tracked. Separately, his political fundraising and associations were the subject of reports.
What's in the file
- ▸Threat letters and hate-mail summaries.
- ▸Reports on political associations and fundraising.
- ▸Correspondence and clippings.
What people often get wrong
- ✗He was not prosecuted on the basis of file content.
- ✗The threat material reflects what he experienced, not what he did.
Timeline
- 1960Marriage to May Britt; threat volume rises.
- 1970sFile activity tapers.
Read the original records
Always consult the primary source. Public records may include redactions, allegations, and unverified informant claims.
Open: FBI Records: The Vault — Sammy Davis Jr. ↗Related files
Hollywood & TV
Charlie Chaplin
Chaplin was investigated for alleged Communist ties and under the Mann Act.
Hollywood & TV
Lucille Ball
Ball's file centers on a 1936 voter-registration card listing her as a Communist.
Hollywood & TV
Elizabeth Taylor
Most entries cover threats, kidnapping plots, and extortion attempts against Taylor and her family.