Sammy Davis Jr. was the kind of guy who lived ten lives in one. He was a tap-dancing prodigy, a Rat Pack icon, and a man who looked death in the face more than a few times. But when you look into the history of a Sammy Davis Jr spouse, things get complicated. Fast. We aren't just talking about Hollywood romances; we’re talking about death threats from the mob, political blacklisting by the White House, and marriages that were literally illegal in more than half the country.
People love the glitz of the Rat Pack, but the reality for the women who married Sammy was often grueling. It wasn't just about who he loved. It was about what that love cost.
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The "Business Deal" Marriage: Loray White
His first marriage was barely a marriage at all. Honestly, it was a survival tactic. In the late 1950s, Sammy fell hard for Kim Novak. She was the "it" girl at Columbia Pictures, and she was white.
The studio boss, Harry Cohn, went ballistic. He didn't just want the relationship to end; he reportedly put out a contract on Sammy’s life. Imagine being told by a mobster that you have 48 hours to marry a Black woman or lose your other eye—or worse.
So, Sammy did what he had to do. He flipped through his address book and picked Loray White. She was a singer he’d dated before. They got married in 1958 at the Sands in Las Vegas.
It was a disaster.
Sammy reportedly paid her a lump sum—somewhere between $10,000 and $25,000—to act as his wife. They lived together for a hot minute and divorced in 1959. It was a sham born out of sheer terror, and it’s a dark reminder of what Black entertainers dealt with during that era.
The Scandals and Courage of May Britt
Then came May Britt. If you want to talk about the most famous Sammy Davis Jr spouse, it’s her. She was a stunning Swedish actress who basically set her career on fire to be with him. When they got engaged in 1960, 20th Century Fox flat-out refused to renew her contract.
They married in November 1960. At the time, interracial marriage was illegal in 31 states.
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The hate mail was relentless. People picketed his shows. Even John F. Kennedy, who Sammy had campaigned for, uninvited him from the inaugural gala because he was worried a "mixed-race" couple would offend Southern politicians. That stung. Sammy never really got over that betrayal.
But May was tough. She converted to Judaism for him. They had a daughter, Tracey, and adopted two sons, Mark and Jeff.
Why did it end? It wasn't the racism. It was the lifestyle. Sammy was a workaholic. He was always on the road or hanging with Sinatra and Dean Martin until dawn. He later admitted to an affair with Lola Falana. By 1968, May had had enough. Interestingly, May Britt just passed away recently, in December 2025, at the age of 91. She stayed out of the spotlight for decades, but her son Mark confirmed she died of natural causes in Los Angeles.
The Final Chapter: Altovise Gore
Sammy finally found some stability with Altovise Gore. She was a dancer he met when they were both working on Broadway—he was the star of Golden Boy, and she was in the chorus of High Spirits.
They got married in 1970 with the Reverend Jesse Jackson officiating.
This union lasted 20 years, right up until Sammy’s death in 1990. Altovise was the one who stood by him through the throat cancer battle. She was the one left holding the bag when the IRS came knocking for $7 million in back taxes after he died.
Altovise's life after Sammy wasn't easy. She lost the Beverly Hills mansion. She ended up on "delinquent taxpayer" lists. It was a messy, public struggle that lasted until her own death in 2009.
Why These Marriages Still Matter
Looking at the history of a Sammy Davis Jr spouse tells you more about American history than most textbooks. Each marriage happened in a different climate:
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- Loray White represented the era of Hollywood "morality" enforced by the mob.
- May Britt was the face of the Civil Rights struggle and the personal cost of breaking taboos.
- Altovise Davis showed the long-term reality of being the partner to a legend who lived beyond his means.
If you’re researching this, don’t just look at the dates. Look at the context. Sammy wasn't just a guy getting married; he was a guy navigating a world that often didn't want him to be happy.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs and Researchers:
- Read "Yes I Can": Sammy’s autobiography gives the most visceral account of the threats he faced during the May Britt years.
- Check Legal Records: If you’re looking into the Altovise years, the tax court documents from the early 90s provide a sobering look at how the Davis estate crumbled.
- Watch the Documentaries: The PBS American Masters special on Sammy does a great job of showing the footage of the protests outside his wedding.
- Verify the Recent News: With May Britt’s passing in late 2025, new interviews and tributes from her children have surfaced that provide a softer, more private perspective on their family life.