Altovise Davis
Encyclopedia
Altovise Davis was an American
entertainer, best known as Sammy Davis, Jr.
's third wife.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina
as Altovise Joanne Gore, she was raised in Brooklyn, New York and worked during the 1960s as a chorus-line dancer in various musical shows both in London
and on Broadway
.
Her relationship with Sammy Davis, Jr. started in 1968 while they were working in the same show. They were married in a Philadelphia courthouse by the Rev. Jesse Jackson
on May 11, 1970 and adopted a son, Manny, in 1989.
After Sammy and Altovise married, she became active with several philanthropic organizations in Los Angeles. She performed at many benefit programs, particularly for SHARE Inc., a nonprofit group that raises money for developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children.
Sammy Davis, Jr. died from throat cancer on May 16, 1990, five days after their 20th wedding anniversary.
Charlie's Angels
and CHiPs
and minor roles in films such as Kingdom of the Spiders
(1977), Boardwalk (1979), and Can't Stop the Music
(1980).
Both she and her husband were frequent panelists on the 1970s television game show, Tattletales
.
's list of the top 250 delinquent taxpayers, with $2,708,901.75 in unpaid personal income tax.
on March 14, 2009 at age 65 in Los Angeles
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entertainer, best known as Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
's third wife.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
as Altovise Joanne Gore, she was raised in Brooklyn, New York and worked during the 1960s as a chorus-line dancer in various musical shows both in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
Her relationship with Sammy Davis, Jr. started in 1968 while they were working in the same show. They were married in a Philadelphia courthouse by the Rev. Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
on May 11, 1970 and adopted a son, Manny, in 1989.
After Sammy and Altovise married, she became active with several philanthropic organizations in Los Angeles. She performed at many benefit programs, particularly for SHARE Inc., a nonprofit group that raises money for developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children.
Sammy Davis, Jr. died from throat cancer on May 16, 1990, five days after their 20th wedding anniversary.
Television and film roles
In the 1970s and 1980s Altovise Davis made a few guest appearances in major TV series such asCharlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
and CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
and minor roles in films such as Kingdom of the Spiders
Kingdom of the Spiders
Kingdom of the Spiders is a 1977 horror science-fiction film directed by John "Bud" Cardos and produced by Igo Kantor, Jeffrey M. Sneller and James Bond Johnson. The screenplay is credited to Richard Robinson and Alan Caillou, from an original story by Jeffrey M. Sneller and Stephen Lodge...
(1977), Boardwalk (1979), and Can't Stop the Music
Can't Stop the Music
Can't Stop the Music is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. It is a pseudo-biography of disco's Village People which bears only a vague resemblance to the actual story of the group's formation...
(1980).
Both she and her husband were frequent panelists on the 1970s television game show, Tattletales
Tattletales
Tattletales is a game show which first aired on the CBS daytime schedule on February 18, 1974. It was hosted by Bert Convy, with several announcers, including Jack Clark, Gene Wood, Johnny Olson and John Harlan, providing the voiceover at various times...
.
Taxes
Long saddled with tax problems following the death of her husband, Altovise Davis was included in 2008 on the California Franchise Tax BoardCalifornia Franchise Tax Board
The California Franchise Tax Board collects state personal income tax and corporate income tax of California. It is part of the California State and Consumer Services Agency....
's list of the top 250 delinquent taxpayers, with $2,708,901.75 in unpaid personal income tax.
Death
She died of complications from a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on March 14, 2009 at age 65 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.