Sammy Davis Jr.’s daughter, Tracey Davis, dies at 59

The official cause of death for Tracey Davis has not been declared

Nov 17, 2020

Sammy Davis Jr.’s daughter, Tracey Davis, has passed away at 59-years-old.

The mother and author died in Franklin, Tennessee on November 2 from a short illness. Her ex- husband, Guy Garner, confirmed her passing in a statement to The Associated Press.

“She loved and adored her kids more than anything. Needless to say, they are all shocked and devastated by the loss of their mother, as are Tracey’s mother, May Britt Ringquist and her brothers, Mark and Jeff,” Garner stated.

Tracey Davis Sammy Davis thegrio.com — (Credit: Getty Images)

Davis, who was biracial, wrote two books about the Rat Pack entertainer’s life. The first titled, Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father, was released in 1996 and told the story about the thin relationship she had with her father as a child due to his career and her efforts to build a relationship with him as an adult. MGM had plans to make the book into a movie and a deal was announced last month.

“I am thrilled to know my father’s life, both private and public, will be brought to the big screen with this team of storytellers,” Davis said at the time. “He and my mother May Britt took on the world, choosing love and compassion over hatred and bigotry, and I am a product of that decision.”

theGrio reported last month that Lena Waithe signed on to produce the film.

“His story as a generational talent trying to make his way as a father, husband, and a Black man in America is one I have long wanted to help tell,” she said per Deadline. “I’m honored to be a part of this great team bringing such an important story to our community.”

Davis’ second book Sammy Davis Jr.: A Personal Journey With My Father, debuted in 2014 and recounted her father’s experience with racism as a Black entertainer.

Her official cause of death has not been declared.

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