Who was Altovise Davis? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Altovise Joanne Gore

Died At Age: 65

Family:

siblings: Sammy Davis Jr. (m. 1970)

children: Manny Davis

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Females

Died on: March 14, 2009

place of death: Los Angeles, California

U.S. State: North Carolina

Cause of Death: Stroke

More Facts

education: High School of Performing Arts

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Childhood & Early Life

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.

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Career

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.

Altovise featured in guest roles on several popular television shows during the 1970s and the 1980s. These included the American crime drama television series ‘Charlie's Angels’ and ‘CHiPs’, which aired on ABC and NBC, respectively.

She played many small roles in movies of different genre, including the 1974 American horror film ‘Welcome to Arrow Beach’, the 1976 drama ‘Pipe Dreams’, the 1977 American science fiction-horror film ‘Kingdom of the Spiders’, the 1979 American drama ‘Boardwalk’ and the 1980 American musical comedy ‘Can't Stop the Music’.

She and Sammy appeared as panellists on the American game show ‘Tattletales’. The two were also known to have performed for the Queen of England during her Washington visit. After their performance, they stayed at the White House for one night.

The musical ‘Mr. Bojangles: The Ultimate Entertainer’, a theatrical tribute to late Sammy, was co-produced by Altovise. It was premiered in 2004 on 75th anniversary of his career.

Family & Personal Life

Altovise Davis married Sammy on May 11, 1970, in a Philadelphia courthouse. Rev. Jesse Jackson officiated the wedding ceremony.

Following her marriage, Altovise became associated with various philanthropic organizations in Los Angeles. She also gave performances for several benefits, including for the non-profit group ‘SHARE Inc.’

She became the first individual to get the ‘NAACP’s Black Woman of Achievement Award’ in 1984.

Sammy and Altovise were known to have spent a fulfilling life together, both personally and professionally. In 1989, they adopted a son called Manny. On May 16, 1990, just five days after the couple’s 20th marriage anniversary, Sammy succumbed to throat cancer. He left the bulk of his estate for Altovise.

Following Sammy’s death, Altovise got entangled in tax problems. She settled the tax liability in 1997. But in 2008, the California Franchise Tax Board included her name in its list of top 250 delinquent taxpayers, revealing that the personal income tax amount of $2,708,901.75 was due against her.

In 2008, Altovise accused two of her ex-business partners of resorting to trickery and making her sign away the rights of her estate. She sued them in the federal court, and the suit was still pending at the time of her death.

Throughout her life, Altovise struggled with alcoholism. She mentioned her struggle with addiction in Essence magazine in 2004, revealing that at one point, she relocated to Pennsylvania and underwent an alcohol treatment program.

On March 14, 2009, 65 years old Altovise succumbed to complications from a stroke in Los Angeles, California, US. Her remains were interred at the ‘Forest Lawn Memorial Park’ in Glendale, California, besides those of Sammy.

A sketch called ‘Ghost II: Sammy's Visit’ featured on the third season of the American comedy series ‘In Living Color’. The characters of Sammy and Altovise were portrayed by Tommy Davidson and Kim Wayans, respectively, on the show.

Altovise Davis Biography