What happened between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr?

In 1956, Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr. shared a platform on The Steve Allen Show, marking the beginning of their connection. Leamer recounts that Davis was deeply captivated by the alluring Novak.

During the filming of Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” the following year, Davis visited the set, further deepening their connection. Novak fondly remembered their time together, saying, as cited by Leamer, “Sammy possessed a naive charm and was smitten by me. We enjoyed each other’s company.”

However, Leamer suggests that Davis’s pursuit of Novak was initially motivated by a desire to challenge societal prejudices. Sharing his frustration about racial injustices with his biographer, Burt Boyar, Davis expressed his wish to be seen with a renowned white actress as a defiant statement against racism.

Yet, over time, genuine affection blossomed, and Davis found himself genuinely falling for Novak.

In 1957, the eve of Thanksgiving witnessed a memorable reunion between Sammy Davis Jr. and Kim Novak at a California charity ball. Davis’s purpose for attending was clear: he wanted to see Novak, noted Leamer. Davis extended an invitation to Novak to spend the holiday at his residence, which she graciously accepted.

That December, in a gesture that signified the depth of their relationship, Novak introduced Davis to her family in Chicago.

However, their growing closeness didn’t sit well with everyone in Hollywood. Harry Cohn, the head of Columbia Pictures where Novak was signed, was notably uneasy about their association. Drawing parallels to the tragic 1955 Emmett Till incident, Leamer highlighted the prevalent racial tensions of the time. There was a legitimate concern that films featuring Novak might face boycotts in the segregated theaters of the South, given her association with an African American.

Indeed, societal sentiments of the era were starkly against interracial relationships. A 1958 Gallup poll, as mentioned in the Smithsonian magazine, showed a mere 4% approval rate for interracial unions in America. It’s worth noting that such unions remained illegal in several states until the landmark Loving v. Virginia case in 1967.

Yet, in the face of such adversity, Novak remained resilient and steadfast. Reflecting her determination, Leamer quoted her saying, “Something inside of me rebelled when I was told not to see him. I believed it wasn’t anyone else’s affair.”