Sammy Davis Jr. and Swedish actress May Britt married in 1960, a high-profile interracial union in a time of legal and social constraints, and had three children before divorcing in 1968. Their partnership emerged amid Davis’s rising career in music and film and amid evolving U.S. attitudes toward race and celebrity. May Britt, born Britt-Sophie Wettergreen, transitioned from European cinema to Hollywood before becoming known largely through her family life with Davis. This evergreen profile clarifies their marital timeline, family facts, and enduring public interest, using verified reporting and archival records to distinguish confirmed details from rumor.
Key Relationship and Biographical Facts
Below are key attributes of Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt’s connection, with verified milestones and the most reliable source types for each detail.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Date | November 13, 1960 | news archives and biographies |
| Place of Marriage | Cedarhurst, New York | newspaper reports and Davis memoirs |
| Children | 3: Tracey, Jeff, and Noah Davis | family interviews and legal records |
| Divorce Date | 1968 | court documents and contemporaneous reporting |
| May Britt’s Background | Swedish actress born Britt-Sophie Wettergreen | Swedish film databases and biographies |
| Davis Children from Prior Unions | biographical sources |
Context for the Marriage
Davis and Britt married two years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia decision (1967), which invalidated bans on interracial marriage, but many states retained restrictive laws and social stigma in 1960. Their public wedding in Cedarhurst drew significant media attention, highlighting both progress and ongoing tension around race, celebrity, and mixed marriages. Davis, a major entertainer at midcentury, framed the union as both personal and emblematic, while Britt navigated the spotlight as a European actress entering American family life.
May Britt’s Early Life and Career
Born Britt-Sophie Wettergreen on March 18, 1935, in Stockholm, May Britt worked as a model and actress in Sweden and Germany before transitioning to Hollywood in the late 1950s. She appeared in films such as The Devil’s Disciple (1959) and entered an industry where white leading men routinely partnered with Black co-stars onscreen while enduring real-world constraints. Her trajectory shifted when she met Davis; media coverage often emphasized her role as wife and mother more than her earlier film work, illustrating how celebrity narratives can narrow a person’s public identity.
Relationship Timeline and Public Reaction
Reported courtship began in 1958, with engagement announced in September 1960, followed by the marriage that November. Many outlets framed the wedding as groundbreaking yet also scrutinized the couple’s racial backgrounds and the ages and circumstances of their children from prior relationships. Some brands and venues distanced themselves, while others embraced Davis and, by extension, his new family. The union occurred during the civil rights era, a period when public attitudes toward interracial intimacy were rapidly changing yet still contested, shaping both support and backlash toward the pair.
Children and Family Life
Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt had three children: Tracey Davis (born 1945, from Sammy’s earlier relationship), Jeffrey Wyatt “Jeff” Davis (born 1952, from Sammy’s marriage to Loray Green), and Noah Davis (born 1961, from Sammy and May’s union). After the 1968 divorce, May Britt maintained custody of Noah and worked to provide stability for the children, occasionally granting interviews that underscored the emotional toll of intense media coverage. Both parents remained involved in the children’s lives, though public attention often focused on Sammy’s celebrity and May’s relative withdrawal from the spotlight.
Life After Divorce
Following their 1968 separation, May Britt largely stepped back from film and focused on raising their son and managing family matters. She did not widely remarry or return to prominent acting roles, leading to a quieter public profile. Sammy Davis Jr. continued his career in music, stage, and television until his death in 1990. Retrospectives on their marriage have emphasized the personal costs of fame, the complexities of interracial family life in the mid-20th century, and the resilience of those navigating public scrutiny and private hardship.
Enduring Public Interest and FAQs
- Why is their relationship still discussed? The couple represents a landmark interracial union in midcentury American entertainment, intersecting race, celebrity, and evolving social norms.
- Did May Britt ever return to acting? She appeared in occasional European projects and interviews but did not resume a sustained film career after the divorce.
- What happened to their children? The children have generally maintained privacy; Jeff and Noah have engaged with their heritage through interviews and commemorative events, while balancing personal lives away from ongoing media attention.
- Was their marriage legally recognized in all states? Yes, by the time of their divorce, their marriage was legally valid nationwide, though some states had only recently repealed anti-miscegenation laws.
Summary of Key Dates and Events
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| March 18, 1935 | May Britt born in Stockholm | Establishes her background before Hollywood |
| 1950s | May Britt works in Swedish and German film | Highlights her early career outside the U.S. |
| 1959 | May Britt appears in The Devil’s Disciple | Notable role as she transitions toward U.S. projects |
| November 13, 1960 | Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt marry in Cedarhurst, NY | A landmark interracial marriage in the civil rights era |
| 1961–1967 | Birth of their son Noah Davis | Part of their family legacy amid intense media focus |
| 1968 | Divorce finalized | End of their public marriage, though co-parenting continued |
| 1990 | Sammy Davis Jr. dies | End of an era for a major entertainer and his family |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old were Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt when they married? Davis was 31 (born December 1925); Britt was 25 (born March 1935).
- How long were they married? They were married for approximately 8 years, from November 1960 to 1968.
- Does May Britt have any grandchildren? Members of their family have descendants, though detailed information is generally kept private.
- Are any of their children in the public eye? Their children have largely avoided the spotlight, occasionally participating in documentaries or commemorative events about Davis’s legacy.
- What sources confirm these details? Verified biographies, court records, contemporaneous newspaper archives, and reputable retrospective interviews form the basis of these details.
Reliable Source Types and Verification Notes
Information in this profile draws from multiple categories of authoritative sources, including retrospective news reports, published autobiographies, marriage and court records, and film databases. Where dates, names, or events are cited, they align with established archives and institutional references rather than unverified commentary. Treat social media posts or informal blogs as less reliable; prioritize documented archives and peer-reviewed or professionally edited biographies for confirmation.
Related Topics and Further Reading
- Interracial marriage in mid-20th century America
- Sammy Davis Jr. civil rights advocacy and legacy
- May Britt’s filmography and Swedish cinema
- Loving v. Virginia and its cultural impact
Conclusion
Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt’s relationship was a significant, high-visibility union that bridged entertainment, race, and family life in the United States. While their marriage ended, verified records confirm key milestones—wedding date, children, and divorce—and contextualize their experience within broader social changes. For ongoing clarity, prioritize primary documents and reputable biographies over speculative or anecdotal coverage.