The Rat Pack star, Sammy Davis Jr. will have his life story told on the big screen in an upcoming biopic that's currently in development. Rolling Out reported that the story of the late entertainer, who excelled as an actor, singer, dancer and comedian, will be told in a documentary film, based on the 2008 Matt Birkbeck biography of Davis, entitled Deconstructing Sammy. Byron Allen Entertainment Studios acquired the rights to the story and is now in the process of turning the story into a script fit for the big screen and also a TV series.
According to Deadline, the book covers the beginning of Davis' career and life in Harlem, to becoming one of the breakout members of the Rat Pack, all while enduring racism and hatred for his "controversial relationship with white actress Kim Novak."
According to the site, producer and former comedian Byron Allen almost lost the rights to the story for his entertainment studio back in 2012 when he was sued by Rick Appling for $35 miillion. Ultimately, the deal was a success, pushing Allen forward in bringing the story to life. The story of Davis is that of a personal one for the producer, who remembered his time working with him. "I personally knew and worked with Sammy Davis, Jr.," Allen stated according to the Deadline report. "Sammy hired me to open for him at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when I was a 19-year-old stand-up comedian, and that's where my fascination with his incredible story began."
Davis lost his battle with cancer and died in 1990. According to Deadline, the book also focuses on his last days on his deathbed while people basically looted his home.
He was featured on many talk shows and television series up until his death. His guest appearance on The Cosby Show was a stand out episode and his appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show was so memorable, BET's mock reality show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, starring Kevin Hart, relived that moment in a special episode titled "Kevin Davis Jr."
Ironically, the episode centered around the competition between Hart and comedian Wayne Brady as to who would be the best person to play Davis in a biopic. Ultimately the role was given to another comedian who has been doing Davis impressions for years, Tommy Davidson.
It makes you wonder if any of these comedian will actually audition for the role of Davis in the real biopic. Watch the episode below.
