From the moment she was born, Tracey Davis carried a legacy not just as the daughter of entertainment icon Sammy Davis Jr., but as a voice whose story bridged fame, family, and reconciliation. In this article, you’ll learn who Tracey Davis was, how her life unfolded, what she created, and why her story still matters today.
Quick Bio of Tracey Davis
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tracey Hillevi Davis |
| Famous For | Daughter of Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Date of Death | November 2, 2020 |
| Age at Death | 59 years old |
| Parents | Sammy Davis Jr. (father), May Britt (mother) |
| Spouses | Guy Garner (m. 1986–div.), Jim Cotta (div.) |
| Children | Four (including Sam Garner and Montana Garner) |
| Occupation | Author, television professional |
| Books | Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father (1996); A Personal Journey With My Father (2014) |
| Nationality | American |
| Place of Death | Franklin, Tennessee, USA |
Early Life and Heritage
Tracey Davis was born on July 5, 1961, to Sammy Davis Jr. and Swedish actress May Britt. Her father was a show-business legend; her mother had carved her own path in European and Hollywood cinema. From childhood, Tracey lived in the orbit of stardom but behind the glamor there were ordinary struggles too. Growing up, Tracey Davis often felt the impact of her father’s busy schedule and the demands of fame.
As she later wrote in her memoirs, her early relationship with her father was distant and complicated. Over time, that changed. Tracey Davis worked to bridge the gap with her father, and in adulthood, they developed a closer bond. Her early life reflected both privilege and pain two things she would turn into purpose later.
Family Relationships and Children
When it comes to Tracey Davis’s own family, she married Guy Garner in 1986 and later Jim Cotta; both marriages ended in divorce. She became a mother of four children, including Sam Garner (born in April 1990) and Montana Garner (born in 1994). Through her role as a mother, Tracey Davis found a deeply grounding purpose and often said her children meant more to her than anything.
In her writings and interviews, Tracey Davis emphasized that being a mom helped her make sense of her past, her father’s legacy, and her own identity. Her children and family life were private yet central to her story.
Career, Writing, and Keeping the Legacy Alive
Tracey Davis didn’t just live in the shadow of her father she made her voice heard. She worked in television and advertising, but her strongest legacy lies in her books. In 1996, she published “Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father,” a memoir reflecting her journey of reconciling with her father. In 2014, she followed up with “Sammy Davis Jr.: A Personal Journey With My Father,” which expanded on their story and the racial and cultural challenges her father faced.
Her work made a lasting impact. The first book was announced in October 2020 to be developed into a biopic by MGM. Through this, Tracey Davis became a key guardian of her father’s legacy, shaping how new generations might see him.
Relationship With Her Father
The relationship between Tracey Davis and Sammy Davis Jr. was far from easy. His demanding career often took him away from home, and she spent much of her youth feeling both proud and neglected. She once said her father missed her college graduation a symbol of his absence in key moments of her life.
As an adult, Tracey Davis sought to understand her father and his world. She spent time with him during the final years of his life and was by his side when he passed in 1990. Just a month before his death, she had given birth to her son, Sam Garner, allowing her father to meet his grandson before he died. Through that final chapter, she found a meaningful closure and later honored her father’s complex legacy of artistry and civil-rights work.
Death, Cause, and Legacy
On November 2, 2020, Tracey Davis died in Franklin, Tennessee, at the age of 59, after a short illness. Her ex-husband Guy Garner confirmed her passing to the press. The official cause of death was not publicly disclosed, and there is no confirmed link to COVID-19 or any specific illness.
Her passing came just one month after MGM announced the planned biopic about her father based on her book. At the time of her death, Tracey Davis had survived her father by three decades and had spent much of her later life honoring his memory through her writing and family.
Why Tracey Davis Matters
Tracey Davis is important for several reasons. She offers a rare window into the private life of one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers not as a headline, but as a daughter seeking truth. Her books are more than celebrity memoirs; they’re reflections on race, fame, fatherhood, and reconciliation.
Without Tracey Davis, the story of Sammy Davis Jr. would lose an intimate narrator. Her voice helps us see the human behind the star, the daughter behind the name, and the heir to a legacy of artistry and social change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Tracey Davis the daughter of Sammy Davis Jr.?
Yes, Tracey Davis was born to Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt, his third wife.
How many children did Tracey Davis have?
She had four children, publicly known among them are Sam Garner and Montana Garner.
What did Tracey Davis die of?
She died on November 2, 2020, after a short illness. No official cause has been confirmed publicly.
Did Tracey Davis write books?
Yes, she wrote “Sammy Davis Jr.: My Father” (1996) and “Sammy Davis Jr.: A Personal Journey With My Father” (2014).
What was Tracey Davis’s net worth?
There is no reliable public estimate of her net worth at the time of her death.
Is Tracey Davis the same as the Harry Potter character?
No, the Tracey Davis in the Harry Potter series is a fictional Slytherin student and not related to Sammy Davis Jr.
In Summary
Tracey Davis walked a path few could imagine the daughter of a legendary entertainer, yet a storyteller in her own right. Her life was shaped by fame and family, by distance and discovery. Through her books and her reflections, she helped the world understand both Sammy Davis Jr. and herself more deeply.
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