Sammy Davis Jr.’s Widow Altovise Joanne Gore Davis Dies (Photos)

Posted on March 15, 2009

Altovise Joanne Gore Davis, widow of Sammy Davis Jr., has died. She was 65. Read more on Altovise Davis’ life and death below.

Altovise Davis died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke, said Amy Malone, the family publicist.

Davis was an actress and dancer that worked her way to the Broadway stage where she met Sammy Davis Jr. when they performed together in the musical “Golden Boy” in 1967.

Altovise Davis became Sammy Davis Jr’s third wife when they wed in 1970. They adopted a son and were together until Davis died of throat cancer in 1990 at the age of 64.

Sammy Davis Jr. was previously married to dancer Loray White and the Swedish actress Mai Britt.

After Sammy Davis Jr.’s death she had to sort through his multimillion IRS tax debt and oversee his troubled estate. Just this past year, Altovise sued two former business partners in federal court, claiming they tricked her into signing away the rights to the estate. The suit is pending.

Davis is survived by her adopted son Manny. There will be a private memorial service for Altovise Davis.

Our condolences to her family.

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