Kim Novak’s Affair With Sammy Davis Jr Explored, Sydney Sweeney Almost Portrayed It On Screen

Kim Novak is currently the subject of an upcoming biopic (which has been shelved indefinitely) titled Scandalous! The movie focuses on the actress’s 1950s romance with Sammy Davis Jr. However, Kim, now 93, has recently voiced a strong disapproval of the film’s casting and narrative direction. She expressed unhappiness that Sydney Sweeney was being considered to portray her in Scandalous!, stating that she is “totally wrong” for the role. Kim’s criticism of the Euphoria star has generated immense online buzz, leading to growing chatter about the film’s main plotline, namely Kim Novak’s secret affair with Sammy Davis Jr.

How did Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr’s love story start?

Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr first met in 1956 when they were both guests on The Steve Allen Show. According to author Laurence Leamer, Sammy was “wildly attracted” to her at that time. The duo sparked dating rumours the next year when Sammy visited her on the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo in 1957. To spend time with her, he reportedly pretended to be a photographer. Laurence’s account of Kim and Sammy appears in Alfred Hitchcock’s book, Hitchcock’s Blondes. It also includes Kim Novak’s revelation that Sammy had a crush on her. She was quoted as saying:

“Sammy had an innocent boyish quality and a crush on me. We had fun together.” 

Kim and Sammy’s chemistry became publicly noticeable during a performance at the Chez Paree nightclub in Chicago. He sang directly to her while she sat at a stage-side table. It became an event that fueled Hollywood gossip. Actors, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh helped Kim and Sammy by inviting them to a party, which allowed them to connect away from the intense public scrutiny. After meeting again at a Thanksgiving charity ball in California, Kim Novak invited Sammy Davis to her family home in Chicago for Christmas in 1957.

Sammy Davis Jr approached Kim Novak with an ulterior motive

While Sammy Davis Jr. eventually developed a genuine connection with Kim Novak, he admitted that he initially approached her with the ulterior motive of defying racial prejudices. Sammy reportedly told his friend and biographer, Burt Boyar, that after years of enduring racial abuse, he wanted to be with “the whitest, the most famous chick in the world” to hit back at his critics and racists. He was quoted by Laurence Leamer as saying:

“I reached a point with the indignities, the injustices, the nastiness, the racial abuses…where I wanted to get the whitest, the most famous chick in the world and just show ’em.”

Contrary to his plans, Sammy reportedly actually fell for Kim. Later, both described their relationship as one of deep, genuine affection, rooted in their shared status as ‘outsiders’ in Hollywood. He jovially referred to them as conspirators drawn together by mutual defiance of the industry. Kim Novak has maintained that their bond was built on love and respect, and she hoped it would help “break down people’s racial bias” during a period when interracial marriage was still illegal in many states. Kim was determined to keep seeing him, even when the people around her asked her not to. However, ultimately, their relationship failed to pass the test of time.

Why did Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr break up?

Kim and Sammy’s whirlwind romance ended within two years. They broke up in 1958, and the reason was intense racial prejudice and death threats by Hollywood studio executives. It all started after a gossip columnist broke the news of their secret affair in 1957. The columnist also falsely claimed that the duo was planning to get married. It generated a stir online with many racially discriminatory comments hurled at Sammy Davis Jr. At that time, Harry Cohn, the head of Columbia Pictures, the company with whom Kim Novak was contractually bound, feared the news would hurt her box office sales.

To curb the negative impact, Harry Cohn threatened Sammy with a mob hit, allegedly telling him that he would have his legs broken or his “one good eye” (having already lost one in a car accident) put out if he did not end the relationship. It led to Kim and Sammy’s breakup shortly after. Thus, the intense racism of the 1950s proved to be the doom of Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr’s relationship.

Did Kim Sammy and Sammy Davis Jr ever consider getting married to each other?

While there were widespread rumours that Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr were planning to wed, she stated in interviews that they never actually considered it. The actress’ longtime manager, Sue Cameron told PEOPLE during a November 2024 interview that while she “cared for him deeply,” she “never wanted to marry anybody” at that time. She noted that the reports of them applying for a marriage license were false. She stated:

“She [Kim Novak] never wanted to get married back then…to anyone. It was a romance based on love, respect, the things they shared in common.”

What are your thoughts on Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr’s infamous romance? Let us know.

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