May Britt, the Swedish actress whose high-profile marriage to Rat Pack legend Sammy Davis Jr. defied racial prejudice in 1960s America, has died at the age of 91.
A Life in the Spotlight
Born Maj-Britt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, on the island of Lidingö near Stockholm, her journey to fame began in 1951. While working as an assistant to a Swedish photographer, she was discovered by Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati. Adopting the stage name May Britt, she moved to Rome and made her film debut in Soldati's Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair in 1953.
She built a successful career in Italian cinema throughout the 1950s, culminating in a role in the epic 1956 adaptation of War and Peace, starring Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda. In 1958, she relocated to Hollywood, securing parts in major films like The Young Lions with Marlon Brando and Murder, Inc. with Peter Falk.
A Controversial Union
Her life took a dramatic turn in 1959 when she met and began a relationship with Sammy Davis Jr., one of the most celebrated entertainers of the era. Their plans to marry in 1960 became entangled with American politics. Davis, who had campaigned for John F. Kennedy, was reportedly asked by the future president's team to postpone the wedding until after the November election. The concern was the intense controversy an interracial union would cause at a time when such marriages were still illegal in 31 US states.
The couple eventually wed on November 13, 1960, just five days after Kennedy's victory. Their marriage was met with virulent racism and death threats, forcing them to employ armed guards for protection. According to her daughter Tracey's 2014 memoir, Kennedy later dropped Davis from a presidential inauguration party hosted by Frank Sinatra. Britt and Davis divorced in 1968.
Later Career and Legacy
Following her divorce, Britt returned to acting. She notably appeared in an episode of the classic series Mission: Impossible in 1969, and had roles in other 1970s television shows including The Most Deadly Game and The Partners.
May Britt died of natural causes on December 11 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles, as confirmed by her son, Mark Davis. She was predeceased by her daughter, Tracey Davis, who died in 2020. She is survived by her two adopted sons, Mark and Jeff. Her passing marks the end of a life that intersected with Hollywood glamour, cinematic history, and a pivotal chapter in America's civil rights struggle.
