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Sinatra & Davis Jr: The Four-Year Friendship Freeze
12 Dec
Summary
- Sinatra and Davis Jr. stopped speaking for four years.
- The rift centered on Davis Jr.'s escalating cocaine use.
- Their wives helped orchestrate a reconciliation and reunion.
A painful schism once divided the legendary friendship of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., causing them to stop speaking for approximately four years. The core of their dispute revolved around Davis Jr.'s escalating cocaine addiction, a substance use Sinatra vehemently opposed. This disagreement strained their bond, which had been forged decades prior and was central to their shared history in the iconic Rat Pack.
Sinatra, who drew a firm line against hard drugs, issued an ultimatum to Davis Jr.: clean up or face the consequence of their friendship ending. This led to a period of silence and emotional devastation for both men, with only minimal cordial interactions occurring. The enforced separation highlighted the depth of their fraternal connection.
As health concerns prompted Davis Jr. to seek lifestyle changes, a path to reconciliation began to emerge. The efforts of their respective wives, Barbara Sinatra and Altovise Gore, were instrumental in thawing the impasse. Their eventual reunion culminated in an unforgettable joint performance of "Lady Is a Tramp" on stage, symbolizing a powerful mending of fences.
