social realities of the time. Britt had married Edwin J. Gregson, an American real estate heir, in 1958, but the marriage ended the following year. In 1959, she met entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., and their relationship quickly became headline news.
Britt and Davis faced widespread hostility, including harassment and death threats, and at times lived under armed protection. The backlash had professional consequences as well: 20th Century Fox declined to renew Britt’s contract shortly after their engagement became public, effectively ending her studio career.
Despite the pressure, Britt later said she never regretted her decision. She stepped away from acting to focus on family life, and the couple had a daughter, Tracey, in 1961, later adopting two sons, Mark and Jeff. Although their home was marked by outside hostility, their daughter later recalled that it was filled with love.
One rumor that still persists to this day is that President Kennedy refused to let Sammy Davis Jr. play at his inauguration. Davis, who was a devoted Democrat and supported Kennedy in the 1960 election campaign, was initially scheduled to perform, only to be denied on account of his marriage to Britt, accordinContinue reading…
