May Britt

Maj-Britt Wilkens (22 March 1934 – 11 December 2025), known as May Britt , was a Swedish–American actress who had a brief career in the 1950s in Italy and later in the United States. She was married to American entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. from 1960 to 1968.

Life and career

Maj-Britt Wilkens was born in Lidingö on 22 March 1934, the daughter of Hugo and Hillevi Wilkens.

Britt was discovered as a teenager by Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati in 1951. She was then an assistant to a Stockholm photographer. The two filmmakers were in Sweden to cast a young blonde for the title role in Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair. They came to the studio where she worked to view photographs of models. After meeting her, they offered her the part. May Britt, as she was renamed professionally, moved to Rome. As expected, she made her film debut as the leading actress in Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair (1952). Prior to the wedding, Britt converted to Judaism. The couple were married by Reform Rabbi William M. Kramer. It has been confirmed by Sammy and Britt's daughter Tracey, Nancy Sinatra, and documentarian Sam Pollard that this marriage resulted in Kennedy rejecting an invitation for Davis to perform at his Inauguration. Yet, Harry Belafonte, who was married to a white woman at the time, was invited to perform.

Once married, Britt retired from films.

Britt and Davis had a daughter, Tracey Davis (July 5, 1961 – November 2, 2020).

Britt and Davis adopted two sons. Britt and Davis divorced in 1968 after Davis had an affair with dancer Lola Falana.

Later life and death After the divorce, Britt resumed working and made sporadic television guest appearances, the last an episode of Probe in 1988. She and Davis remained on good terms. In 1993 she married Lennart Rindquist, to whom she remained married until his death in 2017.

Britt died at Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California, on 11 December 2025, at the age of 91.

In popular culture May Britt was portrayed by Megan Dodds in the 1998 television film The Rat Pack which depicted her marriage to Sammy Davis Jr., who was played by Don Cheadle.

Selected filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes 1953 The Unfaithfuls Liliana Capacci Rodgers 1953 Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair Jolanda Alternative title: Jolanda la figlia del corsaro nero 1953 Fatal Desire Santuzza Alternative title: Cavalleria rusticana 1953 La lupa Maria Maricchia 1953 Funniest Show on Earth Brigitte, la domatrice 1953 The Ship of Condemned Women Consuelo 1954 Vergine moderna Claudia Bardi Alternative title: Modern Virgin 1955 Give 'em Hell Gina 1955 L'ultimo amante Maria Spanisch 1955 Revelation Nadia Ulianova 1956 War and Peace Sonya Rostova 1958 The Young Lions Gretchen Hardenberg 1958 The Hunters Kristina Abbott 1959 The Blue Angel Lola-Lola 1960 Murder, Inc. Eadie Collins 1976 Haunts Ingrid Alternative title: The Veil

+Television Year Title Role Notes 1968 The Danny Thomas Hour Anna 1 episode 1969 Mission: Impossible Eva Gollan 1 episode 1971 The Most Deadly Game Lili 1 episode The Partners 1 episode 1988 Probe Helga 1 episode