May Britt, the Swedish‑born actress whose cinematic talent and personal life made her one of Hollywood’s most intriguing figures of the mid‑20th century, has died at the age of 91.
Her son Mark Davis confirmed that she passed away of natural causes on December 11, 2025, at Providence Cedars‑Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Her journey took her from a quiet Swedish island to the glamorous yet unforgiving world of Hollywood and into the spotlight at the center of America’s debates about race, love, and equality.
Early Life in Sweden: From Lidingö to the Silver Screen
Born Maj‑Britt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, in Lidingö, Sweden—a leafy, seaside suburb northeast of Stockholm—May Britt grew up far removed from the Hollywood glitz she would later encounter.
Her parents, Hugo and Hillevi Wilkens, led a modest life; her father worked as a postal clerk and her mother was a homemaker.
As a young woman, Britt trained in photography and worked as a photographer’s assistant in Stockholm.
It was there, at age 18, that fate intervened. Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati, then seeking a fresh face to star in the adventure film Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair, spotted her in a studio.
Struck by her striking presence and photogenic appeal, they offered her a part, launching her career in cinema.
Adopting the stage name May Britt, she moved to Rome and quickly began building a body of work in Italian films throughout the early 1950s.
She appeared in a variety of roles in adventure, drama, and melodrama productions, displaying a versatility that set her apart from many newcomers of the time.
In 1956, Britt landed a significant role in King Vidor’s epic adaptation of War and Peace, starring alongside Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda.
Her work in this lavish production brought her to the attention of Hollywood executives, opening the door to American films.
Hollywood Career: Promise, Breakthrough, and Stardom
Britt’s Hollywood breakthrough came after she signed a long‑term contract with 20th Century Fox in 1957, a major achievement for any European actress of the time.
Key Film Roles
The Young Lions (1958) – Britt shared the screen with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift in this World War II drama directed by Edward Dmytryk.
The Blue Angel (1959) – Britt’s most acclaimed early role came as Lola‑Lola, the cabaret performer in this remake of the classic German film.
Her performance won praise for its magnetic intensity and helped establish her as a rising star.
Murder, Inc. (1960) – Britt took on the role of Eadie Collins, a singer and dancer entangled with mobsters, demonstrating her ability to command the screen even in gritty crime narratives.
During this period, she also graced the cover of Life magazine, hailed as “a star with a striking new style,” and was celebrated for her elegance, charisma, and international appeal.
Marriage to Sammy Davis Jr.: A Love That Defied Convention
In 1959, Britt’s life changed in a way few could have anticipated.
She met hugely popular entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., a singer, dancer, and actor known worldwide for his talent and as a member of the Rat Pack.
Their relationship quickly attracted public attention.
A Marriage That Made History
The couple announced their engagement in June 1960.
In a nation where interracial marriages were still illegal in 31 states, their union became a flashpoint in ongoing debates about race, equality, and social norms.
They were married on November 13, 1960, at Davis’s home in Los Angeles, with about 200 guests in attendance.
Frank Sinatra, Davis’s close friend and Rat Pack partner, served as best man. Britt, who converted to Judaism before the wedding, was 26; Davis was 34.
Their marriage prompted a storm of public reaction—from admiration and support to hostility and outright hatred.
The couple received death threats, and at times maintained 24‑hour armed protection for their safety.
Political Controversy and Cultural Backlash
A widely recounted episode from this era was the reported decision by the Kennedy administration to withdraw Davis from performing at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, allegedly because of concerns about the interracial marriage provoking backlash in Southern states.
While details vary in different accounts, it remains one of the most remembered symbols of the barriers the couple faced.
Despite the hostility, Britt later said she never regretted her decision to marry Davis, insisting that their love and commitment outweighed the challenges they faced.
Family Life and Personal Challenges
May Britt and Sammy Davis Jr. built a family together during their marriage. Their daughter, Tracey Davis, was born in July 1961.
They also adopted two sons, Mark Sidney Davis and Jeff Davis.
The family lived in a luxurious Beverly Hills home once owned by producer David O. Selznick, but their domestic life was far from insulated from public scrutiny.
Their interracial household was both celebrated and criticized in equal measure.
Though they shared love and mutual respect, the couple eventually divorced in 1968 amid rumors of career pressures and Davis’s demanding professional schedule.
Tracey Davis later reflected that her parents “never fell out of love,” but acknowledged the strains that came with fame, travel, and external pressures.
Tragically, Tracey Davis died in 2020 at age 59, long before her mother’s passing.
Later Acting Roles and Retirement
After her divorce from Davis, Britt returned to acting, though her roles were less frequent and her star power had diminished in Hollywood’s changing cultural landscape.
She appeared guest roles on popular television series of the late 1960s and 1970s, including:
Mission: Impossible
The Danny Thomas Hour
The Most Deadly Game
The Partners
She also starred in the 1976 horror film Haunts and continued to make occasional screen appearances into the 1980s.
Her final credited performance came in 1988, after which she effectively retired from acting.
Life After Hollywood: Painting, Family, and a Second Marriage
Following her retirement, Britt devoted herself to her true passion outside of film: painting.
She lived a quiet life in California, enjoying her art, her family, and a sense of peace after decades in the spotlight.
In 1993, she married Lennart Ringquist, an entertainment executive and horse breeder. The couple remained together until his death in 2017.
Legacy and Influence
May Britt is remembered for her dual legacy as both a talented international actress and a woman who stood firm in her personal convictions during a time of deep social tension.
Her marriage to Sammy Davis Jr. was more than a celebrity union—it was a cultural moment that highlighted the deep divisions and gradually changing attitudes in American society toward race and civil rights.
She often spoke about that period with reflection and grace, emphasizing love and loyalty over regret.
Her life story remains a testament to the complexity of fame, and the courage it took to live authentically in the public eye.
Survivors and Final Tribute
May Britt is survived by her sons Mark and Jeff Davis, her sister Margot, and several grandchildren. Her daughter, Tracey, predeceased her in 2020.
Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary life—one that bridged continents, cultures, and moments of social transformation.
Though the world she entered as a young Swedish woman is vastly different today, her story continues to resonate as part of Hollywood’s and America’s evolving narrative.
Rest in peace, May Britt. Your life was a remarkable journey of art, love, and courage.
May Britt, the Swedish‑born actress whose cinematic talent and personal life made her one of Hollywood’s most intriguing figures of the mid‑20th century, has died at the age of 91.
Her son Mark Davis confirmed that she passed away of natural causes on December 11, 2025, at Providence Cedars‑Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Britt occupies a unique place in entertainment history—not only for her work on the international screen but also for her courage in navigating one of the most socially controversial marriages of her era.
Her journey took her from a quiet Swedish island to the glamorous yet unforgiving world of Hollywood and into the spotlight at the center of America’s debates about race, love, and equality.
Early Life in Sweden: From Lidingö to the Silver Screen
Born Maj‑Britt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, in Lidingö, Sweden—a leafy, seaside suburb northeast of Stockholm—May Britt grew up far removed from the Hollywood glitz she would later encounter.
Her parents, Hugo and Hillevi Wilkens, led a modest life; her father worked as a postal clerk and her mother was a homemaker.
As a young woman, Britt trained in photography and worked as a photographer’s assistant in Stockholm.
It was there, at age 18, that fate intervened. Italian filmmakers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati, then seeking a fresh face to star in the adventure film Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair, spotted her in a studio.
Struck by her striking presence and photogenic appeal, they offered her a part, launching her career in cinema.
Rising Star in European Cinema
Adopting the stage name May Britt, she moved to Rome and quickly began building a body of work in Italian films throughout the early 1950s.
She appeared in a variety of roles in adventure, drama, and melodrama productions, displaying a versatility that set her apart from many newcomers of the time.
In 1956, Britt landed a significant role in King Vidor’s epic adaptation of War and Peace, starring alongside Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda.
Her work in this lavish production brought her to the attention of Hollywood executives, opening the door to American films.
Hollywood Career: Promise, Breakthrough, and Stardom
Britt’s Hollywood breakthrough came after she signed a long‑term contract with 20th Century Fox in 1957, a major achievement for any European actress of the time.
Key Film Roles
The Hunters (1958) – In this Korean War drama, Britt appeared opposite Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner, showing depth and nuance in a wartime narrative.
The Young Lions (1958) – Britt shared the screen with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift in this World War II drama directed by Edward Dmytryk.
The Blue Angel (1959) – Britt’s most acclaimed early role came as Lola‑Lola, the cabaret performer in this remake of the classic German film.
Her performance won praise for its magnetic intensity and helped establish her as a rising star.
Murder, Inc. (1960) – Britt took on the role of Eadie Collins, a singer and dancer entangled with mobsters, demonstrating her ability to command the screen even in gritty crime narratives.
During this period, she also graced the cover of Life magazine, hailed as “a star with a striking new style,” and was celebrated for her elegance, charisma, and international appeal.
Marriage to Sammy Davis Jr.: A Love That Defied Convention
In 1959, Britt’s life changed in a way few could have anticipated.
She met hugely popular entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., a singer, dancer, and actor known worldwide for his talent and as a member of the Rat Pack.
Their relationship quickly attracted public attention.
A Marriage That Made History
The couple announced their engagement in June 1960.
In a nation where interracial marriages were still illegal in 31 states, their union became a flashpoint in ongoing debates about race, equality, and social norms.
They were married on November 13, 1960, at Davis’s home in Los Angeles, with about 200 guests in attendance.
Frank Sinatra, Davis’s close friend and Rat Pack partner, served as best man. Britt, who converted to Judaism before the wedding, was 26; Davis was 34.
Their marriage prompted a storm of public reaction—from admiration and support to hostility and outright hatred.
The couple received death threats, and at times maintained 24‑hour armed protection for their safety.
Political Controversy and Cultural Backlash
A widely recounted episode from this era was the reported decision by the Kennedy administration to withdraw Davis from performing at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, allegedly because of concerns about the interracial marriage provoking backlash in Southern states.
While details vary in different accounts, it remains one of the most remembered symbols of the barriers the couple faced.
Despite the hostility, Britt later said she never regretted her decision to marry Davis, insisting that their love and commitment outweighed the challenges they faced.
Family Life and Personal Challenges
May Britt and Sammy Davis Jr. built a family together during their marriage. Their daughter, Tracey Davis, was born in July 1961.
They also adopted two sons, Mark Sidney Davis and Jeff Davis.
The family lived in a luxurious Beverly Hills home once owned by producer David O. Selznick, but their domestic life was far from insulated from public scrutiny.
Their interracial household was both celebrated and criticized in equal measure.
Though they shared love and mutual respect, the couple eventually divorced in 1968 amid rumors of career pressures and Davis’s demanding professional schedule.
Tracey Davis later reflected that her parents “never fell out of love,” but acknowledged the strains that came with fame, travel, and external pressures.
Tragically, Tracey Davis died in 2020 at age 59, long before her mother’s passing.
Later Acting Roles and Retirement
After her divorce from Davis, Britt returned to acting, though her roles were less frequent and her star power had diminished in Hollywood’s changing cultural landscape.
She appeared guest roles on popular television series of the late 1960s and 1970s, including:
Mission: Impossible
The Danny Thomas Hour
The Most Deadly Game
The Partners
She also starred in the 1976 horror film Haunts and continued to make occasional screen appearances into the 1980s.
Her final credited performance came in 1988, after which she effectively retired from acting.
Life After Hollywood: Painting, Family, and a Second Marriage
Following her retirement, Britt devoted herself to her true passion outside of film: painting.
She lived a quiet life in California, enjoying her art, her family, and a sense of peace after decades in the spotlight.
In 1993, she married Lennart Ringquist, an entertainment executive and horse breeder. The couple remained together until his death in 2017.
Legacy and Influence
May Britt is remembered for her dual legacy as both a talented international actress and a woman who stood firm in her personal convictions during a time of deep social tension.
Her marriage to Sammy Davis Jr. was more than a celebrity union—it was a cultural moment that highlighted the deep divisions and gradually changing attitudes in American society toward race and civil rights.
She often spoke about that period with reflection and grace, emphasizing love and loyalty over regret.
Her life story remains a testament to the complexity of fame, and the courage it took to live authentically in the public eye.
Survivors and Final Tribute
May Britt is survived by her sons Mark and Jeff Davis, her sister Margot, and several grandchildren. Her daughter, Tracey, predeceased her in 2020.
Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary life—one that bridged continents, cultures, and moments of social transformation.
Though the world she entered as a young Swedish woman is vastly different today, her story continues to resonate as part of Hollywood’s and America’s evolving narrative.
Rest in peace, May Britt. Your life was a remarkable journey of art, love, and courage.
