Altovise Davis Denies She Is Impoverished

Representatives of Altovise Davis, wife of the late entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., has denied a report that her husband’s debts have left her impoverished.

Sammy Davis died May 16 of throat cancer.

The denials apparently stem from a supermarket tabloid’s report that grief and impending poverty had driven Altovise Davis to attempt suicide.

“I’m prepared to document that Altovise is in fine shape emotionally and she is in fine shape financially,” San Francisco attorney Vasilios Choulos told reporters.

Family representative Gary Frischer said she did not attend the press conference because “she’s busy right now on a project in Los Angeles.” Choulos said she is considering several “creative projects” on her life and her late husband’s.

Both men denied they were lending credence to the tabloid report by denying it. “He who protests sort of accuses himself? Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Choulos.

Choulos acknowledged that Sammy Davis’ prolific career and legendary generosity created “all sorts of loose ends” financially, but he said the entertainer left about $6 million to $8 million in real estate, jewelry, rare books and guns, and insurance.

Recalling that he was quick to perform for others’ benefit, Choulos said, “Sammy probably gave away more than he ever made. A lot of people made money on Sammy.”

The Davis will, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, listed $2 million in personal property and $2 million in real estate. The tabloid report quoted the $4 million total, then claimed that sum would be consumed by debts, mortgages, liens and bequests to friends.