1980s superstar Diahann Carroll born July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019 stood tall as one of the finest performers in the entertainment industry.
A true inspiration, she was a woman of many firsts. With more than five decades as an entertainer, the elegant beauty and foremost entertainer broke barriers; in 1968 Carroll rewrote television history when she starred as lead character in NBC’s Julia, becoming the first black actress to star in her own sitcom- centered around her, a black woman. That was her best known role till death. Once again, in 1984, her brilliant interpretation as
Dynasty’s Dominique Deveraux made her stand out amongst the all-white dominated environment of nighttime soaps.
Carroll also made history as the first black woman to win the Tony for best actress in 1962, for Broadway musical No Strings.
Born in Harlem, New York, as a young girl, aged 6 she had started singing, by age 15 she began modelling. She was noted for featuring on recordings, appearing on television, nightclubs, and on Broadway before fame.
At 19 she won her first role in Hollywood starring opposite Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones, but her big break came in 1954 when she bagged a lead role in the Broadway musical House of Flowers.
A timeless performer, notable Hollywood stars including Halle Berry and Angela Bassett name her as their inspiration.
Joan Collins and Diahann Carroll 1981
US actress Diahann Carroll a recipient of Golden Globe and Tony awards, as well as an Oscar nod died October 4, 2019 following a battle with cancer, she was aged 84.
Diahann Carroll and daughter Suzanne Ann 1987 Golden Globes
Diahann Carroll
Gone but not forgotten, Diahann Carol’s legacy lived on!
Image Source:
The Guardian
W Magazine
P Interest
BET
National Museum of African American history and culture
