Diahann carroll death biography book
Diahann Carroll
American actress and singer (–)
Diahann Carroll | |
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Publicity photo, | |
Born | Carol Diann Johnson ()July 17, New York City, U.S. |
Died | October 4, () (aged84) West Hollywood, California, U.S. |
Almamater | New York University |
Occupations |
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Yearsactive | – |
Spouses |
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Partners | |
Children | 1 |
Diahann Carroll (dy-AN; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, – October 4, ) was an American actress, singer, model, and activist.
Carroll was the recipient of numerous nominations and awards for her stage and screen performances, including a Tony Award in , Golden Globe Award in , and five Emmy Award nominations.
Carroll rose to prominence in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts, including the classic movie musicalsCarmen Jones () and Porgy and Bess ().
She received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her title role in the romanticcomedy-drama film Claudine (). Carroll's other notable film credits include Paris Blues (), The Split (), Eve's Bayou (), and Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First Years ().
She starred in the title role in Julia (), for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star – Female. The series was the first on American television to star a black woman in a non-stereotypical role. In the show Carroll played a nurse and single mother.[1] She played the role of Dominique Deveraux, a mixed-race diva, in the prime time soap opera Dynasty from to She also had roles in Naked City, A Different World, and Grey's Anatomy.
Carroll made her Broadway debut playing Ottilie Alias Violet in the musical House of Flowers (). She became the first African-American woman to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Barbara Woodruff in the musical No Strings ().
Early years
Carol Diann Johnson was born in the Bronx, New York City, on July 17, ,[2] to John Johnson, a subway conductor, and Mabel (Faulk),[3] a nurse.[4][5]: While Carroll was still an infant, the family moved to Harlem, where she grew up except for a brief period in which her parents had left her with an aunt in North Carolina.[6][5]:[7] She attended Music and Art High School,[8][2][6] and was a classmate of Billy Dee Williams.
In many interviews about her childhood, Carroll recalls her parents' support, and their enrolling her in dance, singing, and modeling classes. By the time Carroll was 15, she was modeling for Ebony.[4][8] "She also began entering television contests, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, under the name Diahann Carroll."[4][2][5]: After graduating from high school, she attended New York University,[2] where she majored in sociology,[5]: "but she left before graduating to pursue a show-business career, promising her family that if the career did not materialize after two years, she would return to college."[4]
Career
Carroll's big break came at the age of 18, when she appeared as a contestant on the DuMont Television Network program, Chance of a Lifetime, hosted by Dennis James.[4][6][5]: On the show, which aired January 8, , she took the $1, top prize for a rendition of the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein song, "Why Was I Born?" She went on to win the following four weeks.
Engagements at Manhattan's Café Society and Latin Quarter nightclubs soon followed.[9]
Carroll's film debut was a supporting role in Carmen Jones (),[4][8][2] as a friend to the sultry lead character played by Dorothy Dandridge.
That same year, she starred in the Broadway musical, House of Flowers.[4][2] A few years later, she played Clara in the film version of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (), but her character's singing parts were dubbed by opera singer Loulie Jean Norman.[4][8][2] The following year, Carroll made a guest appearance in the series Peter Gunn, in the episode "Sing a Song of Murder" ().
In the next two years, she starred with Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward in the film Paris Blues ()[4] and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (the first time for a Black woman) for portraying Barbara Woodruff in the Samuel A. Taylor and Richard Rodgers musical No Strings.[1][4][8][2] Twelve years later, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role alongside James Earl Jones in the film Claudine (),[1][4][8][2] which part had been written specifically for actress Diana Sands (who had made guest appearances on Julia as Carroll's cousin Sara), but shortly before filming was to begin, Sands learned she was terminally ill with cancer.
Sands attempted to carry on with the role, but as filming began, she became too ill to continue and recommended her friend Carroll take over the role.[8] Sands died in September , before the film's release in April [8]
Carroll is known for her titular role in the television series Julia (–71),[4][2][5]:– which made her the first African-American actress in a television series starring role that was not of a domestic worker.[1][8] That role won her the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star – Female for its first year,[2][10] and a nomination for an Primetime Emmy Award in [2] Some of Carroll's earlier work also included appearances on shows hosted by Johnny Carson, Judy Garland, Merv Griffin, Jack Paar, and Ed Sullivan, and on The Hollywood Palace variety show.
In , Carroll joined the nighttime soap opera Dynasty at the end of its fourth season as the mixed-race jet set diva Dominique Deveraux,[4]Blake Carrington's half-sister.[8] Her high-profile role on Dynasty also reunited her with her schoolmate Billy Dee Williams, who briefly played her onscreen husband Brady Lloyd.
Carroll remained on the show and made several appearances on its short-lived spin-off, The Colbys until she departed at the end of the seventh season in In , she began the recurring role of Marion Gilbert, Whitley Gilbert's mother, in A Different World, for which she received her third Emmy nomination that same year.[8]
In , Carroll portrayed Eleanor Potter, the doting, concerned, and protective wife of Jimmy Potter (portrayed by Chuck Patterson), in the musical drama film The Five Heartbeats (),[2] also featuring actor and musician Robert Townsend and Michael Wright.
She reunited with Billy Dee Williams again in , portraying his character's wife Mrs. Greyson in Lonesome Dove: The Series. The following year, Carroll starred as the self-loving,egotistical,corrupt,manipulative and deceptive silent movie star Norma Desmond in the Canadian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of the film Sunset Boulevard.
In , Carroll made her animation debut in The Legend of Tarzan,[11] in which she voiced Queen La,[12] ruler of the ancient city of Opar.[13]
In , Carroll appeared in several episodes of the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Jane Burke, the demanding mother of Dr.
Preston Burke. From to , she appeared on USA Network's series White Collar in the recurring role of June, the savvy widow who rents out her guest room to Neal Caffrey.[14] In , Carroll was featured in UniGlobe Entertainment's breast cancer docudrama titled 1 a Minute, and appeared as Nana in two Lifetime movie adaptations of Patricia Cornwell novels: At Risk and The Front.[15]
In , Carroll was present on stage at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards to briefly speak about being the first African-American nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
She was quoted as saying about Kerry Washington, nominated for Scandal, "she better get this award."[16]
Personal life
Carroll was married four times. Her father boycotted the ceremony for her first wedding [citation needed] in , to record producer Monte Kay,[4][8] which was presided over by Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. The marriage ended in [17] Carroll gave birth to her daughter, Suzanne Kay (born September 9, ), who became a journalist and screenwriter.[4][18][19]
In , Carroll began a nine-year affair with the married actor Sidney Poitier.[4][6] In her autobiography, Carroll said Poitier persuaded her to divorce her husband and said he would leave his wife to be with her.
While she proceeded with her divorce, Poitier did not keep his part of the bargain.[20] Eventually he divorced his wife. According to Poitier, their relationship ended because he wanted to live with Carroll for six months without her daughter present so he would not be "jumping from one marriage straight into another." She refused.[21]
Carroll dated and was engaged to British television host and producer David Frost from until [4][6] In February , Carroll surprised the press by marrying Las Vegas boutique owner Fred Glusman.[4][8] After four months of marriage, Glusman filed for divorce in June Carroll filed a response, but did not contest the divorce, which was finalized two months later.[6][22] Glusman was reportedly physically abusive.[23]
On May 25, , Carroll, then aged 39, married Robert DeLeon (–),[24] the year-old managing editor of Jet magazine in New York City.[4][8] They met when DeLeon assigned himself to a cover story on Carroll about her Oscar nomination for Claudine.[25] DeLeon had a daughter, Monica, from a previous marriage.[24] Carroll moved to Chicago where Jet was headquartered, but DeLeon soon quit his job so the couple relocated to Oakland.[25] Carroll was widowed when DeLeon was killed in a car crash in Beverly Hills on March 31, [6][26][24][27] Carroll's fourth and final marriage was to singer Vic Damone in [4][8] The union, which Carroll admitted was turbulent, had a legal separation in , reconciliation, and divorce in [6][28][29]
Charitable work
Carroll was a founding member of the Celebrity Action Council, a volunteer group of celebrity women who served the women's outreach of the Los Angeles Mission, working with women in rehabilitation from problems with alcohol, drugs, or prostitution.
Diahann carroll death 1st Ivy Books ed. External-identifier urn:oclc:record urn:lcp:diahannautobiogr00carr:lcpdff-f9cc-4aa0dad28bba4e90 urn:lcp:diahannautobiogr00carr:epub:3cd2db3e-2ccd9-bbb7caef5 Extramarc The Indiana University Catalog Foldoutcount 0 Identifier.She helped to form the group along with other female television personalities including Mary Frann, Linda Gray, Donna Mills, and Joan Van Ark.[30]
Illness, death, and memorial
Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer in She said the diagnosis "stunned" her, because there was no family history of breast cancer, and she had always led a healthy lifestyle.
She underwent nine weeks of radiation therapy and had been clear for years after the diagnosis. She frequently spoke of the need for early detection and prevention of the disease.[8][31] She died from cancer at her home in West Hollywood, California, on October 4, , at the age of [8][4] Carroll also suffered from dementia at the time of her death, though actor Marc Copage, who played her character's son on Julia, said that she did not appear to show serious signs of cognitive decline as of late [32][33]
Filmography
Film
Television
Theater
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
House of Flowers | Ottillie (alias Violet) | Alvin Theatre, Broadway | [6] | |
No Strings | Barbara Woodroff | 54th Street Theatre, Broadway | [6] | |
Same Time, Next Year | Doris | Huntington Hartford Theatre | [8] | |
Black Broadway | Performer | Benefit concert | ||
Agnes of God | Dr.
Martha Livingstone | Music Box Theatre, Broadway | [8][2][6][48] | |
Love Letters | Melissa Gardner | Los Angeles Production | [49] | |
Sunset Boulevard | Norma Desmond | Ford Centre, Toronto | [4][8][2][6] | |
The Vagina Monologues | Performer | Westside Theatre, Off-Broadway | ||
Bubbling Brown Sugar | Performer | Theater of the Stars, Atlanta | [6] | |
On Golden Pond | Ethel | Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. | [48][50][51] | |
Both Sides Now | Performer | Feinstein's at the Regency, New York | [6] |
Discography
Awards and nominations
Notes
References
- ^ abcdefghLi, David K (October 4, ).
"Diahann Carroll, groundbreaking 'Julia' actress, dead at 84". Today. Retrieved October 5,
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadMcPhee, Ryan (October 4, ).
"Tony Award Winner and Oscar Nominee Diahann Carroll Dies at 84". Playbill. Retrieved October 6,
- ^"Diahann Carroll Biography". filmreference. Retrieved August 30,
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakFox, Margalit (October 4, ).
"Diahann Carroll, Actress Who Broke Barriers With 'Julia,' Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5,
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrsBogle, Donald ().
Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN. Retrieved October 7,
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibjbkblMcCann, Bob ().
Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. pp.71– ISBN.
Diahann carroll Customers find the book easy, entertaining, and well-written. They also say the story of Diahann's life is awesome and elegantly portrayed. Readers describe the author as open and introspective. AI-generated from the text of customer reviews.Retrieved October 7,
- ^"Diahann Carroll's on Overcoming Her Parents' Abandonment". YouTube. June 16, Archived from the original on June 18, Retrieved January 26,
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafMoody, Nekesa Mumbi (October 4, ).
"Diahann Carroll, Oscar-nominated, pioneering actress, dies". ABC News10. Retrieved October 4,
- ^"N.Y. singer Diahann Carroll finds Cinderella-like fame". Jet. 5 (23): 60– April 15, Retrieved May 8,
- ^ abcd"Diahann Carroll".
Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 7,
- ^ abcdefghiMorgan, Glenisha (October 4, ).
"Groundbreaking Actress Diahann Carroll Dies At 84". K. Retrieved October 6,
- ^ abPerlmutter, David (). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. ISBN. Retrieved October 7,
- ^Mayer, Geoff ().
Encyclopedia of American Film Serials. McFarland. p. ISBN. Retrieved October 7,
- ^Mitovich, Matt (December 2, ). "Diahann Carroll Collars Role on USA Pilot". TV Guide. Retrieved May 8,
- ^"Survivor celebs to join breast cancer film premiere". Sify News.
IANS. September 1, Archived from the original on August 11, Retrieved May 8,
- ^Gray, Ellen (September 23, ). "A Little Off-Script". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. Retrieved October 7,
- ^Diliberto, Gioia (December 2, ). "Now That Diahann Carroll's Come into His Life, Things Are Looking Up for Crooner Vic Damone".
People.
- ^"Diahann Carroll, TV Trailblazer and Oscar Nominee, Dies at 84". People. Retrieved October 7,
- ^ abcdefghGriffiths, John (December 21, ).
DIAHANN: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY: diahann-carroll-ross-firestone ...
Engrossing and frank, her autobiography shows why even the most talented black performers often fail to have power. Photos not seen by PW. Diahann offers what is best about the genre: a chance to closely examine an interesting life as well as reap the insights gained by the author during the writing process."Diahann Carroll: Hall of Fame Tribute". Television Academy EMMYS. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 7,
- ^Carroll, Diahann (). The Legs Are The Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, and Other Things I Learned the Hard Way. Amistad. ISBN.
- ^Armstrong, Lois (August 4, ).Diahann carroll death biography book Customers find the book easy to read and entertaining. They appreciate the candid narrative style and how the story is well-portrayed. However, some readers felt the book was a bit boring for most of the time. AI-generated from the text of customer reviews.
"Guess Who's Coming to Terms at Last with His Kids, Racial Politics and Life? Sidney Poitier". People.
- ^"It's Over! Diahann Carroll is Divorced". Jet: August 9,
- ^Iley, Chrissy (November 5, ).
- Diahann: An Autobiography - Carroll, Diahann ... - Amazon.com.au
"'I'm ambitious, dedicated and vain'". The Guardian. ISSN
- ^ abc"Robert DeLeon, Husband of Diahann Carroll, buried in Los Angeles". Jet. April 21,
- ^ abArmstrong, Lois (August 23, ).
Diahann Carroll - Wikipedia: Customers find the story of the book awesome, elegantly portrayed, and riveting. They also say the author is open and introspective about her life. Readers also mention the book is an easy, entertaining read.
"De-Frosted Diahann Carroll Finds 'Comfort' with an Ex-Editor 15 Years Her Junior". People.
- ^Sanders, Charles L. (November ). "Diahann Carroll: How the death of her youthful changed her life". Ebony: –
- ^Feuer, Alan; Rashbaum, William K. (March 12, ). "Blood Ties: 2 Officers' Long Path to Mob Murder Indictments".
The New York Times. Retrieved January 4,
- ^Rourke, Elizabeth (). "Diahann Carroll: Biography". Contemporary Black Biography. The Gale Group, Inc. Retrieved January 4,
- ^"Diahann Carroll: Biography, Photos, Movies, TV, Credits". .
Retrieved January 4,
- ^Carter, Bill (September 25, ). "Mary Frann, 55, Bemused Wife on 'Newhart'". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24,
- ^"Actress and breast cancer survivor Diahann Carroll to address Baylor luncheon". Dallas News. October 26, Archived from the original on May 15, Retrieved May 15,
- ^