Diahann Carroll facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diahann Carroll
Publicity photo, 1976
Born	Carol Diann Johnson (1935-07-17)July 17, 1935 New York City, U.S.
Died	October 4, 2019(2019-10-04) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actress singer model activist
Years active	1950–2016
Spouse(s)	Monte Kay ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1963)​ Fred Glusman ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1973)​ Robert DeLeon ​ ​ (m. 1975; died 1977)​ Vic Damone ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1996)​
Partner(s)	Sidney Poitier (1959–1968) David Frost (1970–1973)
Children	1

Diahann Carroll (/daɪˈæn/ DY-an; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an amazing American actress, singer, and model. She was a true pioneer, especially for Black performers. Diahann became famous in early major movies that featured Black actors, like Carmen Jones (1954).

In 1962, Diahann Carroll made history by winning a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings. She was the first African-American woman to win this award! Later, in 1974, she starred in Claudine and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Her TV show Julia (1968-1971) was also a huge step forward. It was the first American TV series to star a Black woman in a main role that wasn't a maid. This show earned her a Golden Globe Award in 1968. In the 1980s, she played the stylish Dominique Deveraux in the popular TV show Dynasty. Diahann Carroll received many awards and nominations throughout her long career. She passed away on October 4, 2019, from breast cancer.

Early Life and Dreams

Carroll, photographed by Carl Van Vechten in 1955

Carol Diann Johnson was born in the Bronx, New York City, on July 17, 1935. Her father, John Johnson, worked as a subway conductor, and her mother, Mabel, was a nurse. When Diahann was a baby, her family moved to Harlem, where she grew up.

Her parents were very supportive of her talents. They enrolled her in dance, singing, and modeling classes from a young age. By the time Diahann was just 15, she was already modeling for Ebony magazine. She also started entering TV talent contests, using the name Diahann Carroll. After high school, she studied sociology at New York University. However, she soon left college to follow her dream of becoming a performer. She promised her family she would return to school if her show business career didn't take off in two years.

A Star is Born: Career Beginnings

Diahann Carroll got her big break at 18 years old. She appeared on a TV show called Chance of a Lifetime in 1954. She won the top prize of $1,000 for singing "Why Was I Born?". She kept winning for four weeks in a row! This led to her performing in famous nightclubs in Manhattan.

Carroll and Sammy Davis Jr. on The Hollywood Palace, 1968

Her first movie role was in Carmen Jones (1954). She played a friend to the main character, played by Dorothy Dandridge. That same year, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical House of Flowers. A few years later, she appeared in the film Porgy and Bess (1959).

In 1961, Diahann starred with Sidney Poitier in the film Paris Blues. The next year, she won her historic Tony Award for No Strings. This made her the first Black woman to win that award. Later, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Claudine (1974). This part was originally written for her friend, Diana Sands, who became too ill to perform and suggested Diahann take over.

Breaking Barriers on Television

Diahann Carroll is most famous for her starring role in the TV series Julia (1968-1971). This show was a huge step forward because it was the first time an African-American actress played the main character in her own TV series who was not a domestic worker. This role earned her a Golden Globe Award in its first year.

In 1984, Diahann joined the popular nighttime soap opera Dynasty. She played the glamorous and powerful character Dominique Deveraux, who was the half-sister of the main character, Blake Carrington. Her role on Dynasty also brought her back together with her high school classmate, Billy Dee Williams, who played her husband on the show. She also appeared in the spin-off show The Colbys. In 1989, she had a recurring role in A Different World, which earned her another Emmy nomination.

Carroll in 1979

Diahann continued to act in many different projects. In 1991, she was in the musical drama film The Five Heartbeats. In 1996, she starred as Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Boulevard in Canada. In 2001, she voiced Queen La in the animated series The Legend of Tarzan.

From 2006 to 2007, Diahann appeared in the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. From 2009 to 2014, she had a recurring role as June in the TV series White Collar. In 2010, she was in a documentary about breast cancer called 1 a Minute. She also appeared in two TV movies based on Patricia Cornwell novels. In 2013, she spoke at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards about being the first African-American nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Personal Life and Giving Back

Diahann Carroll was married four times. She had one daughter, Suzanne Kay, who became a journalist and screenwriter.

Diahann was also a founding member of the Celebrity Action Council. This group of celebrity women volunteered to help the women's outreach program of the Los Angeles Mission. She worked with other famous TV personalities to form this group and help those in need.

Health and Legacy

In 1997, Diahann Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was surprised by the diagnosis because there was no history of breast cancer in her family, and she always lived a healthy life. She received treatment and was cancer-free for many years. She often spoke about how important it is to detect cancer early and prevent it.

Diahann Carroll passed away from cancer on October 4, 2019, at her home in West Hollywood, California. She was 84 years old. A memorial service was held for her in New York City in November 2019. Diahann Carroll left behind an amazing legacy as a trailblazer who opened doors for many others in entertainment.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Awards and Recognitions

• 2011: Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame
• 1992: Women in Film Crystal Award
• 1998: Women in Film Lucy Award
• 2000: NAACP Image Award — Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
• 2005: NAACP Image Award — Soul Food
• 2016: Hollywood Legacy Award

Images for kids

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  Publicity photo, 1976

See also

In Spanish: Diahann Carroll para niños