Diana Sands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Sands
Photograph of Sands taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1963
Born	Diana Patricia Sands (1934-08-22)August 22, 1934 New York City, U.S.
Died	September 21, 1973(1973-09-21) (aged 39) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, U.S.
Education	Music & Art High School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1951–1973
Known for	Beneatha Younger – A Raisin in the Sun
Spouse(s)	Lucien Happersberger ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1966)​
Partner(s)	Kurt Baker (1972–1973)

Diana Patricia Sands (born August 22, 1934 – died September 21, 1973) was an American actress. She was best known for playing Beneatha Younger. This was the sister of Sidney Poitier's character, Walter. She played this role in both the original play and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. This famous story was written by Lorraine Hansberry.

Diana Sands also appeared in many TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s. These included I Spy and Julia. She was also in the 1963 film An Affair of the Skin. For her acting, Sands was nominated for a Tony Award twice. She was also nominated for an Emmy Award two times.

About Diana Sands

Her Early Life and School

Diana Patricia Sands was born in the Bronx, New York City. She was one of three children. Her father, Rudolph Sands, was a carpenter from the Bahamas. Her mother, Shirley, made hats.

Diana went to elementary school in Elmsford, New York. In 1949, she started at the Music & Art High School. This school is now called Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She went to school with other famous actors like Diahann Carroll and Billy Dee Williams. While in high school, Diana got her first acting role. It was in a school play called "Major Barbara". After finishing high school in 1953, Diana started her career as a dancer. She toured with a traveling carnival.

Her Acting Career

As Beneatha Younger with Claudia McNeil and Sidney Poitier in the Broadway version of A Raisin in the Sun, 1959.

In 1959, Diana Sands got a big role. She played Beneatha Younger in the Broadway play A Raisin in the Sun. Two years later, in 1961, she also starred in the film version of the play. She acted alongside Claudia McNeil, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee.

Sands later joined the Actors Studio, a famous acting group. In 1964, she performed in a play by James Baldwin called Blues for Mr. Charlie. Her acting in this play was highly praised. She then starred in another Broadway play, The Owl and the Pussycat. Here, she acted with Alan Alda. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award.

In 1970, Sands was in the film The Landlord. She then appeared in Doctors' Wives and Georgia, Georgia. During this time, she met the musician Bob Dylan. He wrote in his book that she was "an electrifying actress". He also said he "might have been secretly in love with" her.

In 1972, Diana Sands recorded a song for the album Free to Be... You and Me. Sadly, she passed away before the TV special was made. So, her song was not included. In late 1972, she filmed Honeybaby, Honeybaby in Lebanon. Her co-star, Calvin Lockhart, said she went to a hospital there. He believed she knew she was very sick. In early 1973, Sands returned to New York City. She began filming Willie Dynamite, a movie where she starred with Roscoe Orman.

In August 1973, Sands started filming Claudine with James Earl Jones. This was in Harlem, New York City. She became very ill during filming and was taken to a hospital. Doctors found a serious illness. Diana was too sick to continue filming. She suggested that her friend, Diahann Carroll, take her place in the movie. The film's producers agreed.

Her Personal Life and Legacy

Diana Sands was married once and did not have children. She was married to Swiss artist Lucien Happersberger from 1964 to 1966. When she passed away, she was engaged to Kurt Baker, an assistant film director.

Diana Sands died on September 21, 1973, at the age of 39. She passed away at a hospital in New York City due to cancer. Her funeral was held on October 5, 1973. She was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. In 1976, a school in the Bronx, New York, was named Junior High School 147 Diana Sands. This was done to honor her memory.

Selected Acting Roles

Theatre Roles

Film Roles

Sands in the trailer to A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

• Caribbean Gold (1952) - Native Woman
• Four Boys and a Gun (1957)
• A Face in the Crowd (1957) - Homeless Black Woman
• Carib Gold (1957)
• Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) - Club Hostess
• A Raisin in the Sun (1961) - Beneatha Younger
• An Affair of the Skin (1963) - Janice
• Ensign Pulver (1964) - Mila
• The Landlord (1970) - Fanny
• Doctors' Wives (1971) - Helen Straughn
• Georgia, Georgia (1972) - Georgia Martin
• Willie Dynamite (1974) - Cora
• Honeybaby, Honeybaby (1974) - Laura Lewis (her last film role)