Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (born November 9, 1922 or 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio; died September 8, 1965 in West Hollywood, California) was an American actress. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Cyril Dandridge and Ruby Jean Butler (both of whom were of African descent), she was the first African American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Related Topics:
November 9 - 1922 - 1923 - Cleveland, Ohio - September 8 - 1965 - West Hollywood, California - American - African - African American - Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actress

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Dandridge began singing in her church's choir and, with the prodding of her mother, she and her sister began to perform as "The Wonder Children." After the Depression Ruby, Vivian, Dorothy and Neva (Ruby's lesbian lover/friend) moved to Hollywood. Her first on-screen appearance was as an extra in a 1935 Our Gang short called Teacher's Beau.

Related Topics:
Hollywood - 1935 - Our Gang - Short

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Dorothy's first important role was a small part in the Marx Brothers' A Day at the Races (movie) in 1937 which her sister, Vivian and Etta Jones appear as "The Dandridge Sisters". The Dandridge Sisters traveled all over the world and even perfomed at the world famous Cotton Club with the Nicholas Brothers; Dorothy would eventually marry Harold Nicholas on September 6, 1942, who was abusive towards her, and they had one child, Harolyn Nicholas, Dandridge's only child, who was born severely handicapped, before they divorced in October, 1951.

Related Topics:
Marx Brothers - A Day at the Races (movie) - 1937 - Cotton Club - Nicholas Brothers - Harold Nicholas - September 6 - 1942

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Dorothy Dandridge did not receive another role until 1940, when she appeared in Four Shall Die a so-called "race film" in which she played a murderer at the age of 19. All of her early roles were stereotypical parts for African American actresses, but her singing ability brought her popularity in nightclubs around the country. During this period, she starred in several "soundies", video films designed to be displayed on juke boxes, including Paper Doll by the Mills Brothers Cow Cow Boogie, "Jig In The Jungle," "Mr. & Mrs. Carpenters (Rent Party)".

Related Topics:
Soundies - Juke box - Mills Brothers

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In 1954, Dandridge was cast in Carmen Jones, the remake of the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. For this performance, she received an Academy Award nomination. The Negro community had high hopes for Dorothy Dandridge at this time because of the Civil Rights Movement. Dorothy worked tirelessly to help the Movement in any way that she could. When Carmen Jones was released it was a financial success but despite the Oscar nomination, she had to go to Italy to make her next movie, Tamango, in 1956. Dorothy agreed to play "Tuptim" in The King and I but later changed her mind; Rita Moreno got the part instead. This may have led to her lack of work in Hollywood and she was once again forced to go on tour and perform at clubs across the nation. In 1957 she made Island in the Sun and in 1959 Porgy and Bess.

Related Topics:
1954 - Carmen Jones - Opera - Carmen - Georges Bizet - Academy Award - Civil Rights Movement - Italy - Tamango - 1956 - The King and I - Rita Moreno - 1957 - Island in the Sun - 1959 - Porgy and Bess

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In 1965, Dandridge was found dead at the age of 41 or 42 in her home from an overdose of Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant. Modern analysts believe that she may have suffered from bipolar disorder, commonly called manic depression.

Related Topics:
1965 - Imipramine - Tricyclic antidepressant - Bipolar disorder

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She is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in Glendale, California. After her mother Ruby passed away she was interred with Dorothy at Forest Lawn.

Related Topics:
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery - Glendale, California

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She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6719 Hollywood Blvd.

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Fellow Clevelander Halle Berry played Dandridge in the made-for-TV movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999). Ironically, though Dandrige was the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Berry was the first to win.

Related Topics:
Halle Berry - Introducing Dorothy Dandridge - 1999

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