Who was Diahann Carroll? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Carol Diann Johnson

Died At Age: 84

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Fredde Glusman (m. 1973; div. 1973), Monte Kay (m. 1956; div. 1963) Fredde Glusman, Robert DeLeon (m. 1975; d. 1977), Vic Damone (m. 1987; div. 1996)

father: John Johnson

mother: Mabel Faulk

children: Suzanne Kay

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Females

Died on: October 4, 2019

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

Cause of Death: Breast Cancer

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: New York University

Recommended For You

1

What was Diahann Carroll's breakthrough role?

Diahann Carroll's breakthrough role was in the television series "Julia," where she became the first African American woman to star in her own TV show playing a non-stereotypical role.
2

Did Diahann Carroll have a successful singing career?

Yes, Diahann Carroll had a successful singing career alongside her acting career, releasing several albums and performing in nightclubs and concert venues.
3

How did Diahann Carroll contribute to the civil rights movement?

Diahann Carroll used her platform to advocate for civil rights and equality, actively participating in events and initiatives supporting the movement.
4

What impact did Diahann Carroll have on the representation of African American women in media?

Diahann Carroll broke barriers and challenged stereotypes by portraying strong, independent African American women on television and in film, paving the way for greater representation in the industry.
5

How did Diahann Carroll inspire future generations of performers?

Diahann Carroll's talent, grace, and trailblazing career inspired and empowered future generations of performers, particularly women of color, to pursue their dreams and break down barriers in the entertainment industry.

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Childhood & Early Life

Diahann Carroll was born on July 17, 1935, in Bronx, New York City, to John Johnson and Mabel Faulk. Her father was a subway conductor and her mother was a nurse.

With support of her parents, she attended dancing, singing and modelling classes at a very young age. At the age of ten, she received a Metropolitan Opera scholarship for studies at New York’s High School of Music and Art.

At the age of 15, she did modelling assignment for “Ebony” magazine. During this time, she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s radio programme “Talent Scouts”. Success in this contest brought her recognition.

After finishing her school education, she studied at New York University. At that time, she was contemplating to pursue a nightclub career.

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Career

The turning point in her life came when she participated on the Dumont Television Network Program ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ in 1954. She was the winner of this show for four weeks. Due to her popularity in this program, she got job offers from Manhattan’s Cafe Society and Latin Quarter nightclubs.

In 1954, she made her film debut with ‘Carmen Jones’ in a supporting role. Later, she featured in the ‘House of Flowers’, a Broadway musical by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote.

In 1959, she portrayed the character of Clara in the film version of George Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’.

In the year 1960, she made a guest appearance in ‘Peter Gunn’, a television series. After making appearances on a number of shows, she acted in the night-time soap opera ‘Dynasty’ in which she played the role of Dominique Deveraux from 1984 to 1987.

Later, she appeared in ‘The Colbys’, an American soap opera and acted in television sitcom ‘A Different World’. She was nominated for Emmy award in 1989, for her performance in ‘A Different World’.

She proved her acting prowess as a popular silent movie star Norma Desmond in the film ‘Sunset Boulevard’. In 2008, she appeared as June in ‘White Collar’, a television series.

Major Works

In 1961, she portrayed the role of Connie Lampson in the film ‘Paris Blues’. This film is based on Harold Flender’s novel and deals with racism in America.

Her acting in television series ‘Julia’, an American sitcom of 1968, earned her fame as an actress. In ‘Julia’, she played the character of an African American woman in a non-stereotypical role. The NBC broadcast its 86 episodes from the month of September.

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In 1991, she played the role of an ideal wife Eleanor Potter in ‘The Five Heartbeats’, a musical drama. Directed by Robert Townsend, this musical deals with the rise and fall of Motown, a record company.

Awards & Achievements

Her outstanding performance in the musical ‘No Strings’ brought her the prestigious Tony Awards for best actress in 1962. In this musical she acted as Barbara Woodruff and she was the first black woman to win this award.

Family & Personal Life

Diahann Carroll was married four times. Her first marriage was to record producer Monte Kay in 1956. She has a daughter Suzanne Kay Bamford from this marriage. Suzanne is a freelance media journalist. The marriage ended in 1962.

In 1973, she married Fred Glusman, a Las Vegas boutique owner. After several weeks, she filed for divorce citing physical abuse.

In 1975, Carroll married Robert DeLeon, a managing editor of "Jet" magazine. In 1977, DeLeon was killed in a car crash.

She married singer Vic Damone in 1987. This marriage too ended in a divorce in 1996.

Diahann Carroll died of cancer on October 4, 2019, in Los Angeles, at the age of 84.

Facts About Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll was the first African American woman to star in her own television series where she did not play a domestic worker, breaking barriers in the entertainment industry.

She was also a talented singer and released several successful albums throughout her career, showcasing her versatile talents.

Diahann Carroll was known for her impeccable fashion sense and was considered a style icon in the 1960s and 1970s.

In addition to her acting and singing career, Carroll was also an advocate for civil rights and worked with various organizations to promote equality and social justice.

She was a trailblazer in Hollywood and paved the way for future generations of African American actors and actresses to achieve success in the industry.

Diahann Carroll Biography

You wanted to know

What was Diahann Carroll's breakthrough role?

Did Diahann Carroll have a successful singing career?

How did Diahann Carroll contribute to the civil rights movement?

What impact did Diahann Carroll have on the representation of African American women in media?

How did Diahann Carroll inspire future generations of performers?