Dorothy Dandridge

American actress and singer

Born: November 9, 1922  ·  Died: September 8, 1965

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Dorothy Dandridge
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Who was Dorothy Dandridge?

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an American actress and singer. Dandridge was married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack Denison. Dandridge had also performed as a vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. During her early career, she performed as a part of the Wonder Children, later the Dandridge Sisters, and appeared in a succession of films, usually in uncredited roles. She was the subject of the 1999 biographical film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with Halle Berry portraying her. Dandridge died in 1965 at the age of 42.

Dandridge in the baiting trailer for The Decks Ran Red (1958)
Dandridge in the baiting trailer for The Decks Ran Red (1958)
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Historical significance

She was the first African American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for Carmen Jones (1954), a performance which also earned her a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress. In 1959, Dandridge was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and a Laurel Award for Porgy and Bess. In 1983, she was recognized, posthumously, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dandridge with Alain Delon on the set La Fabuleuse Aventure de Marco Polo, filmed in 1962 but only released years later with both edited out.
Dandridge with Alain Delon on the set La Fabuleuse Aventure de Marco Polo, filmed in 1962 but only released years later with both edited out.
Selected movies: Dorothy Dandridge Full IMDb filmography
Since You Went Away 1944 · View on IMDb Carmen Jones 1954 · View on IMDb Porgy and Bess 1959 · View on IMDb Island in the Sun 1957 · View on IMDb Sun Valley Serenade 1941 · View on IMDb The Big Broadcast of 1936 1935 · View on IMDb
Selected exact acting credits from Wikidata. Title links open on IMDb; ratings, reviews, images, and descriptions are not imported.
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MLA

“Dorothy Dandridge.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/dorothy-dandridge/. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

APA

Dorothy Dandridge. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/dorothy-dandridge/

Chicago

“Dorothy Dandridge.” thisDay. Accessed November 9, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/dorothy-dandridge/.

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