NOVEMBER 9 1923 -- 1965
Dorothy Dandridge was born November 9,1923 in Ohio. She was very talented as a small child,and her parents decided on a career in show business for her at an early age. After moving to Hollywood Dorothy soon landed her first role in the Marx Bros. film "A Day At The Races" in which she had a small role. Despite the racial adversities in Hollywood at that time Dorothy still managed to find work; but she did not want to be stereotyped. She was established as a credible actress in her next role in 1940 in "Four Shall Die". She had to rely on her talents as a singer to support herself when she was not making films. Discrimination followed her career in Hollywood ,but she was the first Black-American to be nominated for the role of Best Actress in a motion picture in 1954, but lost the award to Grace Kelly. Her first husband was the dancer Harold Nicholas, of the Nicholas Bros. Before her movie career she was also a member of the singing group " the Dandridge Sisters", with her sister Vivian, and a childhood friend . "Carmen Jones " is considered to be her best film. She also had great roles in "Porgy and Bess", "Bright Road" and "Island In The Sun". Her life was tragic from her childhood because of child abuse and cruelty;to her adulthood,where she succumbed to alcoholism;and became addicted to sleeping pills.Sept 8 1965 she died as a result of an overdose of sleeping pills. One of the most beautiful women in Hollywood rose from poverty to success ,but could not find happiness.
Films by Dorothy Dandridge :1937 A DAY AT THE RACES; 1940 CONDEMNED MAN; 1940 FOUR SHALL DIE; 1941 BAHAMA PASSAGE; 1941LADY FROM LOUISIANA; 1941 SUN VALLEY SERENADE; 1941 SUNDOWN;1942 LUCKY JORDAN; 1942 DRUMS OF THE CONGO;1943 HIT PARADE OF 1943; 1944 ATLANTIC CITY; 1944 SINCE YOU WENT AWAY; 1945 PILLOW TO POST ;1946 JUNGLE QUEEN;1947 FLAMINGO; 1947 EBONY PARADE ; 1951 TARZAN'S PERIL;1951 THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS; 1953 BRIGHT ROAD;1953 REMAINS TO BE SEEN; 1954 CARMEN JONES; 1957 ISLAND IN THE SUN; 1957 TAMANGO; 1958 THE DECKS RAN RED ; 1959 PORGY AND BESS; 1960 MALAGA /MOMENT OF DANGER;
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CHARLES TAYLOR