Dorothy Dandridge Biography (1922-1965)

Full name, Dorothy Jean Dandridge; born November 9, 1922, in Cleveland, OH; died of acute drug intoxication, September 8, 1965, in West Hollywood, CA; buried in Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA: daughter of Cyril and Ruby (an actress; maiden name, Butler) Dandridge; married Harold Nicholas (a dancer and actor), 1944 (divorced, 1951); married Jack Denison (a restaurateur), 1959 (divorced 1962); children: (first marriage) Harolyn. Career: Actress and singer. The Wonder Children (song and dance duo), member (with sister Vivian Dandridge), c. 1926-34; The Dandridge Sisters (musical group), member, c. 1934-42; regularly appeared in nightclubs, c. late 1940s-65. Awards, Honors: Academy Award nomination, best actress, 1954, British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, best foreign actress, 1956, both for Carmen Jones; Golden Globe Award, best actress in a musical, for Porgy and Bess..

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
actress, singer
Birth Details
November 9, 1922
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Death Details
September 8, 1965
West Hollywood, California, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • (Film debut) A Day at the Races, 1937
  • Four Shall Die (also known as Condemned Men), 1940
  • Thalia, Bahama Passage, 1941
  • Felice, Lady from Louisiana (also known as Lady from New Orleans), 1941
  • Specialty, Sun Valley Serenade, 1941
  • Kipsang's Bride, Sundown, 1941
  • (Uncredited) Congoroo, Ride "Em Cowboy, 1942
  • (Uncredited) Hollyhock school maid, Lucky Jordan, 1942
  • Malimi, Drums of the Congo, 1942
  • Change of Heart (also known as Hit Parade of 1943), 1943
  • Officer's wife, Since You Went Away, 1944
  • Herself (singer), Atlantic City, 1944
  • Herself (singer), Pillow to Post, 1945
  • (As Dorothy Daindridge) Ebony Parade, 1947
  • Jungle Queen, 1951
  • Harlem Globetrotters, 1951
  • Melmendi, Queen of the Ashuba, Tarzan's Peril (also known as Tarzan and the Jungle Goddess), 1951
  • Herself, Remains to be Seen, 1953
  • Jane Richards, Bright Road, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
  • Title role, Carmen Jones, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954
  • Aiche, mistress, Tamango (also known as La Rivolta dell'esperanza), Hal Roach, 1956
  • The Happy Road, 1957
  • Margo Seaton, Island in the Sun, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957
  • Mahia, The Decks Ran Red, 1958
  • Bess, Porgy and Bess, Columbia, 1959
  • Gianna, Malaga (also known as Moment of Danger), 1960
  • The Murder Men, 1961
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Appeared on Carmen Jones (soundtrack).

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books:
    • Bogle, Donald, Dorothy Dandridge, Amistad Press, 1997.
    • Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 3, Gale Research, 1993, pp. 43-46.
    • Encyclopedia of World Biography, Volume 18, Gale Group, 1999, pp.112-14.
    Periodicals:
    • Ebony, December 1993, p. 36; August 1997, p. 52; August 1999, p. 100.
    • Time, September 1, 1997, p. 73.*