Welcome back to the Breakfast At Dominique’s biography series! Today we are learning about a trailblazer in entertainment – an actress in film, television, and Broadway, model, singer, activist, and one of the more famous Dominique’s (even if it was a fictional character) – Diahann Carroll!
Born July 17, 1935, New York native Diahann Carroll started showing an interest in music at a young age. Her infatuation with the arts came to fruition at 6 years old after joining a Harlem church choir. She obtained a Metropolitan Opera Scholarship at age 10 to attend New York’s High School of Music and Art, but it wasn’t until her teenage years at 16 that Carroll began making moves toward the multi-talented figure she is remembered as today. That year, she auditioned, along with a friend, for a television competition show called Arther Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and won bringing home a thousand dollar per week prize and a week-long engagement at a Manhattan nightclub, Latin Quarter.
1954 became a huge talking point when revisiting the life and career of Diahann Carroll. This particular year marked her debut in both Broadway and film. Both projects were tied to notable names, House of Flowers being a Truman Capote and Harold Arlen production and Carmen Jones hosting Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte as leads, which served Diahann well as she worked towards a consistent career in the performing arts.
Diahann was the first to accomplish so many things in the industry. She was the first black woman to receive a Tony Award for Best Actress in 1962. On top of that, she was the first black woman to have a starring role in a television series without portraying discriminatory jobs such as a servant. Even further, her legendary role in the 1980s television series Dynasty made history in a bit more niche manner. Carroll has been quoted sharing that her infamous character Dominique Deveraux was “the first black bitch on television.” The challenges Diahann faced to kickstart the progression of our culture into a more inclusive environment were remarkable and awe-inspiring.
Throughout her professional life, Carroll received nominations for countless awards including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, and a presentation of her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On October 4, 2019, Diahann Carroll passed away at the age of 84 from Breast Cancer.
Her legacy is carried on by her daughter, Suzanne Kay, who is reportedly working on a documentary shedding a light on her mother’s unique life. Visit Daughters of the Movement, an organization Suzanne is involved in focusing on sharing the inspiring stories of their parents and grandparents to new audiences.
Diahann Carroll Roles You May Recognize:
If you wish to continue learning about Diahann, the following resources are readily available for you to visit…
Podcasts:
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Trashy Divorces S5E7: Strangers In The Night – Diahann Carroll
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SAG-AFTRA Foundation: Conversations with Diahann Carroll (2009)
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SAG-AFTRA Foundation: Conversation with Diahann Carroll (2006)
Books:
Articles:
Featured image credit: Milton H. Greene
Dominique Benedict is the founder and owner of Breakfast At Dominique’s. Her favorite topics include classic everything from movies to music to cars and the 90s film, Dazed and Confused.