Diahann Carroll didn’t reach her 85th birthday yesterday. Why? Because of complications from breast cancer. Nevertheless, under watchful eyes, Ms. Carroll started to blossom when she modeled for the Ebony Fashion Fair at 15 in 1950. The television pioneer had many firsts in her 69 years in the entertainment industry. Today, I remember glamorous diva Diahann Carroll.
Diahann was born Carol Diann Johnson on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. Ms. Carroll was the first child of John Johnson, a subway contractor, and his wife, Mabel, a nurse. When their daughter was an infant, the family moved to Harlem, where she grew up. In the 1950s, she attended the New York City High School of Music & Art. Billy Dee Williams was her classmate.
The actress and singer changed the face of American entertainment as we know it by breaking barriers for African American celebrities. At 18, Diahann was singing professionally in nightclubs and on television. According to online sources, Carroll’s big break came at 18, when she appeared as a contestant on the Chances of a Lifetime program. On the show aired on January 8, 1954, she took home the $1000 top prize for a rendition of the song, Why Was I Born?
Carroll’s film debut was in a supporting role in Carmen Jones (1954). That same year, she first appeared on Broadway in Truman Capote’s House of Flowers, a musical about an interracial couple. Diahann gave a Tony-nominated performance.
For the first time, a black woman, Diahann Carroll, won the 1962 Tony Award for Best Actress for portraying Barbara Woodruff in the musical No Strings.
In 1968, Diahann Carroll was the first African American woman on a television series, Julia playing a non-stereotypical role as Julia, a professional nurse.
Fast forward to 1984, when Carroll joined the prime-time television soap opera Dynasty as Dominique Devereaux. The first Black B on TV! Another hurdle towards racial equality is overcome with Dominique as a mixed-race sophisticated, glamorous, wealthy, and intelligent diva.
Bob Mackie, the costume designer for Diahann’s role in the TV series Dynasty and her variety show, provided styling tips and outfits.
During a 2008 interview about her autobiography, “The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, and Other Things, I Learned the Hard Way,” her response when she learned Richard Rogers wanted an interview –
1968
Gilles Pétard Collection
“The day I requested to join him for lunch before he left for Europe, I thought I needed to startle him when I arrived at the restaurant. I think the business of overwhelming people with your presence and grooming is not a part of today. It’s not important today. I cannot tell you what it meant to them. Me, dressed in Givenchy head to toe. It meant a great deal during the interview.”
The singer, actress, and Broadway star Diahann Carroll served up her glam style at the Watts Tower in Los Angeles in 1967.
In a pale pink gown with a glittering white overlay, Diahann Carroll brought ethereal glamor to the Oscar stage when she presented at the 1969 ceremony.
During a trip to Britain, Diahnn gave the world Jackie O-style glamor.
Ms. Carroll is wearing hot pants in the 70s.
Throughout the 1970s, Diahann was a frequent guest on talk-variety shows like the Steve Allen Show, Merv Griffin Show, and David Frost Show (engaged to David but never married).
In 1974, she starred in Claudine, replacing Diana Sands due to her ailing health. Diahann was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
How about she had her music-variety show, The Diahann Carroll Show, in 1976.
Diahann Carroll played Whitley’s mother in the 1990s hit series A Different World.
In the musical version of “Sunset Blvd,” Carroll portrayed silent screen diva Norma Desmond in 1995.
Ms. Carroll still looks like a glamorous diva in her seventies.
Here, Diahann Carroll, at 75, with actress Kerry Washington, there’s no generation gap in style.
“I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn’t my original intention.”
We all know Diahann died from complications of breast cancer on October 4, 2019, since the diagnosis in 1997. She married four times and is survived by her only daughter, Suzanne Kay Bamford, and two grandchildren.
Carroll received a star-studded memorial on November 24, 2019, at the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City, recognizing all her trailblazing accomplishments in the entertainment industry.
Glamorous diva, Diahann, thank you.
As always, thank you for reading. Have a fabulous and safe week.
