Diahann Carroll didn’t reach her 85th birthday yesterday. Why? Because of complications from breast cancer. Nevertheless, Ms. Carroll, under watchful eyes, started to blossom when she modeled for the Ebony Fashion Fair at the age of 15 in 1950. The television pioneer had many firsts in her 69 years in the entertainment industry. Today, I remember glamorous diva Diahann Carrol.
Diahann born as Carol Diann Johnson on July 17, 1935 in the Bronx, New York. Ms. Carroll, 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. She attended the New York City High School of Music & Art in the 1950s. 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 night clubs and on television.
According to online sources, Carroll’s big break came at the age of 18, when she appeared as a contestant on the program, Chances of a Lifetime. On the show which 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 as a supporting role in Carmen Jones (1954), that same year her first appearance on Broadway in Truman Capote’s House of Flowers, a musical about an interracial couple, Diahann gave a Tony-nominated performance.
The first time for 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 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 overcome with Dominique as a mixed-race sophisticated, glamorous, wealthy, and intelligent diva.
Bob Mackie, the costume designer for Diahann for her role in 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 a request 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 that the business of overwhelming people with your presence and your grooming – it’s 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, serving up her glam style at the Watts Tower in Los Angeles in 1967.
In a pale pink gown with a sheer 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 giving the world Jackie O style glamor.
Ms. Carroll is wearing hot pants in the 70s.
Throughout the 1970s, Diahann, a frequent guest of 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 the movie, Claudine replaced Diana Sands due to ailing health. Diahann, nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
How about she had her music-variety show, The Diahann Carroll Show, in 1976.
The 1990s hit series, A Different World, Diahann Carroll played Whitley’s mother.
In the musical version of “Sunset Blvd,” Carroll portrayed silent screen diva Norma Desmond in 1995.
Ms. Carroll still looking like a glamorous diva in her seventies.
Here, Diahann Carroll, at the age of 75 with actress, Kerry Washington, there’s no generation gap of 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 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.
Diahann, thank you
As always, thank you for reading. Have a fabulous and safe week.
