Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November , â€" September , ) was an
African-American film and theatre actress, singer, and dancer. She is
one of the earliest African-American movie stars and the first woman
of color to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which
was for her performance in Carmen Jones (). Dandridge performed as a
vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater.
During her early career, she performed as a part of The Wonder
Children, later The Dandridge Sisters, and appeared in a succession of
films, usually in uncredited roles.In , Dandridge was nominated for a
Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She is the subject of the HBO
biographical film, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. She has been
recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dandridge was
married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the
father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack
Denison. Dandridge died under mysterious circumstances at age
.Dandridge was born on November , , in Cleveland, Ohio, to aspiring
entertainer Ruby Dandridge (née Butler) (March , â€" October , ) and
Cyril Dandridge (October , â€" July , ), a cabinetmaker and Baptist
minister; her parents separated just before her birth.
African-American film and theatre actress, singer, and dancer. She is
one of the earliest African-American movie stars and the first woman
of color to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which
was for her performance in Carmen Jones (). Dandridge performed as a
vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater.
During her early career, she performed as a part of The Wonder
Children, later The Dandridge Sisters, and appeared in a succession of
films, usually in uncredited roles.In , Dandridge was nominated for a
Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She is the subject of the HBO
biographical film, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. She has been
recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dandridge was
married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the
father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack
Denison. Dandridge died under mysterious circumstances at age
.Dandridge was born on November , , in Cleveland, Ohio, to aspiring
entertainer Ruby Dandridge (née Butler) (March , â€" October , ) and
Cyril Dandridge (October , â€" July , ), a cabinetmaker and Baptist
minister; her parents separated just before her birth.
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