Diahann Carroll is a classic BG who never seems to get acknowledged as much as she should. Her career helped pave the way for all of the African-American actresses who have made it and who are still struggling to make it in Hollywood today.
Her role as a widowed nurse on Julia, back in the late 1960s was one of the first African-American characters on a weekly TV series that didn’t depict a stereotype. She also played the infamous Dominique Deveraux on the legendary show, Dynasty for several years.
Since those popular shows were before my time, I had the opportunity to watch her on my all-time favorite TV show, A Different World as, Marion, Whitley Gilbert’s undeniably bourgeois mother. She later made a few guest appearances as, Aunt Ruth, the Joseph sisters’nosy aunt on my other beloved show, Soul Food (the Showtime series). I’m sure you Grey’s Anatomy fans have seen her on that hit show, as well as many others.
So today I give Ms. Carroll praise for being a pioneer in bringing positive portrayals of African-American women to television!
Here are a few facts about her:
Her birthname is Carol Diahann Johnson
She was born on July 17, 1935
She’s an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Is one of only 7 African-American actresses to receive the Best Actress Oscar nomination. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett and Halle Berry.
*sigh* Diahann Caroll…the epitome of “elegance”. There is just something so regal about so many of the pioneering African American actresses and peformers. Such a lovely & inspiring post 🙂
BGG, Diahann is one of my all time favorites. From the outside looking in she appears to be what I consider all woman, beautiful, sexy, intelligent, strong, soft and witty. She certainly hasn’t gotten her props. She was excellent with James Earl Jones in Claudine! BTW, Diahann found true love in a younger man who ended up dying in a car crash. So sad.
She still looks good!
Indeed Diahann is a legend. A cancer survivor and a New Yorker!
This drunk bum at the train station told me I looked like Diahann Carroll last night.
*Note: I do not look like Diahann Carroll*
I just think it’s hilarious that he mentioned it last night and then you wrote about it today.
Great post!
@T – We really must be friends — you told me about it last night so I decided to write about it today!! Of course I’m only kidding. 🙂
What a coincidence!
yes lady d is fabulous. i have always admired her. i loved when she played on dallas as dominique devereaux. she was also my favorite on a different world as marion gilbert, the famous momma of whitley.
wow, i forgot all about her!!!!
I love Diahann Carroll and just ate her up in Dynasty. She was perfect against Alexis! Thanks for this look at her work she is a pioneer.
Lovely post. as always 🙂
I’ve always respected DC–alway a class act. It was a real treat to see her as Shepard’s mom on Grey’s Anatomy.
classy lady.
She is definetly one of my idols,simply because she is an african-american woman who didn’t think that her race or gender would prevent her from achieving her goals. And I love the characters she plays when she guest stars on tv shows, she’s always someone educated with class and sassy.
I love this woman.
She’s a classy woman. I hope she gets some more roles.