Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge
Dandridge singing in Cain's Hundred (1962).
Born	Dorothy Jean Dandridge (1922-11-09)November 9, 1922 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 8, 1965(1965-09-08) (aged 42) West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Embolism or Drug overdose
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale, California)
Other names	Dorothy Dandridge-Nicholas Dorothy Nicholas Dorothy Dandridge-Denison Dorothy Denison
Occupation	Actress, Singer, Dancer
Years active	1933–65
Spouse(s)	Harold Nicholas (m. 1942; div. 1951) Jack Denison (m. 1959; div. 1962)
Children	Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas (b.1943; d.2003)
Parent(s)	Ruby Dandridge Cyril Dandridge
Family	Vivian Dandridge (sister) Nayo Wallace (great-niece)

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an American film and theatre actress, singer and dancer. She is perhaps best known for being the first African-American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1954 film 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 1959, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She is the subject of the 1999 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 the age of 42.

Dorothy Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio to aspiring entertainer Ruby Dandridge (née Butler) (March 3, 1900 – October 17, 1987) and Cyril Dandridge (October 25, 1895 – July 9, 1989), a cabinetmaker and minister, who had separated just before her birth. Ruby created a song-and-dance act for her two young daughters, Vivian and Dorothy, under the name The Wonder Children, that was managed by Geneva Williams. The sisters toured the Southern United States almost nonstop for five years (rarely attending school), while Ruby worked and performed in Cleveland.