Diahann Carroll has died at age 84, from cancer according to reports. She was the first African American women to star in her own TV series, “Julia.” She was also wildly popular as the character Dominique Devereaux, the sister of John Forsythe’s Blake Carrington, on “Dynasty.” (She herself described the role as “the first black bitch on TV”).
But Carroll, who was a real beauty, was also a superstar on stage, performing as a singer. She had an amazing life that included a marriage to singer Vic Damone (her fourth and last husband) and a love affair with British news personality David Frost.
Carroll won a Tony Award in 1962 for for best actress in a musical for “No Strings.” She was nominated for an Oscar in 1975 for the great movie, “Claudine.” She won a Golden Globe in 1969 for “Julia.” She was nominated four times for Prime Time Emmy Awards, most recently for “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2008. She was also nominated for “Julia,” for “A Different World,” and the classic TV series “Naked City.”
An elegant presence wherever she appeared, Diahann Carroll was a trailblazer. Whenever I met her, I can tell you, she radiated the word “star.” What a great lady. May she rest in peace. She will be truly missed.
