November 9th marked the birthday of Dorothy Dandridge, the first African American actress to be nominated for an Academy Award. After being nominated for this award, many felt that she was on her way to becoming the first non-white actress to achieve the same kind of fame that had been achieved by her contemporaries like Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner. Although best known for her roles in Carmen Jones and Porgy Bess, Dorothy is also respected for the roles she didn’t play as well. For example, she turned down the role of Tuptim in the “King and I” because she refused to play a slave. Unfortunately, due to some bad decisions on her part, interracial marriages that were frowned upon by the Hollywood community, tax problems, a special-needs child, and the inability of Hollywood to create a suitable role for the light-skinned Dandridge, her career never fulfilled its enormous potential. At this point, her life began a downward spiral that led to her untimely death in 1965.
You can find more information about Dorothy Dandridge below.
Learn More About Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge: A Life Unfullfilled
Dorothy Dandridge: Brown Sugar Babe
Dorothy Dandridge Photo Gallery
Dorothy Dandridge Art Prints & Posters
Title: Carmen Jones
Artist: Clifford Faust
Edition: Open Edition Offset
Size: 18×12 inches
Price: $9.60
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Title: Dorothy Dandridge
Artist: Gregory Wishum
Edition: Open Edition Offset
Size: 24×20 inches
Price: $28.00
Available Only On The Blog!
Dorothy Dandridge Videos
Books, Music & Movies About Dorothy Dandridge
