Fond Farewell
Dorothy Jean Dandridge
November 9, 1922 - - - September 8, 1965
Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922, Dorothy toured the United States with sister and mother, performing in Baptist churches before coming to Los Angeles and performing on screen. She started off in stereotype black roles, and even with the Marx Brothers' A Day at The Races. Most famous for her role in Carmen Jones (an all "negro" cast version of Bizet's classic). After her first marriage, from which she had one daughter from her first marriage who is institutionalized, she met Jack Denison, a night club owner, who knew how to charm, just like a good con artist should. They married, and he handled all her money, and left her with bankruptcy after her divorce from the abusive marriage.
Earl Mills, her former manager, helped her get back on her feet after a long bout with drugs and alcholism. She had let him go due to her romance and business arrangements with Otto Preminger. Earl was coming to pick her up for her shows in New York when he found her naked body in the bathroom. The coroner determined it was an accidental overdose of Tofranil, an antidepressant prescription drug she had been taking.
Both Whitney Houston and Halle Berry tried to get her story told by making a movie about her, but it was a long struggle, no one in Hollywood had the interest, no one knew who she was, nor cared, even when she was living. Finally, HBO found the interest to make a movie about her life story, as Halle Berry says, "HBO makes movies that are shot like features, and it will be recognized for its merits, not how much money it makes".
Dorothy Dandridge today is remembered for her voice, her sexy, beautiful looks, and as one of the first black women to pave the way for many other entertainers of color to be accepted into Hollywood and the rest of society.
Related Dorothy Dandridge Links
Dorothy Dandridge A Hollywood Star net4tv.com/color/60/DDandridgeper.htm
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