Dorothy Dandridge

Born: 1922-11-09

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an American actress and singer. She was the first African-American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which was for her performance in Carmen Jones (1954). Dandridge also 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, Dandridge was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She is the subject of the 1999 biographical film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with Halle Berry portraying her. She has been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


Placeholder

A Day at the Races

as Singer (uncredited)
Released: 1937-06-11

Doctor Hugo Hackenbush, Tony, and Stuffy try and save Judy's farm by winning a big race with her...

Movie page

Ride 'Em Cowboy

as Dancer (uncredited)
Released: 1942-02-13

Two peanut vendors at a rodeo show get in trouble with their boss and hide out on a railroad...

Movie page

Carmen Jones

as Carmen Jones
Released: 1954-10-28

The tale of the cigarette-maker Carmen and the Spanish cavalry soldier Don Jose is translated...

Movie page

Tarzan's Peril

as Melmendi, Queen of the Ashuba
Released: 1951-03-13

Escaped convicts are selling weapons to a warlike native tribe.

Movie page

Sun Valley Serenade

as Specialty Act
Released: 1941-08-29

When Phil Corey's band arrives at the Idaho ski resort its pianist Ted Scott is smitten with a...

Movie page

Sundown

as Kipsang's Wife
Released: 1941-10-31

Englishmen fighting Nazis in Africa discover an exotic mystery woman living among the natives...

Movie page

Irene

as One of the Dandridge Sisters (uncredited)
Released: 1940-04-23

Upholsterer's assistant Irene O'Dare meets wealthy Don Marshall while she is measuring chairs...

Movie page

Orchestra Wives

as Singer/Dancer
Released: 1942-09-04

Connie Ward is in seventh heaven when Gene Morrison's band rolls into town. She is swept off her...

Movie page

Night in New Orleans

as Sal, Shadrach's Girl (Uncredited)
Released: 1942-07-01

A policeman's family helps to exonerate him of murder charges in the death of a man he had under...

Movie page

Since You Went Away

as Black Officer's Wife in Train Station (uncredited)
Released: 1944-06-30

While husband Tim is away during World War II, Anne Hilton copes with problems on the homefront....

Movie page

Porgy and Bess

as Bess
Released: 1959-06-24

Set in the early 1900s in the fictional Catfish Row section of Charleston, South Carolina, which...

Movie page

Tamango

as Aiché, Reiker's mistress
Released: 1958-01-24

A Dutch slave captain, on a voyage to Cuba, faces a revolt fomented by a newly captured African...

Movie page

It's Black Entertainment

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-02-08

A star-studded tribute (from the creators of That's Entertainment) to the contributions of...

Movie page

Lucky Jordan

as Hollyhock School Maid
Released: 1942-11-16

Lucky Jordan is a gangster living in New York City and when he's drafted into the army, he tries...

Movie page

It Can't Last Forever

as Dandridge Sisters Act (uncredited)
Released: 1937-07-15

Russ Matthews, a theatrical agent who is not above pulling off a hoax or two or more to further...

Movie page

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2001-10-07

The life and work of Samuel Goldwyn, a Polish-born glove salesman who became one of Hollywood's...

Movie page

The Decks Ran Red

as Mahia
Released: 1958-10-10

A band of dishonest seamen plans a murderous mutiny aboard the S.S. Berwind.

Movie page

Pillow to Post

as Herself - Vocalist (uncredited)
Released: 1945-06-09

With a war on and most men being drafted, Howard Oil Supply Company has no salesmen left. So...

Movie page

Island in the Sun

as Margot Seaton
Released: 1957-06-12

On a Caribbean island, a rich landowner's son, Maxwell Fleury, is fighting for political office...

Movie page

Going Places

as Member of The Dandridge Sisters
Released: 1938-12-31

A sports store clerk poses as a famous jockey as an advertising stunt, but gets more than he...

Movie page

Lady from Louisiana

as Felice
Released: 1941-04-22

Northern lawyer John Reynolds travels to New Orleans to try and clean up the local crime...

Movie page

Remains to Be Seen

as Dorothy Dandridge
Released: 1953-05-15

A singer and her apartment manager get mixed up in a creepy Park Avenue murder and find...

Movie page

Girl 27

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-07-27

The reclusive Patricia Douglas comes out of hiding to discuss the 1937 MGM scandal, in which the...

Movie page

Atlantic City

as Singer
Released: 1944-09-15

In 1915, Atlantic City is a sleepy seaside resort, but Brad Taylor, son of a small hotel and...

Movie page

Bright Road

as Jane Richards
Released: 1953-04-17

Teachers at an all-black school fight to save a problem child.

Movie page

Drums of the Congo

as Princess Malimi
Released: 1942-07-17

A safari sets out to find a meteorite that fell in the African jungle.

Movie page

The Harlem Globetrotters

as Ann Carpenter
Released: 1951-05-30

All-American basketball player, Billy signs up with the world-famous "Harlem Globetrotters", an...

Movie page

Hit Parade of 1943

as Count Basie Band Singer
Released: 1943-03-26

When amateur songwriter Jill Wright moves from the Midwest to New York City, she is dismayed to...

Movie page

Bahama Passage

as Thalia
Released: 1941-12-10

A girl, Carol whom the audience is quickly informed "has been around," and her father arrive to...

Movie page

Moment of Danger

as Gianna
Released: 1960-01-26

Having been coerced unto helping a criminal pull off a jewellery theft, a locksmith is double...

Movie page

The Murder Men

as Norma Sherman
Released: 1961-01-01

Melodrama of the attempt to smash a drug ring and to promote a former addict singer's...

Movie page

Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty

as (archive footage)
Released: 2003-06-24

Actor Obba Babatundé hosts this biopic showcasing the life of acclaimed African-American singer...

Movie page

Happy Go Lucky

as Showgirl (uncredited)
Released: 1943-01-04

A gold-digger hopes to land a rich husband in Trinidad, but gets mixed up with a beach boy and...

Movie page

Sarah Vaughan & Other Jazz Divas

as uncredited
Released: 2005-01-01

Here's a perfect chance to compare and contrast a clutch of the greatest jazz divas in the...

Movie page

Paper Doll

as Self
Released: 1942-01-01

In this Soundie, the Mills Brothers sing the title song to a cut-out image of Dorothy Dandridge,...

Movie page

Cow-Cow Boogie

as uncredited
Released: 1942-03-27

Dorothy Dandridge and band perform "Cow-Cow Boogie".

Movie page

Yes, Indeed!

as uncredited
Released: 1941-11-24

A Soundie with Dorothy Dandridge and Four Spirits of Rhythm

Movie page

Four Shall Die

as Helen Fielding
Released: 1940-10-15

Helen Fielding, heir to the fortunes of the late millionaire Roger Fielding, Sr., has broken off...

Movie page

Blackbird Fantasy

as uncredited
Released: 1942-08-31

A Soundie with Dorothy Dandridge and Billy Mitchell.

Movie page

Swingtime Jamboree

as uncredited
Released: 1946-01-01

Movie page

Snow Gets in Your Eyes

as One of the Dandridge Sisters (uncredited)
Released: 1938-05-14

A department store has an indoor ski slide for the annual contest for store employees. Salesgirl...

Movie page

Jungle Jig

as uncredited
Released: 1941-06-02

A Soundie with Dorothy Dandridge and Cee Pee Johnson.

Movie page

Lazybones

as uncredited
Released: 1941-02-20

Hoagy Carmichael at the piano sings the title song (lyrics by Johnny Mercer). Dancing by...

Movie page

A Zoot Suit with a Reet Pleat

as uncredited
Released: 1942-11-11

An early "soundie" in which Dorothy Dandridge & Paul White sing "A Zoot Suit with a Reet Pleat"...

Movie page

The Harlem Renaissance

as Self (archival footage)
Released: 2004-01-01

Chronicling the Harlem Renaissance era, this retrospective documentary tracks the origins of the...

Movie page

Swing for Your Supper

as Vocalist
Released: 1941-05-05

Dorothy Dandridge sings, featuring Cee Pee Johnson on tom-toms.

Movie page

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as Self
First aired: 1950-09-10

The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC...

TV Show page

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

TV Show page

The Ed Sullivan Show

as Singer
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

TV Show page

Cain's Hundred

as Norma Sherman
First aired: 1961-09-19

A former underworld lawyer goes to work for the Federal Government, determined to bring 100 top...

TV Show page

The Oscars

as Self
First aired: 1953-03-19

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...

TV Show page