Diahann Carroll

Biography

Diahann Carroll (born Carol Diahann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer and model. She rose to stardom in performances in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts, including Carmen Jones in 1954 and Porgy and Bess in 1959. In 1962, Carroll won a Tony Award for best actress, a first for a black woman, for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings. Her 1968 debut in Julia, the first series on American television to star a black woman in a nonstereotypical role, was a milestone both in her career and the medium. In the 1980s she played the role of an interracial diva in the primetime soap opera Dynasty. Carroll was the recipient of numerous stage and screen nominations and awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress In A Television Series in 1968. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the 1974 film Claudine. She was also a breast cancer survivor and activist.

Known For

Grey's Anatomy

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

The Love Boat

Golden Globe Awards

All Movies (54)

Sidney2022 · as Self (archive footage)
How It Feels to Be Free2021 · as Self (archival footage)
The Masked Saint2016 · as Ms. Edna
Light Girls2015 · as Self
Peeples2013 · as Nana Peeples
Martin Luther King and the March on Washington2013 · as Self
Sing Your Song2012 · as Self
The Front2010 · as Nana
At Risk2010 · as Nana
Diary of a Single Mom2009 · as Therapist
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years2004 · as (archive footage)
NBC 75th Anniversary Special2002 · as Self
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story2000 · as Maria Cole
Sally Hemings: An American Scandal2000 · as Betty Hemings
The Courage to Love2000 · as Pouponne
Jackie's Back!1999 · as Diahann Carroll
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years1999 · as Sadie Delany
The Sweetest Gift1998 · as Mrs. Wilson
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever1998 · as Self
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood1998 · as Self
Eve's Bayou1997 · as Elzora
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale1995 · as Narrator
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle1994 · as Lydia Bishop
Color Adjustment1992 · as Self
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker1991 · as Vivian Thurlow (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sunday in Paris1991 · as Vernetta Chase
The Five Heartbeats1991 · as Eleanor Potter
Murder in Black and White1990 · as Margo Stover
From the Dead of Night1989 · as Maggie
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz1988 · as Diahann Carroll
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC1988 · as Self
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special1986 · as Self
The Best of Broadway1985 · as Herself
Night of 100 Stars II1985 · as Self
Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 19831983
Sister, Sister1982 · as Carolyne Lovejoy
Night of 100 Stars1982 · as Self
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings1979 · as Vivian
The Star Wars Holiday Special1978 · as Mermeia
The Beatles Forever1977 · as Self
Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?1976 · as Self
Death Scream1975 · as Betty May
Claudine1974 · as Claudine Price
One More Time1974 · as Self
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis1970 · as Self (archive footage)
The Dean Martin Christmas Show1968 · as Self (uncredited)
Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing1968 · as Self - Singer
The Split1968 · as Ellen "Ellie" Kennedy
Hurry Sundown1967 · as Vivian Thurlow
The Strolling '20s1966 · as Self
Paris Blues1961 · as Connie Lampson
Goodbye Again1961 · as Nightclub Singer
Porgy and Bess1959 · as Clara
Carmen Jones1954 · as Myrt

All TV Shows (63)

White Collar2009 · as June
Back to You2007 · as Sandra Jenkins
Grey's Anatomy2005 · as Jane Burke
Whoopi2003 · as Viveca Rae
Half & Half2002 · as Grandma Ruth Thorne
The Court2002
The Legend of Tarzan2001 · as Queen La (voice)
Strong Medicine2000 · as Eve Morton
Soul Food2000 · as Aunt Ruthie
Sally Hemings: An American Scandal2000 · as Betty Hemings
Twice in a Lifetime1999 · as Jael
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as Crow (voice)
Touched by an Angel1994 · as Grace Willis
Ellen1994 · as Diahann Carroll
Burke's Law1994 · as Grace Gibson
Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self
A Different World1987 · as Marion Gilbert
The Colbys1985
Reading Rainbow1983 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
Dynasty1981 · as Dominique Devereaux
The Big Show1980 · as Self
Roots: The Next Generations1979 · as Zeona Haley
The Love Boat1977 · as Roxy Blue
The Sonny and Cher Show1976
Dinah!1974 · as Self
The Julie Andrews Hour1972 · as Self
Great Performances1971 · as Self
The Flip Wilson Show1970 · as Self
Julia1968 · as Julia Baker
The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self
ABC Stage 671966 · as Self
Not Only... But Also1964 · as Self
The Hollywood Palace1964 · as Self
The Judy Garland Show1963 · as Self
The Danny Kaye Show1963 · as Self
The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
The Bell Telephone Hour1959 · as Self
Naked City1958 · as Ruby Jay
Peter Gunn1958
DuPont Show of the Month1957 · as Self
Tonight Starring Jack Paar1957 · as Self
The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Guest
The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Singer
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Host
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Co-Host
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer
Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter / Performer
The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Self
Coke Time with Eddie Fisher1953
The Oscars1953 · as Self
Chance Of A Lifetime1952
The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Self
The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
What's My Line?1950 · as Self - Mystery Guest
The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self
Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee
Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Presenter
Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self