Diahann Carroll

Best known for her pioneering leading role in sitcom "Julia" (NBC, 1968-1971), actress and singer Diahann Carroll also picked up an Oscar nomination for "Claudine" (1974), played soap villain Dominique Devereaux in "Dynasty" (ABC, 1981-89) and was the first African-American to win Best Actress at the Tony Awards. Born in The Bronx, NY in 1935, Carroll studied at the New York High School of Music and Art, and thanks to a four-week winning stint on "Chance of a Lifetime" (ABC, 1952-53) was a regular performer on the New York nightclub circuit by her late teens. While studying sociology at NYU, Carroll made her Broadway debut in "House of Flowers" and landed her first screen acting role playing wholesome country singer Myrt in "Carmen Jones" (1954). After appearing as Clara in the film adaptation of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" (1959), Carroll starred as Sidney Poitier's love interest Connie in "Paris Blues" (1961), showcased her vocal talents in romantic drama "Goodbye Again" (1961) and delivered an Emmy-nominated guest turn on "Naked City" (ABC, 1958-1963). Carroll made history in 1962 when she became the first ever African-American recipient of the Best Actress Tony Award thanks to her performance as a fashion model in interracial musical "No Strings." Following supporting roles in "Hurry Sundown" (1967) and "The Split" (1968) Carroll once again helped to break down barriers when she became the first black actress to front her own sitcom, "Julia" (NBC, 1968-1971). After two seasons of playing the eponymous widowed nurse, Carroll returned to the big screen where she starred as a poverty-stricken single mother of six in "Claudine" (1974), receiving a Best Actress Oscar nomination in the process. The multi-talented star, who had also released over a dozen studio albums by this point, was then given her own four-part variety special in 1976, starred in the Maya Angelou-penned dramas "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1979) and "Sister, Sister" (1982), and bagged the role of Joan Collins' high shoulder-padded nemesis Dominique Devereaux in "Dynasty" (ABC, 1981-89) and spin-off "The Colbys" (ABC, 1985-87). Carroll then shared top billing in TV movie "Murder in Black and White" (1990), enjoyed the recurring roles of Whitley's mother in "A Different World" (NBC, 1987-1993) and Ida Grayson in "Lonesome Dove: The Series" (Syndication, 1994-96), and added "The Five Heartbeats" (1991), "Eve's Bayou" (1997) and "The Sweetest Gift" (1998) to her filmography. After portraying a string of real-life figures including civil rights activist Sadie Delany in "Having Our Say" (1999), Thomas Jefferson slave Betty Hemings in "Sally Hemings: An American Scandal" (2000) and Natalie Cole's mother Maria in "Livin' for Love" (2000), Carroll bagged the recurring roles of Dr. Preston's demanding mother Jane Burke in "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005-) and Neal's widowed landlady June in "White Collar" (USA Network, 2009-2014). Following supporting turns in Patricia Cornwell adaptations "At Risk" (2010) and "The Front" (2010), Carroll played Nana Peeples in the Tyler Perry-produced "Peeples" (2013) and church elder Ms. Edna in pastor-turned-vigilante drama "The Masked Saint" (2016). Diahann Carroll died on October 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 84.