Legendary singer and actress Diahann Carroll died in her home on Friday, Oct. 4. Her daughter, Suzanne Kay, told the press her death was a result of cancer. She was 84 years old.
Carroll had an accomplished career, and is probably best recognized for her role in “Julia,” which debuted in 1968, where she broke racial barriers as one of the first African American actresses to appear as a professional woman on television.
During this time of racial unrest, she faced numerous critics and naysayers who did not want to see a black woman in the forefront. She never backed down, unafraid to confront racial issues during the segregated time. She later played on the prime time soap opera “Dynasty,” in the 1980s.
As a singer (and actress), in 1962, she became the first black woman to win a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical, “No Strings.”
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“In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a black female, I had to learn how to tap dance around the situation,” Carroll was quoted as saying. “I had to find a way to present my point of view without being pushy or aggressive. In the old days, the only women I saw in this business were in makeup, hairdressing and wardrobe departments. Now I’m surrounded by women executives, writers, directors, producers and even stagehands.”
