Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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 Amer...
Known For
Complete Filmography
How It Feels to Be Free
2021
as Self (archival footage)
Tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tys...
The Masked Saint
2016
as Ms. Edna
The journey of a professional wrestler who becomes a small town pastor and moonlights as a masked vigilante fighting injustice. While facing crises at...
Light Girls
2015
as Self
From the creator and director of the critically acclaimed documentary Dark Girls, award-winning filmmaker Bill Duke continues the conversation on colo...
And the Oscar Goes To...
2014
as Self (archive footage)
The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most coveted prize, AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... traces the history of the Academy ...
Peeples
2013
as Nana Peeples
The story follows what happens when a child psychologist surprises his girlfriend by showing up at her political family's annual get-together at their...
Martin Luther King and the March on Washington
2013
as Self
Documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's March on Washington, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement in the Unite...
Sing Your Song
2012
as Self
Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the ...
The Front
2010
as Nana
A detective uncovers a sinister conspiracy when he is sent to research a disintegrating neighborhood for a public relations campaign.
At Risk
2010
as Nana
Detective Win Garano is asked to reopen a twenty-year-old murder case, and soon finds himself endangered by the political ambitions of a district atto...
Diary of a Single Mom
2009
as Therapist
Ocean a 27-year-old highly-motivated mother has found her calling in managing a neighborhood apartment building along with the residents and the probl...
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and hi...
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
A celebration of NBC's 75 year history, featuring clips of special moments.
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
2000
as Maria Cole
The true life story of famed singer Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat 'King' Cole. Gripping drama of her struggle with addiction and living in her father'...
Sally Hemings: An American Scandal
2000
as Betty Hemings
Epic television miniseries exploring the complicated relationship of Thomas Jefferson and slave Sally Hemings, who conducted a 38 year love affair, sp...
The Courage to Love
2000
as Pouponne
In 19th century New Orleans, creole Henriette must choose between love and devotion to the church. Neither choice is going to be easy, as there is gre...
Jackie's Back!
1999
as Diahann Carroll
A British documentarian profiles washed-up diva Jackie Washington as she prepares for her comeback concert.
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years
1999
as Sadie Delany
Tells the story of Sadie and Bessie Delany, two African-American (they preferred "colored") sisters who both lived past the age of 100. They grew up o...
The Sweetest Gift
1998
as Mrs. Wilson
Two neighboring families in Florida, one black and one white, struggle with the problems of race, poverty, prejudice, and absent fathers, as their chi...
Motown 40: The Music is Forever
1998
as Self
Archival music performances and contemporary interviews cover some of the history of Motown Records and Productions.
Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood
1998
as Self
Louis Gossett Jr. takes viewers through a special documentary celebration of the groundbreaking achievements of African-American performers and their ...
Eve's Bayou
1997
as Elzora
Summer heats up in rural Louisiana beside Eve’s Bayou, 1962, as the Batiste family tries to survive the secrets they’ve kept and the betrayals they’ve...
Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale
1995
as Narrator
A brave boy named Temba ventures to find food and water for his drought-striken village. But when he is given a set of magical bones, he uses them to ...
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle
1994
as Lydia Bishop
A former associate of Perry Mason returns to handle the defense of a world-class chess player accused of murdering a prominent TV personality.
Color Adjustment
1992
as Self
From Amos 'n' Andy to Nat King Cole, from Roots to The Cosby Show, black people have played many roles on primetime television. Brilliantly weaving cl...
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
1991
as Vivian Thurlow (archive footage) (uncredited)
This documentary, hosted by actor Burgess Meredith, explores the life and career of movie director Otto Preminger, whose body of work includes such me...
Sunday in Paris
1991
as Vernetta Chase
A pilot for an unsold NBC series. A single woman with three children realizes that her family has lost sight of their values and gives up her career a...
The Five Heartbeats
1991
as Eleanor Potter
In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky ...
Mo' Better Blues
1990
as Jazz Club Singer (uncredited)
Talented but self-centered trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed with his music and indecisiveness about his girlfriends Indigo and Clarke. But when he ...
Murder in Black and White
1990
as Margo Stover
A recently appointed black police commissioner is killed. So, Frank Janek is assigned to investigate.
From the Dead of Night
1989
as Maggie
After having a near death experience Joanna finds her life in constant danger. She begins to believe that certain forces are trying to bring her back ...
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
1988
as Diahann Carroll
Fictional character, Heidi Abromowitz, is the butt of everyone's jokes.
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self
Stars celebrate Bob Hope's 50 years with NBC.
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986
as Self
An all-star cast celebrates George Burn's 90th birthday and showcases highlights in Burns' career.
The Best of Broadway
1985
as Herself
Tom Bosley hosts a tribute to the American musical theater taped before a live audience featuring dozens of stars recreating their original performanc...
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was t...
Sister, Sister
1982
as Carolyne Lovejoy
Heated confrontations and revelations result when a divorcee returns with her young son to the home of her two sisters.
Night of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City ...
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
1979
as Vivian
Based on writer Maya Angelou's eloquent reminiscences of her days as a gifted youngster growing up in the South during the Depression years where she ...
The Star Wars Holiday Special
1978
as Mermeia
Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle evil Imperial forces to help Chewbacca reach his imperiled family on the Wookiee planet - in time for Life Day, the...
The Beatles Forever
1977
as Self
A musical salute to The Beatles.
Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?
1976
as Self
At the height of his KOJAK TV series fame, Telly Savalas starred in this variety special that was sponsored by Kraft Foods and shown without commercia...
Death Scream
1975
as Betty May
Loosely based on the true story of the killing of Kitty Genovese: A young woman's murder is witnessed by fifteen of her neighbors who do nothing to h...
Claudine
1974
as Claudine Price
Claudine is a single mother in New York City who endures an exhausting commute to the suburbs where she works as a maid for wealthy families. In one c...
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis
1970
as Self (archive footage)
Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, the documentary follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activi...
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968
as Self (uncredited)
A Classic Holiday Celebration with Dean and Friends.
Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing
1968
as Self - Singer
Having established himself as a household name after his previous A Man and His Music specials, Frank Sinatra made a bold statement in 1968 by starrin...
The Split
1968
as Ellen "Ellie" Kennedy
A group of thieves attempt a daring robbery of a football stadium.
Hurry Sundown
1967
as Vivian Thurlow
A ruthless Southern opportunist tries to buy his cousin's land, and when thwarted, brings several tragedies to the lives of his loved ones.
Paris Blues
1961
as Connie Lampson
During the 1960s, two American jazz musicians living in Paris meet and fall in love with two American tourist girls and must decide between music and ...
Goodbye Again
1961
as Nightclub Singer
Middle-aged businesswoman Paula Tessier rejects the advances of her client's amusing 25-year-old son, Philip Van der Besh, but reconsiders when her lo...
Porgy and Bess
1959
as Clara
In the early 1900s, the fictional Catfish Row section of Charleston, South Carolina serves as home to a black fishing community. Crippled beggar Porgy...
Carmen Jones
1954
as Myrt
At an all-Black army camp, civilian parachute maker and "hot bundle" Carmen Jones is desired by many of the men. Naturally, she wants Joe, who's engag...