Dorothy Dandridge

She married twice. Her first marriage was with dancer and entertainer Harold Nicholas from September 6, 1942 to October 1951.

After separating from Harold Nicholas she married Jack Denison on June 22, 1959 but the couple separated sometime in 1962.

Her only child, Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas, born out of her first marriage, on September 2, 1943, was mentally challenged due to brain damage suffered at the time of birth.

She was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the second child of Cyril Dandridge and Ruby Dandridge. Her father was a cabinetmaker and minister while mother was an actress. Dandridge never saw her father as her parents separated when her mother was pregnant with her.

She was nudged into show business by her mother who formed a song-and-dance team for Dandridge and her elder sister Vivian naming it ‘The Wonder Children’. The two sisters travelled Southern US performing acts scripted by their mother in churches and schools. While her mother would work and perform in Cleveland, the sisters toured with their team managed by their mother’s lover Geneva Williams.

Dandridge hardly attended school in the five years of rigorous tour that they conducted with their song-and-dance team and led a miserable childhood in the hands of Williams who was a strict disciplinarian and often cruel to her. She faced years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of Williams.

The Great Depression resulted in dearth of work so Ruby relocated to Hollywood, California in 1930 with her two daughters in search of steady work. While Ruby began working in radio and films doing bit parts mostly as domestic servant, typical roles offered at that time to black actresses and actors, Dandridge began to study at the ‘McKinley Junior High School’.

In 1934 ‘The Wonder Children’ was re-christened as ‘The Dandridge Sisters’, which was joined by Etta Jones, a dance schoolmate.

‘The Dandridge Sisters’ gradually achieved fame as a popular band and performed successfully for several years including getting a regular slot at the posh ‘Cotton Club’ in Harlem, New York. The team also performed at the music hall in Harlem, ‘Apollo Theater’, a well-known place for American-African performers.

Dandridge made her debut in films as Dorothy, a cabin kid, with ‘Our Gang’ short comedy film ‘Teacher's Beau’ released on April 27, 1935. Thereafter she gave many uncredited performances as part of ‘The Dandridge Sisters’ in films like ‘It Can't Last Forever’ (1937), ‘A Day at the Races’ (1937) and ‘Going Places’ (1938).

The role of Helen Fielding was her first credited film role that she did for the 1940 released supernatural crime film ‘Four Shall Die’ directed by William Beaudine.

Apart from films she also featured in a series of soundies like ‘Jig in the Jungle’, ‘Cow, Cow Boogie’ and ‘Paper Doll’ that again showcased her talent in acting and singing.

While struggling with her career she also faced personal setbacks with regard to her marital life and motherhood. To overcome all odds she chose to immerse herself into more work and in that pursuit took acting, singing and dancing lessons.

On January 18, 1983, she was posthumously conferred a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6719 Hollywood Boulevard.