Dorothy Dandridge was an African-American film pioneer: PD 175

Dorothy Dandridge won an Academy Award for "Carmen Jones."(Courtesy IMDB)

Name: Dorothy Dandridge

Date of Birth: Nov. 9, 1922; (died in 1965)

Birthplace: Cleveland

Career Highlights: Dandridge began her career as a singing act with her sister Vivian. They were known as the Dandridge Sisters. She later appeared in many films including "Carmen Jones" and "Porgy and Bess" for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She was the first African American woman to appear on the cover of Life magazine. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Best known for: First black actress nominated for an Academy Award.

Source: IMDB

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.