Dorothy Dandridge
Dandridge in screenshot from trailer for ”The Decks Ran Red,” 1958
Birth Name: Dorothy Jean Dandridge
Date of Birth: November 9, 1922
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Death: September 8, 1965
Place of Death: West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American, some English
Dorothy Dandridge was an American actress, singer, and dancer. She was known for her films Carmen Jones, Tamango, Porgy and Bess, and many more. She was one of the first black actresses to be a star in Hollywood.
Her father, Cyril H. Dandridge, was a minister and cabinetmaker, born in Ohio. Her mother, Ruby Dandridge (born Ruby Jean Butler), born in Wichita, Kansas, was an actress from 1900 until the 1950s. Dorothy’s parents were both black, and she also had some English ancestry. Dorothy’s mother’s family was from North Carolina.
Dorothy was the sister of actress, dancer, and singer Vivian Dandridge. She had a daughter with her former husband, dancer and entertainer Harold Nicholas, of the Nicholas Brothers.
In her autobiography, Everything and Nothing: The Dorothy Dandridge Tragedy, 1970, co-written with Earl Conrad, Dorothy stated that her mother had Jamaican, Mexican, and Native American ancestry. It appears that these statements were inaccurate.
Dorothy’s paternal grandfather was James Henry Dandridge (the son of Albert Dandridge and Edwina/Edmonia Warren). James was born in Canada.
Dorothy’s paternal grandmother was Florence Jessie Locke (the daughter of John/Joshua Locke and Ellen/Elnora Johnson). Florence was born in Canada. John was born in England. Ellen was born in Kentucky.
Dorothy’s maternal grandfather was named George Frank Butler.
Dorothy’s maternal grandmother was named Nellie Simmons/Simon.
Source: Genealogy of Dorothy Dandridge – https://www.wikitree.com
People need to stop focusing on RACE!!!!!!!! we all are from the same place orignally anyways…..i feel very sorry for U PEOPLE that limit yourselfs of knowing GOOD PEOPLE because u r so caught up in race! sounds to me u are insecure with your own ETCHNICITY….oh and in case u were wondering i’m not white or black!
She would be considered Creole.
@Denisha
It’s not only White people. It’s ignorant people.
The sad truth is there aren’t many Black celebrities who aren’t mixed. But just because you don’t see enough beautiful Black people on TV, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
The problem is that for SOME people, the only attractive Black people that they see are on TV. But it’s a big world out there. Not all Black people look the same. Don’t limit your view just to what you see on the idiot box.
Dorothy was mixed not black pure blacks don’t look like her .B
She wasnt directly mixed both her parents were African American, with a mixture somewhere but not direct.
What exactly do “pure blacks” look like?
Last time I checked, Black people come in all shades, shapes, and sizes.
twat i mean ana
i look just like her and my parents are both black
meant *died*