Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents, Cyril and Ruby Dandridge, had a troubled marriage which eventually led to their separation. Ruby then met a woman who she fell in love with, much to the dislike of Dottie. This woman was abusive towards Ruby’s two children, particularly Dottie. During their early years, Ruby and her friend trained Dottie and Vivian for performing on stage.
From around the ages of 4-6 (depending on who you ask), Dorothy and Vivian began publicly performing in Baptist churches as the gospel singing act called the “Wonder Children”. They traveled across the country as they performed.
In the 1930s, Dottie and Vivian added another girl named Etta Jones to form the song and dance act known as the “Dandridge Sisters”. The difficult times caused by the Great Depression compelled them to relocate to Hollywood where they became known as the “Dandridge Sisters” at age 16.
Dorothy danced with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in “The Big Broadcast of 1936.” In the same year, she sang at the iconic Cotton Club in Harlem and it was there that she first encountered Harold Nicholas, who would later become her husband. Harold was the younger sibling of the famed “Nicholas Brothers” and together they danced with Gene Kelly in “The Pirate.” At the age of 17, Dorothy was already performing in Benny Goodman’s musical, “Swinging the Dream.”
Dorothy Dandridge possessed innate beauty and an ideal physique! Although plagued by severe stage fright, Dottie successfully performed at top-notch establishments in Miami and Las Vegas; regrettably, she was unable to reside in these renowned hotels. For instance, one establishment in 1953 went as far as to drain its swimming pool to deter her from using it. In 1954, Dandridge shattered barriers by becoming the first black woman featured on the cover of “Life” magazine and earned an Academy Award nomination for best actress for her portrayal in “Carmen Jones.” Nevertheless, due to the industry’s inability to recognize her potential as a serious actress (mainly due to her race), opportunities for roles dwindled swiftly, precipitating a decline in her career. Subsequently, she found herself working on cruise ships, appearing on television series, and performing in hotel lounges where she had once been the star attraction. Sadly, Dorothy’s second marriage to Jack Denison, a club owner, was marred by abuse and exploitation, resulting in further financial difficulties. Combined with unwise investments and tax issues, these circumstances hastened her downfall. By 1962, she had declared bankruptcy.
Dorothy had a morning appointment on September 8, 1965, to get a cast on her foot. Earl Mills attempted to contact her early but she requested a reschedule for more sleep. Despite later attempts to reach her, there was no response. Mills went to Dorothy’s apartment and encountered difficulty in gaining access. He returned around 2 p.m., forcefully entering the residence. Upon entering, he discovered Dorothy deceased on the bathroom floor with only a blue scarf adorning her head.
A while back, Dorothy had handed Earl a message that said, “If I die, please don’t remove any of my belongings such as my scarf, gown, or underwear. Instead, cremate me immediately. If I have any possessions like money or furniture, please give them to my mother Ruby Dandridge. She will know how to handle it. Signed, Dorothy Dandridge.”
The initial reason for her demise was believed to be a blood clot resulting from her fractured foot. Nevertheless, an autopsy disclosed that she actually passed away due to consuming an excessive amount of Tofranil, the antidepressant she had been given as medication. Whether the overdose was unintentional or deliberate remains a mystery even now.
Dorothy was laid to rest at the Little Church of the Flowers in Forest Lawn after being cremated.
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