Before Halle Berry, Beyonce Knowles, and so many others, there was Dorothy Dandridge. The original triple threat, she danced, sang, acted and became a household name. Despite the cruelty of racism in every area of America, Dandridge rose above and paved the way for every single person of color in the entertainment industry. She was the first African-American woman to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, she demanded the same salary as White actresses, she graced the cover of Life magazine in 1955 and refused to play a slave in films.
As a result of Dandridge’s refusal to portray stereotypical black characters she had trouble finding film roles that suited her talents. Her only other great film was 1959’s Porgy and Bess, in which she played Bess opposite Sidney Poitier . She appeared in several poorly received racially and sexually charged dramas such as, Tamango (1959). As her film career failed, Dandridge began drinking heavily and taking antidepressants. The threat of bankruptcy and nagging problems with the IRS forced her to resume her nightclub career, but she found only a fraction of her former success. Relegated to second-rate lounges and stage productions, Dandridge's financial situation grew worse and worse. Dandridge soon suffered a nervous breakdown. On September 8, 1965, she was found dead in her Hollywood home, an apparent suicide from a drug overdose. Though her life ended at the age of 42, her contributions to film and stage are still evident today.
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