About
"The responsibility of that box sitting in our homes is not something that any of us can walk away from. For the young person that is sitting there, we're helping to put their thought processes together about many areas of their lives. If we don't accept that responsibility, it's not good."
In her four-hour interview, Diahann Carroll (1935-2019) talks about making her television debut on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, and then appearing on Chance of a Lifetime. She recalls her many television variety show appearances, including The Danny Kaye Show, The Dean Martin Show, and Hollywood Palace, as well as some of her memorable film roles in movies like Carmen Jones, Porgy and Bess, and Claudine. She fondly recalls her groundbreaking lead role in Hal Kanter's landmark television series Julia, and her 1980s career comeback role as "Dominique Deveraux" on Dynasty. Carroll also speaks about being an African American woman in the entertainment industry. Henry Colman conducted the interview on March 3, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Diahann Carroll on diversity in television
Diahann Carroll on the worldwide recognition Dynasty achieved
Diahann Carroll on appearing on many variety shows and relating a poignant offstage moment about Frank Sinatra
Diahann Carroll on her Oscar-winning performance in Claudine
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
Diahann Carroll on her dramatic performance in Naked City, for which she was nominated for an Emmy; on her continued feelings about the lack of roles for Black people in Hollywood
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early years, family life, influences and education growing up in New York City and her early exposure to the arts
On her early modeling jobs (and the segregation in that industry) and her first impressions of television
Chapter 2
On appearing on Arthur Godfrey's shows and changing her name to Diahann Carroll
On going to college at NYU; performing in nightclubs and on Broadway; developing her stage presence
Chapter 3
On performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
On Sammy Davis, Jr., Marlon Brando, and returning to New York to study acting
On her Broadway starring performance in Truman Capote's House of Flowers
Chapter 4
On her Tony Award win for House of Flowers; on starring in Porgy and Bess and Paris Blues; her relationship with Sidney Poitier
On performing on The Garry Moore Show
On her dramatic performance in Naked City, for which she was nominated for an Emmy; on her continued feelings about the lack of roles for Black people in Hollywood
On appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show, which led to Richard Rodgers asking her to star in Spring Flowers, for which she won a Tony Award
On appearing on many variety shows and relating a poignant offstage moment about Frank Sinatra
On her reluctance to audition for Julia
Chapter 5
On meeting Julia creator Hal Kanter; the premise of the series; and some of the early criticism the show received
On starring in Julia
Chapter 6
On the success of Julia; going off the air; and the show's impact on television
On her television and stage work after Julia went off the air
On her Oscar-winning performance in Claudine
On her temporary "retirement" in 1976 and her return to television in I Know Why a Caged Bird Sings and Roots
On joining the cast of Dynasty
Chapter 7
On appearing on Dynasty
On her television, fashion and stage work post-Dynasty
On her thoughts on the medium of television, diversity on television, and how she'd like to be remembered
On some of the people she's worked with over the years
Chapter 8
On James Earl Jones, Joan Collins, and Harry Belafonte
On some photographs taken during different points in her long career
Shows
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's shows
Chance of a Lifetime
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Chance of a Lifetime and winning nightclub appearances where she met Christine Jorgensen, who helped her develop her stage presence
Dynasty
Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
Garry Moore Show, The
Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
Hollywood Palace, The
Actress Diahann Carroll on her appearances on The Hollywood Palace (with the cast of Julia; Robert Culp) and starring in her own summer variety show
Julia (1968-71)
Diahann Carroll on her reluctance to audition for Julia
Diahann Carroll on meeting Julia creator Hal Kanter, who thought she was not right for the role before meeting her
Diahann Carroll on the concept of Julia and some of the early criticism it received
Diahann Carroll on the success of Julia; going off the air; and the show's impact on television
Diahann Carroll on two photographs from Julia: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Coppage
Naked City
Diahann Carroll on her dramatic performance in Naked City, for which she was nominated for an Emmy; on her continued feelings about the lack of roles for Black people in Hollywood
Paul Whiteman TV Teen Club, The
Diahann Carroll on her family driving her to Philadelphia to appear on Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club and beginning to recognize the power of television
Roots
Diahann Carroll on her reluctance to appear in Roots and her ultimate decision to participate
Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
Comedy
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
Underrepresented Voices
Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
Diahann Carroll on her dramatic performance in Naked City, for which she was nominated for an Emmy; on her continued feelings about the lack of roles for Black people in Hollywood
Diahann Carroll on diversity in television
Professions
Performer
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Chance of a Lifetime and winning nightclub appearances where she met Christine Jorgensen, who helped her develop her stage presence
Genres
Comedy Series
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
People
Harold Arlen
Diahann Carroll on her Broadway starring performance in Truman Capote's House of Flowers
Harry Belafonte
Diahann Carroll on Harry Belafonte
Marlon Brando
Diahann Carroll on her friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr. and meeting Marlon Brando
Carol Burnett
Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
George Burns
Diahann Carroll on performing on a George Burns' special
Truman Capote
Diahann Carroll on her Broadway starring performance in Truman Capote's House of Flowers
Joan Collins
Diahann Carroll on Joan Collins
Marc Copage
Diahann Carroll on two photographs: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Copage
Bill Cosby
Diahann Carroll on Bill Cosby
Dorothy Dandridge
Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Diahann Carroll on her friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr. and meeting Marlon Brando
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
Arthur Godfrey
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's shows
Joe Hamilton
Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
Gregory Hines
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
Dennis James
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Chance of a Lifetime and winning nightclub appearances where she met Christine Jorgensen, who helped her develop her stage presence
James Earl Jones
Diahann Carroll on James Earl Jones
Christine Jorgensen
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Chance of a Lifetime and winning nightclub appearances where she met Christine Jorgensen, who helped her develop her stage presence
Hal Kanter
Diahann Carroll on meeting Julia creator Hal Kanter, who thought she was not right for the role before meeting her
Diahann Carroll on the concept of Julia and some of the early criticism it received
Diahann Carroll on the success of Julia; going off the air; and the show's impact on television
Diahann Carroll on Hal Kanter
Nolan Miller
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
Garry Moore
Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
Lloyd Nolan
Diahann Carroll on two photographs: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Copage
Jack Paar
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
Sidney Poitier
Diahann Carroll on Sidney Poitier
Otto Preminger
Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
Elaine Rich
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
Richard Rodgers
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
Diahann Carroll on a photo with Richard Rodgers
George Schlatter
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
Frank Sinatra
Diahann Carroll on appearing on many variety shows and relating a poignant offstage moment about Frank Sinatra
Aaron Spelling
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
Diahann Carroll on Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling
Grant Tinker
Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
Lou Walters
Diahann Carroll on appearing on Chance of a Lifetime and winning nightclub appearances where she met Christine Jorgensen, who helped her develop her stage presence
Andy Williams
Diahann Carroll on Andy Williams