Diahann Carroll

Actress
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...
Diahann Carroll
Highlights
Diahann Carroll on diversity in television
02:33
Diahann Carroll on the worldwide recognition Dynasty achieved
00:42
Diahann Carroll on appearing on many variety shows and relating a poignant offstage moment about Frank Sinatra
02:36
Diahann Carroll on her Oscar-winning performance in Claudine
03:11
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38
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
04:41
Full Interview

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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

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's shows 
10:47

Chance of a Lifetime

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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
07:16

Dynasty

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Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
00:28
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
02:41

Garry Moore Show, The

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Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
02:26

Hollywood Palace, The

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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
01:44

Julia

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Diahann Carroll on her reluctance to audition for Julia
03:52
Diahann Carroll on meeting Julia creator Hal Kanter, who thought she was not right for the role before meeting her 
01:43
Diahann Carroll on the concept of Julia and some of the early criticism it received
05:50
Diahann Carroll on the success of Julia; going off the air; and the show's impact on television
05:27
Diahann Carroll on two photographs from Julia: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Coppage
00:32

Naked City

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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
04:41

Paul Whiteman TV Teen Club, The

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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
01:44

Roots

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Diahann Carroll on her reluctance to appear in Roots and her ultimate decision to participate
02:08

Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
04:24
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

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Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38
Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
00:28

Comedy

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Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38
Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38

Underrepresented Voices

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Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
12:40
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
04:41
Diahann Carroll on diversity in television
02:33
Professions

Performer

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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
07:16
Genres

Comedy Series

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Diahann Carroll on the "startling" 1968 opening sequence of Julia
01:38

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Diahann Carroll on the essence of the creation of her Dynasty character Dominique Deveraux
00:28
Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
01:16

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
01:58
People

Aaron Spelling

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Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
06:55
Diahann Carroll on Dynasty producer Aaron Spelling
01:00

Andy Williams

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Diahann Carroll on Andy Williams
00:56

Arthur Godfrey

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's shows 
10:47

Bill Cosby

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Diahann Carroll on Bill Cosby
00:29

Carol Burnett

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Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
02:26

Christine Jorgensen

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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
07:16

Dennis James

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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
07:16

Dorothy Dandridge

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Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
12:40

Elaine Rich

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Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
06:55

Frank Sinatra

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on many variety shows and relating a poignant offstage moment about Frank Sinatra
02:36

Garry Moore

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Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
02:26

George Burns

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Diahann Carroll on performing on a George Burns' special
02:44

George Schlatter

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Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
01:58

Grant Tinker

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Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
12:40

Gregory Hines

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Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
01:58

Hal Kanter

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Diahann Carroll on meeting Julia creator Hal Kanter, who thought she was not right for the role before meeting her 
01:43
Diahann Carroll on the concept of Julia and some of the early criticism it received
05:50
Diahann Carroll on the success of Julia; going off the air; and the show's impact on television
05:27
Diahann Carroll on Hal Kanter
00:33

Harold Arlen

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Diahann Carroll on her Broadway starring performance in Truman Capote's House of Flowers
12:25

Harry Belafonte

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Diahann Carroll on Harry Belafonte
02:33

Jack Paar

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
04:24

James Earl Jones

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Diahann Carroll on James Earl Jones
01:04

Joan Collins

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Diahann Carroll on Joan Collins
00:46

Joe Hamilton

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Diahann Carroll on performing on The Garry Moore Show
02:26

Lloyd Nolan

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Diahann Carroll on two photographs: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Copage
00:32

Lou Walters

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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
07:16

Marc Copage

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Diahann Carroll on two photographs: one with Lloyd Nolan and one with Marc Copage
00:32

Marlon Brando

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Diahann Carroll on her friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr. and meeting Marlon Brando
03:40

Nolan Miller

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Diahann Carroll on joining the cast of Dynasty
06:55

Otto Preminger

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Diahann Carroll on performing in the feature film Carmen Jones
12:40

Richard Rodgers

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Diahann Carroll on appearing on Jack Paar's Tonight show
04:24
Diahann Carroll on a photo with Richard Rodgers
00:24

Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Diahann Carroll on her friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr. and meeting Marlon Brando
03:40
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
01:58

Sidney Poitier

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Diahann Carroll on Sidney Poitier
00:40

Truman Capote

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Diahann Carroll on her Broadway starring performance in Truman Capote's House of Flowers
12:25

All Interviews

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