Net Worth Ranker
What Is Dorothy Dandridge Net Worth?
At the time of her death in 1965, Dorothy Dandridge’s net worth was estimated to be around $10,000. This figure represents her assets minus any liabilities at that time. It’s important to note that this value doesn’t reflect the immense talent and historical significance she held as a pioneering African-American actress and singer.
Financial Struggles and Debt
Dorothy Dandridge faced significant financial challenges in the later years of her life. A turning point came when her financial managers were found to have stolen $50,000 from her accounts. To contextualize this loss, $50,000 in the early 1960s had a considerably higher purchasing power than it does today. Additionally, she was burdened with $140,000 in debt to the IRS, which, adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to approximately $1.1 million in today’s currency.
These crushing debts forced Dandridge to make difficult decisions, including selling her home. She also made the painful choice to place her daughter, Harolyn, who had a mental disability, into a state mental institution, due to the financial strain of providing adequate care. In her later years, Dandridge lived in a modest apartment in West Hollywood. While the exact address of this apartment isn’t specified in the provided information, it represented a significant downsize from her previous living situation.
Early Career and The Dandridge Sisters
Dorothy Dandridge’s journey began in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was born on November 9, 1922. Her early exposure to performance came through her mother, Ruby, an actress, and alongside her sister Vivian. The sisters initially performed as “The Wonder Children.” They spent five years touring the Southern United States, receiving little formal schooling during this period. While the exact venues and towns they performed in aren’t named in the information provided, this early touring experience helped shape Dandridge’s performance skills.
In 1934, the Wonder Children evolved into “The Dandridge Sisters,” with the addition of their schoolmate Etta Jones. This singing trio gained considerable recognition, performing at renowned New York nightclubs such as the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club. Although specific financial details from these performances aren’t available in the supplied documentation, these engagements marked important steps in their careers, increasing their exposure and generating revenue through live performances. They also appeared in films, like “The Big Broadcast of 1936,” “A Day at the Races,” and “It Can’t Last Forever.” It is worth noting that their roles in these films may not have resulted in substantial compensation, but offered valuable screen time early in their careers.
Film Roles and Recognition
Dandridge secured her first credited film role in the 1940 race film “Four Shall Die,” where she portrayed a murderer. In 1951, she played Melmendi, Queen of the Ashuba in “Tarzan’s Peril” and Ann Carpenter in “The Harlem Globetrotters.” Her first starring role came in 1953 with “Bright Road,” where she played elementary school teacher Jane Richards, alongside Harry Belafonte.
Her career breakthrough came in 1954 with Otto Preminger’s “Carmen Jones,” an all-black adaptation of the Broadway musical, also featuring Harry Belafonte. The film’s global success resulted in significant financial returns, though the specific salary Dandridge earned for the role isn’t detailed in the provided information. Dandridge’s portrayal of Carmen earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, marking a historic moment as the first African-American to be nominated for a leading role.
Following the success of “Carmen Jones,” Dandridge appeared in “Island in the Sun” (1957) and “Tamango,” a French/Italian co-production where she starred opposite Curd Jürgens. Due to the interracial kiss between the stars, “Tamango” wasn’t released in the United States until late 1959. Dandridge reunited with Otto Preminger for “Porgy and Bess” (1959), co-starring with Sidney Poitier, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role as Bess. The exact earnings for these roles remain unspecified in the available information.
Stage Career and Nightclub Performances
Dandridge balanced her screen career with stage performances. During the 1940s, she appeared in shows like “Meet the People,” “Jump for Joy,” and “Sweet ‘n’ Hot.” Her singing career led to a successful opening at West Hollywood’s Mocambo nightclub in the spring of 1951. Subsequent performances in New York and London further solidified her reputation. In 1955, she became the first black performer to open at the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Specific figures about the earnings from her nightclub performances or her contract with the Waldorf Astoria aren’t detailed in the provided text.
By 1963, Dandridge’s popularity had diminished, and she performed in nightclubs to manage her debts from lawsuits and financial setbacks. While the exact earnings from these engagements are unknown, they were essential for settling her debts. In 1964, after filing for bankruptcy and briefly going into seclusion, she became a Las Vegas lounge act, providing a consistent source of income during a challenging period in her career.
Personal Life and Relationships
In 1942, Dorothy Dandridge married dancer Harold Nicholas. They had a daughter, Harolyn, who was born with brain damage. Nicholas abandoned the family in 1948, leading to their divorce in 1951. In 1954, Dandridge had an affair with her “Carmen Jones” director, Otto Preminger. Dandridge married her second husband, Jack Denison, in 1959, but they divorced in 1962 due to financial problems and accusations of domestic abuse.
Death and Legacy
On September 8, 1965, Dorothy Dandridge was found dead in her West Hollywood apartment. The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of the antidepressant imipramine. Posthumously, Dandridge received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in early 1984. In 1999, Halle Berry portrayed Dandridge in the television film “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” Berry’s performance earned her Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe Awards. She was later the first African-American to win Best Actress for her role in the 2001 film “Monster’s Ball.”
