Tragic Facts About Dorothy Dandridge, Hollywood's Fallen Star
Sad Hollywood stories are a dime a dozen, but the tragedy of Dorothy Dandridge feels unique. As one of the first black superstars of the screen and stage, Dandridge’s life was one of huge potential.
She was a singer, actress, performer, and so much more, but how did the Academy darling rise and fall from grace? Let's dive into her devastating story...
1. She Was Meant For Stardom
It’s easy to say that Dorothy Dandridge was born to be a star. After all, her mother Ruby was a well-known actress and performer. Sadly, despite her family pedigree, the circumstances were against her from the very beginning.
Well, that just meant that she’d have to become a fighter—and that’s exactly what she did.
2. She Was Estranged From Her Father
The birth of a child is always a joyous event, but when Ruby Dandridge gave birth to Dorothy, she wasn’t in the best place of her life.
Ruby had left Dorothy’s father just five months earlier, and had taken Dorothy’s older sister Vivian with her. She was now a single mother with two girls trying to make a showbiz career work. Ruby needed help—and soon enough, she found it.
3. She Was A Child Star
When Dorothy was still just a little girl, Ruby began to push her to perform with her sister under the name “The Wonder Children.” She enlisted her friend Geneva Williams to help train them—but the pair were hiding a scandalous secret. Ruby and Geneva were actually lovers. Unfortunately for Dorothy and her sister, this relationship didn’t exactly instill a familial bond between them and Geneva.
4. She Had Two Stage Mothers
While Ruby was busy with her own career, she left Geneva in charge of Dorothy and Vivian—and that was when Geneva’s dark side came out.
She had a horrible temper, which she often took out on the girls, and her attempts to discipline the girls could get physical. On top of that, there was the fact that the girls rarely attended school due to their intensive touring schedule.
It wasn’t a typical childhood—and it was only going to get more unconventional.
